Appliance Life Expectancy
Average Repair Costs
Before You Call
Energy-Saving Tips
FAQs
Dishwasher Detergent Dilemma
Heating & Air Inspections

Appliance Life Expectancy

Ever wonder how long the appliances in your home will last? Below is the average life of common household appliances. Life expectancies include occasional repairs and reflect the average age at which replacement is considered. Regardless, if you’re a Service Guard plan holder, you’ll have peace of mind protection against the unexpected cost and hassle of appliance repairs.

Appliance	Average Life (in years)
Air Conditioner	10
Dishwasher	10
Dryer	14
Electric Range>	17
Garbage Disposal	10
Gas Range	19
Microwave	11
Refrigerator	14-17
Washer	13

Source: NAHB Housing Facts, Figures and Trends; Whirlpool and General Electric appliance division

Average Repair Costs

Americans spend millions of dollars each year on appliance repair. With Service Guard, you get peace of mind protection against the unexpected cost and hassle of appliance repair. And it’s all just one phone call away.

Here is the average cost of some common appliance repairs. More than 63,000 satisfied Service Guard customers prefer the column marked “With Service Guard.” We think you will too.

Common Appliance Breakdowns	Without Service Guard	With Service Guard
Replace self-cleaning oven thermostat	$347.00	$.00
Replace washer motor	$335.00	$.00
Replace washer tub seals	$310.00	$.00
Replace A/C fan blade	$242.00	$.00
Replace dryer blower motor	$248.00	$.00

Before You Call

Service Guard values your trust in us as the people to call when you need us. However, sometimes there are a few simple things you can check before you call.

Service Guard offers the following tips for some common problems for those of you who like to tackle basic repair jobs. We encourage you to use every precaution when attempting these repairs and welcome your call when you feel a problem is best left to one of our trained professionals.

Follow all instructions carefully, and if you're still experiencing problems, call Service Guard at 1-800-504-2000.

Please note: We cannot offer repair tips or instructions over the phone.

Launch our Hands-on Self-Help Tool

Energy-Saving Tips

Small changes can make a big difference when it comes to energy efficiency in your home. Americans spend more than $160 billion a year on heating, cooling, lighting and living in their homes. By making small energy efficient changes to your home, you can save 20 to 30 percent on household energy bills. Here are some tips.

• Invest in a CFL or Two
  Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs produce high-quality light and fit into regular sockets. According to energystar.gov, CFLs use nearly 75 percent less energy than regular incandescent bulbs and can last up to 10 times longer.
• Turn it Off!
  So many American homes nowadays have computers in addition to traditional electronic devices like televisions, gaming systems and DVD players. To conserve energy, always turn off your computer monitor or, if you’ll be away from your computer for more than two hours, turn it off too.
• Watch Heating & Cooling Costs
  The largest energy expense for most American households is heating and cooling. Check your thermostat and consider setting it at 68 degrees in winter, 74 degrees in summer to conserve.
• Plant a Tree
  A well-designed landscape adds beauty to your home and can reduce your heating and cooling costs a significant amount. Since solar heat absorbed throughout your house can increase air conditioner use, and ultimately result in larger household bills, planting trees that shade your house can make a real difference – not to mention it helps the environment!
• Weatherize Your Home
  Detect air leaks around your home -- near doors, windows or skylights -- and caulk or install weatherstripping to prevent drafts. This will make your home more comfortable and increase its energy efficiency.

For more energy-saving tips, visit:

• http://www.blackhillsenergy.com/customers/savings/
• http://www.energysavers.gov

FAQs

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What is the most common problem?

Believe it or not, an appliance can be bumped or "hum" itself unplugged. This is common with washing machines.

Why do prices of similar appliances vary so much?

Retail prices for major appliances have stayed flat over the past 15 years even though manufacturing costs and inflation have risen steadily during that time. Manufacturers today continue to offer low prices on their lower quality appliances and then offer their choice lines of appliances at a higher price point.

So, where $400 would buy you a top-quality washer 15 years ago, that same $400 today would only buy you a low-end machine that you'll be throwing away or repairing every three to four years. What has changed? The difference between the $400 washer of today and yesterday (or the $300 dishwasher or the $350 range, or the $300 dryer, or the $600 refrigerator, etc.) is in the internal components used in the machines. The lower end machines today are constructed of lower quality materials than similarly-priced machines 15 years ago. In part, this is attributable to the globalization of manufacturing with various internal parts made at different plants all over the world. While this has allowed manufacturers to cap retail prices for low-end machines over the last 15 years, it has also contributed to a degradation of quality. Therefore, the high-quality appliances you'd buy today command a correspondingly higher price tag – realistically reflecting the increased costs of manufacturing for high quality machines. You should expect top-end dishwashers to retail for approximately $900, washers $1,100, dryers $600, etc.

