Is It Worth Repairing a Cooker? Real Costs, Considerations, and Expert Tips for 2025
Imagine your cooker decides to give up right before you’re hosting a big family dinner. Suddenly, that humdrum kitchen gadget feels like mission control. Now you’re staring it down, wondering: Is it worth repairing, or is this the sign you should finally get something new? No one wants to chuck money at a lost cause, but tossing a slightly cranky cooker can feel wasteful—especially with prices hitting yet another high this year. Let’s pick apart what actually matters when it comes to fixing a cooker, and why the answer isn’t a straight yes or no.
The True Cost of Cooker Repairs in 2025
Costs are climbing everywhere, but cookers seem to live in their own little bubble of unpredictability. For a typical electric cooker, repair bills in the UK now run from £80 for something simple, like a faulty heating element, up to £300 or more if you've got a high-end built-in range. Gas cookers add a bit more drama since any work on gas components means calling in a Gas Safe registered engineer—which usually tacks at least 25% more onto the bill, plus the unpredictability of gas leaks or pipe issues.
Parts are another biggie. The price tag for a new thermostat in 2025 can hover around £35-£60, but if you need a replacement digital control board, don’t be shocked to see prices north of £150. Labour is a wild card, too, since even the best repair folks have minimum callout charges (usually £50-£80), and rates soar in London and the southeast.
A 2025 survey by Consumer Choice UK found customers paid an average of £165 to repair mid-range cookers, with premium models averaging £245. That’s worth thinking about against the cost of a new cooker, where a basic no-frills design starts at £220, but similar performance to a faulty five-year-old range will likely set you back £420 or more after installation and recycling fees.
Now, statistics paint another layer to the cost story. Repair shops have logged a 12% increase in repeat service calls within two years, especially for units aged over 10 years. This means your first repair could kick off a cycle of fixing the next thing that fails. If your cooker’s warranty is dead and parts are rare, expect prices and hassle to keep rising with every future hiccup. But if it’s a minor fault on a three-year-old model, one visit might set you straight for years.
| Repair Type | Cost Range (GBP) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Heating Element Replacement | £80 - £120 | High |
| Thermostat Replacement | £35 - £60 | Medium |
| Digital Control Board | £120 - £200 | Low |
| Gas Leak or Pipe Fault | £100 - £300 | Very Low |
So weighing up the numbers, the best advice is triply clear: take a hard look at part prices, labour, and the age of your machine. If you're getting close to spending half the cost of a brand new cooker, it’s often smarter to stop pouring cash into old tech, unless you’re sentimentally attached or your model is otherwise bulletproof.
When Repair Makes Sense—and When It Doesn’t
Judging by hundreds of kitchen headaches people share online, when does fixing really pay off? If your cooker is under five years old, most brands recommend repairing almost every fault, as long as the repair bill isn’t completely out of whack. Most modern cookers are built to last 10 to 15 years if you clean and use them right. So, blowing it off after three years because of a dead fan or dodgy thermostat doesn’t make sense—those parts are replaceable, and newer models tend to have fewer out-of-production components.
The game changes for oldies. Once your cooker creeps past its 9th or 10th birthday, the odds start shifting. Not only are some parts obsolete, but electrical issues crop up more frequently as components wear down. Remember that stat above: repeat faults are much more common in anything beyond a decade of steady use. In 2025, parts for ovens and cookers made before 2014 can already be tough or expensive to source. Scrappy local repair shops might find what you need second-hand, but that's extra time and sometimes unreliable.
The rule of thumb is this: if your repair estimate is more than 40-50% of what you’d pay for a similar new cooker, think about replacement. For premium brands like Neff, Smeg, or Rangemaster, you might stretch that line a touch—those brands often live longer and have parts support for 12 to 15 years. For budget designs or off-brand imports, don’t torture yourself trying to revive every fault.
Special mention: if it’s the glass top, enamel, or frame that’s damaged (versus internal electrics), replacement is rarely worth it unless you can’t stand the cosmetic look, since these are pricey fixes with almost zero impact on performance.
And let’s not ignore energy usage. A half-broken cooker left unrepaired might draw more power or not heat evenly, causing longer (and way more expensive) cooking times. With energy costs running nearly double what they were just five years ago, that waste can add up over a year—not to mention the sheer frustration of waiting for your chicken to roast.
