Appliance Repair Cost Guide: What Each Fix Costs

Fixr’s national averages vary by appliance, and the component ranges cover different repair scopes. Start with the dishwasher diagnostic hub or the hub for your appliance, then compare a technician’s written scope with the table below. These figures do not predict a local invoice.

Typical ranges by appliance

Appliance	Fixr typical repair range or national average	What to compare
Dishwasher	See verified CostRange data below.	Drain pump, heating element and control panel are separate repair categories.
Washer	See verified CostRange data below.	A pump, control board and drum are different scopes.
Dryer	See verified CostRange data below.	Heating, motor and vent work are separate categories.
Refrigerator	See verified CostRange data below.	A compressor estimate differs from an ice-maker or dispenser repair.
Air conditioner	See verified CostRange data below.	Capacitor, motor, refrigerant and coil figures differ.
Furnace	See verified CostRange data below.	Igniter, blower and heat-exchanger estimates are not interchangeable.

Dishwasher and washer decisions

Fixr reports a dishwasher national average and a typical repair range. The new-dishwasher record in the cost data is for the appliance only, not installation. Fixr says to consider replacement above 10 years and when a repair exceeds half the cost of a new unit. A pump, control panel or heater quote should be compared with a similar new dishwasher, not a high-end model with a different feature set.

For washers, Fixr reports its own average and typical range, plus separate costs for a pump, drum and control board. Its replacement comparison says to consider the price of a new comparable unit and not spend more than half the washer’s current value. The current value depends on the specific washer and is not calculated by this guide. Do not mistake a pump estimate for the entire repair if the technician also quotes labor or a service call.

Start with safe checks before paying for a diagnosis: use the dishwasher not-draining hub above for visible filter and hose clues, and the washer not-draining hub for a hose or cycle symptom. The cost guide does not diagnose a pump from standing water or a wet load.

Dryer and refrigerator estimates

Fixr’s dryer page lists a national average and typical range; those records are shown separately so the average is not confused with the range. It also lists a new dryer appliance-only range. Its guidance says a dryer at least 10 years old may be a replacement candidate; it gives a separate half-life and half-replacement-cost comparison. For a gas dryer, leave the gas supply and ignition system to a professional.

The dryer not-heating guide separates an airflow restriction from a heat-component fault. A vent-cleaning visit, heater repair and motor replacement are different scopes. Ask which one is included and whether the quote includes duct access.

For refrigerators, Fixr reports a typical range and a national average. The listed component estimates range from an ice maker or door-related repair to a compressor. Fixr’s page says not to spend more than half the cost of a new refrigerator and to consider replacement when a unit over 10 years old needs a major repair. “Major” still needs a diagnosis; the price table does not decide it for you.

Fixr says about 13 years for refrigerator life, while the NAHB table hosted by USDA lists 17 years for a standard refrigerator. The appliance lifespan guide keeps those source estimates separate. Use the refrigerator cooling hub for safe checks before approving compressor work.

AC and furnace work

Fixr reports a typical AC repair range and component categories for capacitor, motor, compressor, refrigerant and coils. The AC source says a repair over half of replacement cost may not be worthwhile and also describes the 5,000 rule, where repair estimate multiplied by equipment age is compared with 5,000. A source-backed replacement price record is not available here, so the half-cost widget is not calculated for AC. Use the AC repair-cost guide for the rules and scope differences.

Do not handle refrigerant or open an electrical enclosure. If the system is leaking water, frozen or not cooling, use the dedicated AC symptom guides before deciding which range to compare.

Fixr’s furnace page lists a typical repair range, national average and component ranges. It does not provide a new-furnace price or a furnace-specific 50% replacement rule. Do not import that rule from an AC or refrigerator page. The furnace repair-or-replace guide compares the 15-to-20-year lifespan estimates and explains the missing replacement price.

For a no-start furnace, start with the furnace hub. Gas, combustion and internal electrical faults need qualified service regardless of the range displayed.

What the estimate should include

Before approving work, ask for a written diagnosis and itemized quote. Check whether the service call, labor, part, tax and follow-up visit are included. Fixr’s pages do not all define those items the same way. A reported part-only range should not be compared with an all-in quote unless you account for the difference.

