Let’s face it, shopping for home appliances is never as fun as shopping for new shoes or the latest iPhone. Appliances are a major investment, and it can be intimidating to even think about replacing them. But there comes a time when living with outdated, dysfunctional, or downright embarrassing appliances just isn’t worth it.
Read on for our top 3 signs it’s time for an upgrade.
Your Appliances Are Louder than Your Toddler
This is one of the most tell-tale signs that you need an appliance upgrade. If you’re having trouble hearing your screaming child over your noisy appliances, it’s time for a trade-in.
Refrigerators are notorious culprits when it comes to noisy appliances. Not all sounds are created equal. An occasional pop or cracking noise is nothing to worry about. Sizzling noises might sound odd, but chances are it’s just water dripping on the defrost heater — perfectly normal.
You should start worrying if you hear loud buzzing or humming noises coming from your fridge. If it’s loud enough to hear from another room, it could be your fridge’s compressor crying out for help. If that’s the case, you’ll need a technician to take a look, and repairs can be costly. It may make more sense to put the repair money towards a brand new upgrade instead.
Washing machines that make loud rumbling sounds while agitating are another cause for concern. Worn out drum bearings could be to blame, and they’re a hassle to upgrade. Dryers that make loud squeaking noises have worn out pulleys or pumps that need to be addressed ASAP.
You Feel Like You’re Stuck in Another Decade
If you feel like you’re living in a museum of kitchens’ past, that’s a sure sign it’s time for an appliance upgrade. Who hasn’t cringed while flipping through their old yearbook photos? Just like crimped hair and shoulder pads, some appliance styles are best left in the past.
One big exception to this rule: Vintage appliances are trending in a big way. Beloved classics like Smeg refrigerators and Chambers stoves look fabulous and go great with many different decor styles. But there’s a major difference between good vintage and ‘80’s-nightmare vintage.
Tell-tale signs your appliance may fall in the bad outdated category include:
- clunky, bulky designs,
- awkward dials and knobs (instead of buttons or screens),
- fake wood grain appliques,
- …and of course, the dreaded white finish.
Along with their updated look, newer appliances tend to have better features and are more user-friendly. As a result, you’ll actually enjoy using them instead of ignoring their existence.
Which leads us to our last sign.
You Avoid Using them Like the Plague
Our final and most serious sign that it’s time to upgrade your appliances is if you avoid using them entirely. It’s one thing if you just hate housework (no judgment here!). But if you’re ordering takeout because your oven turns your dinner into dog food, just upgrade already.
A new appliance with an intuitive design and can make a world of difference for how you feel in your home. It may surprise you how much upgrading your appliances can improve your entire lifestyle.
It’s absolutely worth the investment if it means you’ll enjoy (or at least tolerate) working in your home again. Then again, if all else fails, you could always just get a robot to do your housework instead.
Sound off in the comments below, and tell us how you knew it was time to upgrade your appliances!
Katie Tejada is a writer, editor, and former HR professional who works with companies like Fireside BBQ Appliances. She often covers developments in HR, business, recruiting, real estate, law and finance, but also enjoys writing about travel, interiors and events.
