After a breakdown, consider a professional repair before replacing a major appliance. Make sure the time it will take to get it working again suits your needs. If you do need a replacement, choose the right capacity and dimensions, then compare the information available for that appliance category. For a refurbished appliance, also check the condition and specifications of the individual item, along with the terms offered by the professional seller.
Without a working washing machine, fridge or cooking appliance, you’ll need to compare the wait for a professional repair with the delivery time. Don’t forget to factor in installation and the removal of your old appliance.
You want to compare repairability or durability ratings, where one is available for the category you’re replacing, while choosing a capacity and energy consumption that suit your needs.
You’re considering giving an appliance a second life, provided you can check the condition and specifications of the item on offer, the tests it has undergone and the guarantees that apply when buying from a professional seller.
Consider this: if a repair could get your appliance working again within an acceptable timeframe.
Bear in mind: parts availability and repair times may make this option unsuitable for your household’s needs.
Consider this: if you need an appliance with the right dimensions and capacity, and clear delivery arrangements.
Bear in mind: repairability and durability ratings vary by category. Neither removes the need to check that the appliance suits your installation and intended use.
Consider this: if you want to reuse an appliance whose condition and specifications suit your installation.
Bear in mind: the word “refurbished” alone doesn’t tell you how much wear the individual item has or what work has been carried out on it.
Once you’ve compared repair and replacement times, look at the criteria that matter for the appliance your household needs.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping everyday life running | Compare the wait for a professional repair with the time needed for delivery and installation. Confirm when your old appliance will be collected. | When an essential appliance breaks down, I want to know when my household will be able to use one again. Around 36% of consumers put keeping everyday life running first. |
| Repairability and durability | Check the exact category: for eligible new washing machines, look at the durability index; for eligible new dishwashers, check the repairability index. | If I plan to keep my next appliance for a long time, I want to understand how easy it might be to repair in future. Around 29% of consumers prioritise repairability or durability. |
| Capacity and energy consumption | Choose a capacity that suits your usual loads and compare the energy label figures, taking note of their units and reference conditions. According to ADEME, the information shown varies by appliance. | For frequent use, I look for a capacity that suits my loads and check how much energy the appliance uses. Nearly 21% of consumers prioritise this match. |
| Reuse and guarantees | For a refurbished appliance, check the condition and specifications of the individual item, the tests listed and the identity of the professional seller. | If I choose refurbished, I want to know exactly which appliance I’ll receive and what guarantees come with it. For around 14% of consumers, this kind of responsible reuse comes first. |
A breakdown doesn’t automatically mean you need a replacement. The Repair Bonus described by the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition depends on factors including the appliance, the fault and whether the repair is carried out by an approved repairer.
Before ordering another appliance, find out whether a repair is possible and how long it will take. Then check whether the scheme applies to your situation.
Ratings vary by category. The French Ministry for the Ecological Transition notes, for example, that the durability index has replaced the repairability index for eligible new washing machines.
Check the appliance category before looking for the rating that applies to it.
According to ADEME, the energy consumption figures shown are based on reference conditions. The energy class alone doesn’t tell you whether the capacity suits your household’s usual loads.
Check the units, the reference programme where shown and the capacity. Also make sure you have the space and dimensions needed for installation.
If the capacity isn’t right, you may need to run extra cycles to get through your usual loads.
The French Ministry of the Economy describes a refurbished product as a second-hand item whose functions have been tested. The term alone doesn’t tell you the condition of the individual item on offer.
Ask the professional seller for details of the appliance, the tests and any work carried out, as well as the terms of any applicable guarantees.
Yes, if a professional repair is still an option and can be completed within an acceptable timeframe. The French Ministry for the Ecological Transition states that the Repair Bonus is available through an approved repairer. Before choosing this option, also check that your appliance and its fault are eligible.
Arrange this when you order your new appliance. The organisation ecosystem describes a “one-for-one” collection service for a used appliance of an equivalent type, including when you buy online. Check with the seller what arrangements apply to your delivery.
For eligible new washing machines, check the durability index, which has applied since 8 April 2025, according to the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition. For eligible new dishwashers, check the repairability index. For other categories, check which rating is displayed rather than assuming the same one applies.
Yes. According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the legal guarantee of conformity also applies when an individual buys a refurbished product from a professional seller. Check the description of the specific item separately, along with the terms of any commercial guarantee offered.