Calgary's Mrs. Fixit on when to repair or replace your broken appliances

Dented dishwashers, scratched stoves and blemished fridges the castoffs of the appliance world are welcome at Patricia Warner's two Calgary stores.

Her showrooms arefilled with hundreds of refurbished items.

"Could you imagine every day this amount of appliances going into the city landfills? That's why I do what I do," said the owner of Bowest Appliances.

"The sad thing is it's become a disposable world."

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While Warner does have a few new items on the floor, she's in the business of repairing troublesome appliances. But shedoesn'talways recommend that homeowners do the same.

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They don't make 'em like they used to

Appliances used to last 40 years, said Warner. Nowyou'll be lucky if they survive a decade.

"Many products nowadays just aren't built to last and often, it's easier to just throw them out and buy a new one."

So, if you have a stove that's older than 10 years old it might not be worth the trouble to fix it. But if it's just a few years old and no longer under warranty, the problem could be worth investigating.

"In most cases it might be several hundred dollars cheaper to repair," said Warner.

The problem with replacement parts

Of course, repairing an appliance is not an option if the part thatyou need in orderto fix it is nolonger produced by a manufacturer.

Warner said this is often the case, which is why she mines good working parts from non-repairable appliances and hoards them in her back room.

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The problem with technology

"Everything used to be mechanical now everything has electronicboards. Your refrigeration can have up to three, four, five boards."

"Electronics are usually the first thing to go on appliance," Warner told theCalgary Eyeopener.

If that happens, she saidyou're probably better off buying a new one because electronic partscan be very expensive to repair and replace.

Maintenance is key

Appliances will last longer if you fix small issues early in the game.

"It can be as simple as replacing a hinge spring for a dishwasher, the part can cost you $12," Warner said.

But if you wait, it could cause more damage and end up being more costly later on.

Also, maintenance is key. To keep your dishwasher and washing machine clear of calcium deposits, Warner recommends running two cups of vinegar through a cycle, once a month.

"Depending on how the consumer treats and uses their appliance, they can make it last for quite a long time."

With files from the CBC's Falice Chin and the Calgary Eyeopener