Before equipping or upgrading your home for several different uses, check whether each additional appliance meets a regular need and whether an existing one can be kept or repaired. This is the approach recommended by ADEME. If you do need to buy, compare models in the relevant category using the applicable index, then look into spare parts, documentation, warranties and installation requirements. Second-hand and refurbished appliances are also options, provided you check the model reference, condition and seller’s status.
You need to decide which appliances to keep, repair or replace, without adding equipment that duplicates what you already have. ADEME recommends buying only what you really need and keeping appliances for as long as possible.
You want to look at spare parts, documentation, dismantling and maintenance options for each model, rather than relying on an overall score.
You’re willing to consider a used appliance, but want to know its exact model reference, condition, accessories and applicable warranties before deciding.
For each household use, first decide whether an appliance is necessary and whether the one you already own can continue to do the job. If you need a replacement, choosing between new, second-hand and refurbished will then depend on the features and terms specific to the model.
Consider this: when you rarely use the appliance or another one already covers the same need, in line with ADEME’s recommendation to buy only what you need.
Be prepared to: organise this task around the appliances you already have.
Consider this: when a diagnostic can establish whether the fault can be fixed.
Check: any current warranties before arranging a repair. According to ecosystem, the Repair Bonus requires, among other things, that the appliance is out of warranty, the fault is eligible and the repairer is QualiRépar-certified.
Consider this: if a replacement is necessary and a model suits your intended use and installation.
Bear in mind: in France, durability and repairability indices apply only to specific categories. A score alone cannot tell you whether an appliance is right for your home.
Consider this: if the reference, condition and accessories give you a clear picture of whether the appliance will suit your needs.
Check: the seller’s status and the applicable terms. The DGCCRF, for example, distinguishes between a sale by a professional and a private sale when it comes to the legal guarantee of conformity.
| What matters | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Avoid replacing an appliance too soon | Check any current warranties and ask for a diagnostic before replacing a faulty appliance. For the Repair Bonus, check with ecosystem whether the appliance, fault and repairer are eligible. | When my appliance breaks down, I want to know whether it can still be used after a repair. Around 33 % of consumers put this question first. |
| Choose a repairable new appliance | For a category covered by an index, compare the applicable index and its details across similar models. Also check the spare parts and documentation for the exact model reference. | If I have to buy new, I want to be able to assess the model’s repair options before committing. This is a priority for around 27 % of consumers. |
| Match your appliances to your actual needs | Make a note of the appliances you already have and how often you expect to use them. For a washing machine, match its capacity to the usual size of your laundry loads. | I don’t want to make room for an appliance I’ll rarely use or choose a capacity for an exceptional need. Around 20 % of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Buy a used appliance with confidence | Ask for the model reference, condition and accessories. For a refurbished appliance, also ask what tests and repairs have been carried out. Find out whether the seller is a business or a private individual. | When buying a second-hand or refurbished appliance, I mainly need to know what I’ll receive and which warranties apply. Around 20 % of consumers would put this concern first. |
In France, indices apply to specific categories. According to the ministries responsible for the environment and the DGCCRF, the durability index applies to televisions and washing machines, while the repairability index still applies to other categories, including dishwashers and vacuum cleaners.
Compare the details of the index across models in the same category, then check capacity, installation and warranty terms separately.
A larger capacity won’t necessarily meet your household’s needs. ADEME says a 7 kg washing machine is sufficient most of the time, while also advising you to take your actual laundry habits into account.
List your regular needs and the appliances you already have before choosing a capacity or adding another appliance.
An appliance you rarely use also takes up space and needs maintenance.
A warranty may still apply. For an appliance that’s out of warranty, ecosystem reserves the Repair Bonus for eligible appliances and faults handled by a QualiRépar-certified repairer.
Find your proof of purchase, check the warranty with the seller first, then ask for a diagnostic before ordering a replacement.
The DGCCRF describes a refurbished product as a second-hand item whose functions have been tested and which has been repaired if necessary. The seller’s status also affects which warranties apply.
Ask for the model reference, condition, accessories and details of any work carried out. If the legal guarantee of conformity is important to you, check that you’re buying from a professional seller.
The services a brand offers can help you plan your checks, but their existence doesn’t guarantee that a part is available for every model reference.
Worth considering if you’re buying appliances for several different uses and want to compare the warranty terms for each one.
Worth considering if you want to find documentation and parts using an appliance’s technical reference.
Worth considering if access to manuals and a repair service are among your criteria.
Worth considering if you want to look up tumble dryer parts by model reference.
If you’re replacing a washing machine, this new model gives you the option of a 7 kg capacity. Before choosing, compare this capacity with your laundry needs and check the index that applies to its model reference, as well as its installation requirements.
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Worth considering as a replacement washing machine if a 7 kg capacity suits your usual laundry loads.
The model description specifies a spin speed of 1 400 tr/min and an energy class of A. Before deciding, check the index currently applicable to this model reference, the details behind its rating and the installation requirements.
According to the ministries responsible for the environment, the durability index has applied to televisions since 8 January 2025 and to washing machines since 8 April 2025. It is gradually replacing the repairability index for these categories. Check the rating and its details for the model you’re considering.
In France, the DGCCRF lists dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, pressure washers, electric lawnmowers and laptops among the categories covered by the repairability index. For a television or washing machine, look for the applicable durability index instead.
Ask for the details behind the rating, not just the overall score. The DGCCRF says that, when buying a product covered by the durability index, the seller must make these details available to the consumer. Then compare models in the same category and check their maintenance requirements.
Yes. In France, the DGCCRF states that the legal guarantee of conformity covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a professional to a private individual. The same conditions don’t apply to sales between private individuals, so make sure you know who the seller is before buying.
According to ecosystem, the Repair Bonus may apply to an appliance that’s out of warranty if the appliance and fault are eligible and the repair is carried out by a QualiRépar-certified repairer. Check your warranties first, then confirm the conditions for the appliance and fault in question.