Is repairing an old appliance really a good investment?

When asking "How much is a new one?", you need to consider both the quality of appliance you can afford as a replacement and the option of having your existing appliance properly repaired by a competent professional. A Service Guard technician can diagnose and evaluate your appliance to determine if it's in your best interest to repair or replace it and make a recommendation accordingly. Also, another cost associated with buying a new appliance is the "aggra-dollars." That is, the aggravation and time spent that goes along with shopping for a new appliance—having it delivered, getting it installed, and disposing of your old one. If you've experienced this joy recently, you'll realize that the aggra-dollar factor can be a very significant cost.

Should I repair or replace my existing appliance?

If you are comparing having your existing machine repaired or replacing it with a machine that is comparable in price with what you paid for your machine 10 or so years ago, you will not be making a valid comparison. The machines are neither similar in quality nor durability for the same price. If you were to merely replace your existing appliance with one that costs about what you paid a decade ago, you'll be repairing or junking the new machine every three to four years. You'll either have to pay more up front for a new, high-quality machine that will give you another 10 years of trouble-free operation or you pay less up front for a low-end machine and then pay-as-you-go for repairs.

REFRIGERATOR
I bought a new refrigerator/freezer and I was planning to move my old one out to the garage and use it for additional cold storage space. Will it damage the unit if I store it in the garage?

Only if it is a self-defrosting refrigerator and the temperature in your garage drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, it is possible that the oil could thicken and cause premature compression failure.

I have an old refrigerator/freezer that doesn't work anymore, and I need to get rid of it. What can I do?

The best option is to take it to your local landfill. However, the law does require that you have the refrigerant evacuated first. Your local appliance repair company should be able to do that for you.

Can I put my refrigerator all the way up against the wall?
Yes you can, as long as there is not a metal grid on the back of it. If there is, you should make sure you leave 1” of space between the unit and the wall.

CLOTHES WASHER
Why would my washer be using cool water during the warm cycle?

Your washer is actually combining hot water and cold water to create the warm water and during certain times of the year cold water gets colder. So, during the colder months, you can expect your warm cycle to run cooler. You might also want to check to see if there is anything blocking the hot water coming into your machine.

Why do I have suds left over in my washer after I am done washing a load of clothes?

It is very possible that you are using more detergent than is necessary for the load size you are washing. Double check the detergent instructions to ensure you are using the correct amount.

STOVE
Why does my gas oven glow like it is hot, even when it is not heating?

The glow is caused by a “glow-bar” igniter that is used to ignite the gas in your oven. It glows as it is heating up, but unless it reaches the correct temperature, the gas valve will not open and the gas will not ignite. Therefore, your oven will not heat up. If your igniter is not heating up to the proper temperature, you may need to replace it.

What makes my oven smell so bad when it is cleaning itself?

The smell is caused by the grease and food that your oven is burning off. When possible, it is a good idea to create additional ventilation in the kitchen when cleaning your oven, perhaps by opening windows and/or doors.

CLOTHES DRYER
What is the average amount of time it takes for a load of clothes to dry?

On average, a large load of clothes should only take around 45 minutes to dry completely. If you are noticing that your clothes are averaging more than 1 hour to dry, you might want to have your dryer vent system checked.

Is it bad to use softener sheets?

Softener sheets won't cause any damage to your dryer, but they can lead to clogged lint filters or the coating of your moisture sensor. If you use them, be sure to periodically clean the screen of your lint filter and wipe off your sensor.

Dishes Still Dirty? Could Be Your Detergent

Do you think your dishwasher isn't doing its duty? Before you call Service Guard, consider cutting the amount of detergent in half and boosting it with an additive such as Lemi Shine, said Service Guard appliance repair trainer Phil Whitehead.

"In the summer of 2010, dishwasher soap manufacturers took the phosphates out of their ingredients," Phil said. "Those phosphates were the workhorse in cleaning dishes and keeping them clean throughout the wash and rinse cycles."

A number of states banned phosphates in dishwasher detergent because the chemicals cause excessive algae growth downstream. The algae rob the water of oxygen, which impacts fish and other aquatic life. Phosphates were banned in clothes washing detergent years ago.

The Internet has much to say about the situation. Two sites we found are Dishes Still Dirty? Blame Phosphate-Free Detergent and States Ban Phosphate-Laden Dishwasher Soap.

Heating & Air Inspections

Why wait until mid-winter to find out your furnace is failing? Why wait for the boiling point to learn your air conditioner is losing its cool?
An annual inspection can save you time and money by finding potential problems before they become real concerns. Another benefit: increased efficiency can lead to added savings. And many warranties require an annual inspection. Call on Service Guard to thoroughly inspect your air conditioner or furnace. In addition to quality care, you get peace of mind and increased comfort.

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