Is It Worth Repairing a Cooker? Real Costs, Lifespan, and When to Replace

How many times have you walked into your kitchen, turned on the cooker, and heard a strange click instead of the familiar hum? Or maybe the oven won’t heat past 150°C, and the hob flickers like a faulty streetlight. You stare at it, thinking: is it worth repairing a cooker? It’s not just about money-it’s about time, safety, and whether you’re throwing good cash after bad.

How old is your cooker?

Most gas or electric cookers last between 10 and 15 years. That’s the average lifespan under normal use. If yours is 8 years old and the grill element just died, that’s a simple fix. But if it’s 14 years old and now the thermostat’s erratic, the door seal’s cracked, and the control panel glitches? You’re past the halfway point of its life. Repairing it now is like patching a tire on a car with 200,000 km on the odometer. You might get another year or two, but the next breakdown is just around the corner.

Here’s what most people don’t realize: after 10 years, the failure rate of cookers jumps by 60%. That’s not a guess-it’s from a 2024 study by the New Zealand Household Appliance Lifespan Project. If your cooker’s older than 10, every repair has a 1 in 3 chance of being followed by another within six months.

What’s the repair actually costing you?

Let’s say your oven won’t heat. The technician says it’s the thermostat. Easy fix. Parts: $85. Labour: $120. Total: $205. Sounds reasonable, right? But here’s the hidden cost: time. You’ll be without a working oven for at least two days. Maybe three if parts need ordering. That means no roasts, no baked potatoes, no Christmas pudding. You’re eating out, microwaving frozen meals, or relying on a portable hotplate.

Compare that to buying a new basic electric cooker. You can get a reliable 5-burner model with a decent oven for $750-$900 in New Zealand. That’s less than four repairs. And you get a 2-year warranty, better energy efficiency, and a modern digital display that doesn’t need a crystal ball to figure out.

Gas cookers are trickier. A faulty gas valve or flame sensor can cost $250-$400 to fix. And if your cooker is over 12 years old, it likely doesn’t meet current safety standards. New Zealand’s Gas Code 2023 tightened requirements for flame failure devices and ventilation. Older models may not be compliant-even if they still work.

Energy bills are rising. Your cooker might be part of the problem.

A 10-year-old cooker uses up to 30% more electricity than a new one. Why? Insulation degrades. Seals shrink. Heating elements lose efficiency. The thermostat doesn’t calibrate properly. You’re not just paying for repairs-you’re paying extra on your power bill every month.

Take a typical family in Dunedin. They use their oven 4 times a week. A new A-rated cooker saves about $110 a year in electricity. That adds up to $550 over five years. That’s almost enough to cover the cost of a new cooker. If you’re on a fixed income or budgeting tightly, that’s not a small amount.

Is it a safety issue?

This is where people get lucky-or unlucky. A cracked oven door, a sparking hob, or a gas smell? Those aren’t inconveniences. They’re red flags.

Gas leaks don’t always smell like rotten eggs. Sometimes they’re slow, silent, and build up over weeks. Older cookers often have outdated gas valves that don’t shut off properly. In 2023, WorkSafe NZ reported 17 incidents of gas appliance fires linked to cookers over 12 years old. None were fatal, but all were preventable.

Electric cookers aren’t safe either. Frayed wiring behind the control panel, corroded terminals, or a faulty earth connection can cause shocks or short circuits. If your cooker has been repaired more than twice in the last year, the risk isn’t just financial-it’s physical.

When repair makes sense

There are times when fixing a cooker is the smart move:

• Your cooker is under 5 years old and under warranty.
• The problem is a single, simple part: a broken element, a blown fuse, or a faulty door switch.
• You’re attached to the model-maybe it’s a vintage brand like Kelvinator or a custom fit in your kitchen.
• You’ve already paid for a diagnostic and the quote is under $150.

For example, if your 3-year-old electric cooker has a broken grill element, replacing it costs $90 and takes an hour. That’s a no-brainer. You’re extending a still-reliable appliance, not gambling on a dying one.

When to walk away

If any of these apply, buy new:

• Your cooker is over 10 years old.
• Repair costs more than 50% of a new unit’s price.
• You’ve had two or more repairs in the last 12 months.
• The oven doesn’t heat evenly, or the hob flames are yellow instead of blue.
• You’re planning to sell your home. Buyers notice old, worn-out appliances.

Don’t fall for the myth that “it’s still working.” A cooker that works but is inefficient, unsafe, or unreliable is costing you more than you think. It’s not just the repair bill-it’s the stress, the time, the energy waste, and the risk.

What to look for in a new cooker

If you’re replacing it, don’t just grab the cheapest one. Look for:

• Energy rating: A+ or higher. Avoid anything below C.
• Self-cleaning: Pyrolytic or catalytic. Saves hours of scrubbing.
• Gas or electric: Gas heats faster, electric is more even. Choose based on your cooking habits.
• Warranty: At least 2 years. Some brands offer 5 years on the oven element.
• Smart features: Not essential, but useful if you want to preheat from your phone.

Brands like Fisher & Paykel, Smeg, and Beko have solid reputations in New Zealand. You don’t need a top-end model. A $800 unit from a trusted brand will outperform a $1,200 one from a no-name seller.

What happens to your old cooker?

Don’t leave it by the curb. In Dunedin, the city council offers free e-waste pickup for large appliances. Or take it to a certified recycler like Electrocycle in South Dunedin. They’ll strip out copper, steel, and glass-95% of a cooker can be recycled. Throwing it in landfill is illegal under New Zealand’s Waste Minimisation Act 2008.

Some appliance stores even take your old one for free when you buy a new one. Ask before you pay.

Final call: repair or replace?

Ask yourself these three questions:

1. How old is it? (Over 10? Think replacement.)
2. How much will repair cost? (Over half the price of a new one? Walk away.)
3. Is it safe? (Gas smells? Sparks? Uneven heating? Don’t risk it.)

If two of those say “no,” replace it. If only one says “no,” repair it. If all three say “yes,” you’re already in replacement territory.

There’s no shame in replacing a cooker. Appliances aren’t meant to last forever. They’re meant to serve you well until they don’t. The smart choice isn’t the cheapest repair-it’s the one that gives you peace of mind, safety, and efficiency for the next decade.