Ready for a quick self-check? If your cooker:
- Is less than 6 years old
- Has been reliable until now
- The fault is minor (like ignition or single ring not working)
- Parts are common (your repair guy says "easy job")
Hidden Benefits of a Repair—And Why Fixing Isn’t Always Old News
Repairing a cooker isn’t just about budget numbers—it’s got some genuine environmental upside. According to the UK’s Waste & Resources Action Programme, the average cooker sends over 45 kg of steel and electronic waste to landfill. That single choice to repair instead of replace keeps raw materials out of waste streams and squeezes more value out of what you already own. Some councils offer grants or discounts on repairs, so check with your local area before splurging on new white goods.
This year, appliance repair shops are doing record business—people are definitely thinking twice before binning appliances. That’s partly due to the “Right to Repair” regulations, which mean manufacturers must stock key spare parts for 8 to 10 years after launch. Translation: a cooker made in 2019 still has plenty of support, so getting a qualified tech to swap out a heating element or control panel is as normal as calling a plumber for a leaky tap.
There’s another hidden perk: older cookers, especially from the 2010s, tend to have simpler circuits and sturdier parts than today’s ultra-automated models. Fancy app integration looks slick on paper, but more tech means more things to break. Some repair engineers say the common repair time for 10-year-old cookers is lower than brand-new “smart” ones, since the faults are usually mechanical or related to normal wear and tear—things anyone with the right tools can replace.
On top of that, fixing means less hassle with kitchen measurements, new gas or electric lines, and the horror of damage when lugging a new, impossibly heavy cooker up your stairs. Sometimes, keeping things as they are just saves you a tidal wave of trouble. If your chosen model was discontinued last year and fits perfectly between cabinets, a well-timed repair buys you more time before redoing counters or flooring.
Here’s a bit of trivia: cooker repair men and women rarely see “catastrophic” failures before year 12. Instead, it’s the small repeat issues that irk owners most—lights not working, rings not heating, oven doors losing their springs. Most of these have straightforward fixes, and the satisfaction of getting another couple years of reliable meals can’t be measured in pounds and pence alone.
Tips to Decide: Should You Fix or Replace Your Cooker?
Still undecided? Boil it down with a few practical checks to cut through the noise. Here’s what actually clears up the should-I-fix or toss dilemma:
- Know your cooker’s age and brand: A five-year-old Hotpoint is nearly always worth fixing. A 13-year-old mystery-brand? Less so.
- Price compare—don’t just think about the upfront cost. Check for hidden extras: delivery, installation, and safe disposal fees can tip the scales in favour of a repair when a “cheap” new model becomes pricier than it seems.
- Ask about parts: Reliable repair shops or manufacturer service lines will tell you in seconds if your part is common, available, or impossible to find. Always worth a phone call.
- Consider energy use: Newer cookers are usually more efficient. If your old one leaks heat or takes double time, that jumps your electric bill.
- Snoop for guarantees: Many repairs in 2025 include a 3 to 12-month warranty on replacement parts—a nod to consumer rights. If your repair shop doesn’t offer one, something’s off. For new cookers, basic models give 1-2 years, while premium brands cover up to 5.
- Don’t overlook emotional costs: Moving a gigantic, heavy cooker, redrilling cabinets, or waiting through delivery windows isn’t fun for anyone. If repair avoids all that hassle, it’s another tick in its favor.
If you’re still on the fence, note that British homes keep their main cooker an average of 11.2 years before swapping out. Most folks decide after their repair costs push past £350, or when two or more components die within a few weeks of each other. The cheapest option isn’t always the best—sometimes it’s worth spending a bit more for peace of mind, especially if your oven is your weeknight workhorse.
So, is it worth repairing a cooker in 2025? The numbers, facts, and real-life kitchen chaos say yes—if your machine is mid-life, the fault is minor, and getting parts is simple. But if repairs look pricier than upgrading, or your cooker is limping on its last legs, maybe it's time to treat yourself to an upgrade. No shame in wanting a gadget that’s reliable, safe, and doesn’t keep you up at night worrying about Sunday’s roast.
Write a comment