A breakdown doesn’t automatically mean you need to buy a new appliance. First, find out whether the problem is with the appliance itself, its maintenance or its installation, then consider whether it can be repaired. If you do need a replacement, choose a model that suits your household and check the relevant French rating for its category. Don’t treat that rating as a measure of every aspect of the appliance.
When an appliance no longer does its job, finding out whether the problem is a fault, an issue with maintenance or an installation problem can help you decide whether to arrange a repair or consider a replacement.
In France, the durability rating for these categories combines repairability and reliability criteria, according to the DGCCRF and ADEME. You’ll still need to check that the appliance’s features suit your household.
The DGCCRF says these two categories are covered by the repairability rating. It can help you compare models that already meet your household’s needs.
Start by finding out what’s causing the problem and whether the appliance can be repaired. If you need to buy a replacement, compare appliances that meet the same needs first, then check the rating for their category.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Cause of the breakdown | Find out whether the fault is with the appliance itself or is related to how it’s used, maintained or installed. Ask whether a repair could restore the function you need. | I want to use my appliance again without replacing it, if a suitable repair will do the job. |
| Repair conditions | Check your warranties, insurance and the nature of the fault before relying on the Repair Bonus. The organisation ecosystem says its scheme covers appliances owned by households that are out of warranty and not covered by insurance. | Before choosing a new appliance, I want to know whether a repair is possible and whether my appliance meets the scheme’s conditions. |
| Durability rating | For a new TV or washing machine in France, check the rating and the criteria behind it. The DGCCRF says this rating replaced the repairability rating for TVs on 8 January 2025 and for washing machines on 8 April 2025. | If I replace my washing machine or TV, I want to compare models that suit my needs using a rating that includes repairability and reliability. |
| Repairability rating | Check the rating and its criteria for the relevant categories. In its list updated in August 2026, the DGCCRF includes dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and pressure washers, among other appliances. | If I replace my dishwasher or vacuum cleaner, I want to consider how easy the model is to repair, without assuming the rating reflects its overall reliability. |
| Everyday use | Compare the dimensions, capacity and features your household needs. Also look at the relevant energy or resource consumption information for the type of appliance. | A new appliance must fit where the old one stood and meet the need I actually have. |
A problem with maintenance, use or installation doesn’t necessarily mean you need to replace the appliance.
Before choosing a new model, find out what caused the problem and whether the appliance’s function can be restored.
According to ecosystem, the scheme covers appliances owned by households that are out of warranty and not covered by insurance. The type of repair needed also matters.
Check your warranties and insurance, then ask a QualiRépar-approved repairer whether the fault is covered by the scheme.
In France, the DGCCRF says the durability rating has replaced the repairability rating for TVs and washing machines. Dishwashers and vacuum cleaners, meanwhile, are among the categories covered by the repairability rating.
Check the rating that applies to the appliance you’re replacing, then compare only models that suit your needs and installation requirements.
These cordless vacuum cleaners are worth considering if your broken appliance is a vacuum cleaner and you need to replace it. To compare their repairability in France, check the rating for each model.
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If you need to replace your vacuum cleaner, this model combines a cordless design with an advertised automatic emptying station. Its product details state a suction power of 220 AW and a 590 W motor. Check the model’s repairability rating before comparing it on this basis.
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If you’re replacing a vacuum cleaner, this model comes with an advertised automatic collection station. Its product details state a suction power of 27,000 Pa and a runtime of up to 70 min. These advertised figures don’t replace checking that it suits your needs or looking up the model’s repairability rating.
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If a new cordless vacuum cleaner meets your needs, this model features an advertised automatic emptying station. Its product details state a suction power of 170 AW and a runtime of up to 80 min. Check the conditions under which this runtime was measured, as well as the model’s repairability rating.
Check the durability rating. The DGCCRF says it replaced the repairability rating for TVs on 8 January 2025 and for washing machines on 8 April 2025. ADEME explains that it combines repairability and reliability criteria.
Both categories are included in the DGCCRF’s list of appliances covered by the repairability rating, updated in August 2026. Check the rating and criteria for the model you’re considering, then make sure separately that it meets your needs.
First, check your warranties, insurance and the nature of the fault. According to ecosystem, the scheme covers appliances owned by households that are out of warranty and not covered by insurance. A QualiRépar-approved repairer can assess whether the repair is eligible.
Before deciding to replace the appliance, find out whether the problem is with the appliance itself or its installation. Ask the repairer whether the proposed work meets the Repair Bonus conditions too, rather than assuming the appliance has a fault.