Get a comparable replacement estimate when the repair is large. Compare appliances of similar size and installation scope. Several new-appliance ranges in the data are appliance-only, and this guide does not have a new AC or furnace cost record. Do not treat a missing replacement range as zero or substitute an unrelated system price.

The source dates also differ. The dishwasher and dryer pages were checked on January 31, 2025; refrigerator and furnace pages on August 29, 2025; AC on January 29, 2026. The washer page could not be rechecked in its fiche and is dated October 12, 2026 there. The displayed CostRange records show their own check dates; a range can become stale and should be refreshed before it guides a purchase.

Use the right cost guide

For detailed dishwasher pump estimates, use the dishwasher pump repair cost guide. The appliance lifespan guide above keeps refrigerator and dryer estimates side by side. The AC and furnace cost guides above keep their HVAC rules separate.

If you have a diagnosis and the price of a comparable replacement, the repair-or-replace calculator displays the source-based signals without telling you what to buy. It cannot estimate a new furnace price or predict energy savings.

Dishwasher: separate the visit from the repair

The dishwasher rows include an overall national average, a general repair range and component estimates. A drain-pump figure is not the same thing as a confirmed pump diagnosis. Standing water can also have a filter, hose or setup cause; use the drain hub linked above for visible checks before comparing a part quote. Ask whether the estimate includes the service call and labor, then compare the written scope with the pump-specific guide. A new-unit range in the table is appliance-only, so it should not be treated as an installed replacement price.

Fixr also presents a replacement comparison based on a share of a new dishwasher’s price and an age comparison. These are separate prompts. An appliance can be old without the current fault being major, and a costly repair can still have a different scope from buying and installing a new unit. The pump-specific guide linked above focuses on that component; the drain hub helps you avoid choosing a pump because water remains in the tub.

Washer: compare a component with the same repair scope

The washer cost records separate the pump, control board and drum. Those are not interchangeable repairs. Ask the technician which part failed and whether labor, diagnosis and any return visit are included. A pump-only range should not be compared with a quote that includes a broader repair. The washer not-draining hub linked above helps check a visible hose or cycle issue before you seek a drain-pump diagnosis.

Fixr’s washer guidance compares a repair with a new comparable unit and also refers to the washer’s current value. The calculator can show the new-unit comparison when you enter a comparable price, but it does not estimate resale value. Keep that distinction in mind when a technician or retailer uses “value” without naming the denominator. The table has no price for every possible model or installation condition; use a local written quote for your specific washer.

Dryer: heat complaints can have different causes

The dryer rows separate a general repair range, heating parts, motor and vent work. A no-heat symptom does not prove that a heating element failed. A restricted vent can affect drying and belongs to a different scope from replacing a component inside the dryer. Use the dryer hub linked above to distinguish safe airflow checks from gas or 240-volt work. Ask whether the vent route, labor and access are part of the estimate.

Fixr’s dryer page gives an average and a typical repair range, and a separate range for a new appliance. It also gives age and midlife comparisons. The typical life estimate differs from the NAHB figure shown in the lifespan guide, so do not treat a single age as a guaranteed cutoff. Compare the diagnosed scope, the appliance’s condition and a similar replacement rather than relying on the part label alone.

Refrigerator: sealed-system work is a different decision

The refrigerator records distinguish an ice-maker or water-dispenser repair from a compressor repair. A compressor quote involves a different system and should not be treated as the same type of work as an owner-accessible bin or filter check. Use the refrigerator cooling hub linked above for visible checks and stop at any sealed-system or refrigerant work. Ask the technician to identify the diagnosed part and the warranty on the work.

Fixr’s repair and new-appliance ranges are national planning records. The source’s replacement advice includes a half-of-new-cost comparison and a separate condition for a unit over 10 years old with a major repair. It does not define “major” for every model. The written diagnosis supplies that missing context; the table only helps compare a known scope with the listed categories.

