Replace Dryer: When to Fix It vs. Buy New

When you replace dryer, a home appliance that dries clothes using heat and tumbling action. Also known as a clothes dryer, it’s one of the most used appliances in UK homes — and one of the most likely to break down after 8 to 12 years. If your dryer’s stopped spinning, won’t heat up, or makes strange noises, you’re probably asking: is it worth repairing, or should I just replace it?

Many people jump straight to buying new, but dryer repair, the process of diagnosing and fixing faulty parts like the heating element, thermal fuse, or drum rollers often saves hundreds. Replacing a dryer heating element, the component that generates heat inside the dryer costs under £100 in parts and labour — far less than a new machine. But if the control board is fried, or the drum bearings are worn out, the repair might not make sense. It’s not just about cost — it’s about how old the unit is, how often you use it, and whether you’re paying too much in energy bills.

Most dryers start losing efficiency after 10 years. If yours is older and needs a major fix, replacing it with a newer, energy-rated model could cut your electricity use by 30%. But if it’s only 5 years old and the issue is a simple belt or fuse, repair is almost always the smarter move. You don’t need to replace your dryer just because it’s slow or noisy — those are often fixable problems. In fact, many of the same issues we see in Taunton homes — like clothes taking too long to dry or the dryer shutting off mid-cycle — are caused by clogged vents, faulty thermostats, or worn-out start switches, all of which are easy to fix.

Before you buy new, check what’s actually wrong. A blown thermal fuse is cheap to replace. A broken drum roller is a 30-minute fix. But if the motor’s gone or the control panel’s dead, you’re looking at a repair that’s close to the price of a new unit. That’s when it’s time to consider a replacement. The good news? You don’t have to guess. The posts below show you how to spot the real signs of failure, compare repair costs, and make a decision based on your situation — not sales pitches.