It’s Saturday morning, and you’ve got a massive pile of muddy football gear, school uniforms and business shirts that have piled up all week, waiting for wash day.

So if your washing machine decides to go on the blink, it’s no small disaster. Finding an appliance repair technician who is available immediately is no easy feat on the weekend, and the cost of repairing the machine seems extravagant. Still, replacing a washing machine that is only just out of its warranty period seems like a crazy thing to do. What is the solution?

When should you repair and when should you replace your household appliances?

To find out from the experts, we asked Yellow Pages Business of the Month, JW Appliances, when should you replace old with new, and when you should call in a repairman instead.

The first step? Check the warranty, just in case it’s still current. If it is, then the solution is simple – call up a factory-authorized repairman, pronto. But if it’s out of warranty, you’ll need to decide whether to get a new machine or get it repaired – because the cost will be all on you.

Choosing to get your appliance serviced or deciding to replace it is dependent on a number of factors. The cost of service and parts are of course high on the list. But don’t forget to take into account your environmental values – how do you feel about throwing away things? Other factors to consider include the stress of being without your appliance for a while – can you manage trips to the launderette for the next fortnight while you wait for parts?

While your mother’s washing machine may well be kicking on for its 30th anniversary, it’s rare for modern appliances to have such a shelf life – most appliances such as washing machines, should last about 11 years. However there are many stories of expensive state-of-the-art washing machines that break down within 12 months of their warranty expiring. Part of the problem is that they are so incredibly complicated. These days appliances come with all sorts of computer technology. While this makes them "smart", it also means they are much harder to fix when they go on the blink.

However, there are still some basics, to even the smartest of appliances. For example, washing machines are a fairly straightforward machine, comprising belts, pulleys, tub, motor, pump and seals.

So when a kitchen or laundry appliance breaks down, the second thing to do is try to work out what is wrong with the machine. If you call in a technician to diagnose the fault you might be out of pocket before you’ve even started fixing the issue. If the repairman charges a callout fee, that could be the $100 down payment towards the cost of a new machine, even before you know what the problem is.

While the callout fee might be deducted from the cost of repairs, it is still money that you might want to spend elsewhere – especially if the fault is not worth repairing. While some repair technicians might be happy to diagnose the problem over the phone, your best bet is to find a business that doesn’t charge a callout fee, such as Business of the Month, J.W. Appliances. They only charge for parts and labour.

Another option is to make the internet your friend. You can find out all sorts of things about appliances online. It’s worth doing a bit of research to determine what the problem with your appliance might be. Use phrases like "Why is my washing machine leaking?" You’ll be amazed at the help you can get in forums and chat rooms.

Here’s a checklist of "first-aid" for electrical appliances that might help diagnose the problem:

• Check power supplies – have you blown a fuse?
• Is there a problem with drainage?
• Is the filter blocked?
• Is there any greasy residue that might indicate a mechanical fault?

The general rule on replacing appliances is if the repairs cost less than 50% of the price of buying new, it’s probably worth getting it fixed. You should also consider replacing appliances that are over 8 years old, as well as those that have broken down before. Of course, you must take into account your own circumstances – including your household budget, and how willing or able are you to be inconvenienced. Also consider the difficulty of finding parts for an appliance over 10 years old.

There are other points to consider. While prices have probably gone up since you last bought your washing machine or dishwasher, you might also want to consider other advances in technology that might save you money in the long run. The Star Rating system makes it easy to buy an energy efficient appliance today. Factor in the soaring costs of water and electricity, and it might actually pay you to replace your old machine with an energy efficient model, especially if you do a cost comparison to work out running costs over the course of an appliance’s lifetime. For example, if you have a top loader it might pay you to replace it with a front loader, which, while more expensive as an initial outlay, uses a fraction of the water (and detergent) as a top loader.

If you have an appliance that requires urgent maintenance, use Yellow Pages to find a repair technician near you. Remember to ask about their call out fee, their availability, and how quickly they can source parts for your appliance. To make sure you hire the right person, don’t forget to ask about their experience in servicing the particular model of your machine.