Air conditioner: do not price a symptom as a part

The AC table contains categories for a capacitor, motor, compressor, refrigerant and coil. The estimates differ because those jobs differ. A stopped outdoor fan may be consistent with more than one fault, and a warm room does not establish that the refrigerant charge is low. Use the AC not-cooling hub before requesting a part-specific estimate. Never open the electrical enclosure, test a capacitor or handle refrigerant to make the comparison.

Fixr’s page includes a typical range and a half-of-replacement comparison, plus the 5,000 rule. The first needs a comparable replacement price; the current cost records do not supply a new AC price. The second uses repair estimate multiplied by age. The AC repair-cost guide linked above explains the source’s formula and its scope. Trane’s age-and-rising-repairs statement is a separate context rule, not another component price.

Furnace: the table is not a replacement quote

The furnace table keeps an igniter, flame sensor, limit switch, board, blower and heat exchanger as separate categories. These are internal parts. A homeowner should not open a gas furnace or use the estimates as instructions to replace one. Use the furnace hub linked above for thermostat and filter observations, then arrange qualified service for ignition, combustion, gas or internal electrical work.

Fixr’s repair range and listed components do not provide the cost of a new furnace. The table therefore cannot calculate a furnace half-price rule. Fixr and Trane give a lifespan range; the furnace repair-cost guide linked above explains how to compare that context with a written estimate. Request a comparable installed replacement quote before comparing totals, and keep the service visit, labor, parts and installation scope visible.

Compare the dates as well as the ranges

Every range includes its source and last-checked date. That date does not guarantee that a provider still charges the same amount. If a range is old, use it only as a planning reference and confirm a current quote with a local provider.

Use the table after diagnosis to see whether a quote covers one component, a full repair, labor or an appliance purchase. It does not estimate taxes, local labor, installation or model-specific parts. The calculator applies only its listed rules to the values you enter. For a furnace it shows its position within the cited lifespan without a percentage signal; for a refrigerator it does not estimate energy savings.

Choose the cost category after the symptom is clear

A washer that leaves water in the tub and a washer that leaves clothes wet after a completed cycle raise different questions. The washer not-spinning hub covers load, cycle and spin clues; the drain hub above covers a pump-out problem. A pump cost is relevant only after a diagnosis connects the symptom to that part. A motor, drum or control-board quote has a different scope, so do not use the pump row as a stand-in for a complete repair estimate.

Refrigerator ice production is also a narrower question than a warm refrigerator. The ice-maker hub separates freezer condition, bin, filter and water-path checks from refrigeration faults. A maker assembly estimate does not include a compressor diagnosis, and a no-ice symptom does not establish that the refrigerator’s sealed system has failed. Keep the symptom, diagnosed part and cost category together when you compare a written quote.

The same discipline applies across the appliance table. A dryer with poor airflow needs a different estimate from one with a confirmed heating-component fault. An AC with visible ice needs a different diagnosis from a system with a water leak. A furnace that will not start can involve visible controls or an internal combustion fault. The hubs linked above help narrow those paths; the cost guide begins after the technician has named the work. If the proposed part does not match the observed symptom, ask what test supports the diagnosis before you use a component range.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average cost of appliance repair?

Fixr lists different national averages by appliance. The figures are not local quotes and do not identify what is wrong with a specific unit.

Does an appliance repair estimate include labor?

The listed Fixr ranges differ by category and component. Ask the service provider what parts, labor, diagnostic visit and follow-up are included.

When should I replace an appliance instead of repairing it?

Fixr gives different decision rules by appliance. Compare the diagnosed estimate with a comparable replacement and follow the source-specific rule.

Sources

• Dishwasher Repair CostFixr Editorial Team (secondary; checked January 31, 2025)
• Washing Machine Repair CostFixr Editorial Team (secondary; checked October 12, 2026)
• Dryer Repair CostFixr Editorial Team (secondary; checked January 31, 2025)
• Refrigerator Repair CostFixr Editorial Team (secondary; checked August 29, 2025)
• Air Conditioner Repair CostFixr Editorial Team (secondary; checked January 29, 2026)
• Furnace Repair CostFixr Editorial Team (secondary; checked August 29, 2025)