Before replacing an appliance that is out of warranty, check for accessible maintenance or usage issues first. If the problem persists, arrange a professional diagnosis or quote. Repair is worth considering when parts and a repairer are available; if replacement is necessary, compare the relevant rating and the new model’s energy label for its appliance category.
You need to get your laundry, washing-up or vacuuming back on track quickly, while avoiding a rushed replacement. ADEME advises checking for a simple cause first and considering a professional quote if the problem remains.
If buying new is necessary, compare the repairability information available: the durability rating for a washing machine, or the repairability rating for a dishwasher or vacuum cleaner, in line with guidance from ADEME and the French Ministry of the Economy.
A useful quote sets out the parts, labour and expected time without the appliance. Also check whether the conditions of the Repair Bonus may apply before comparing repair with a new appliance.
Consider this: as soon as the appliance stops performing its function, limiting checks to the maintenance and usage instructions set out in the manual.
Limitation: if the fault persists or safety is uncertain, professional help is preferable to attempting any electrical dismantling.
Consider this: for an appliance that is out of warranty when a repairer can provide a quote and the fault qualifies for the schemes available.
Compare: warranty cover, the parts required and the stated timescale before making your decision.
Consider this: if repair cannot restore the household’s normal use of the appliance in suitable conditions.
Check: the durability or repairability rating applicable to the new model does not predict the outcome of a specific breakdown.
Quotes, timescales and parts availability must be assessed for each appliance. In a Gifam Insights study conducted for ADEME in August 2024 among 10,020 people representative of the French adult population, several stated concerns related directly to this decision.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs and concerns |
|---|---|---|
| Quote and repair support | Ask for a detailed quote; check any current warranty or insurance; confirm that the fault and repairer qualify for the Repair Bonus. | I want to compare the amount I would still have to pay with a suitable replacement. In the August 2024 Gifam Insights study for ADEME, 80% of respondents ranked the cost of repair among their main selection criteria. |
| Parts and expected quality | Ask about parts availability and lead times; check whether documentation and dismantling are taken into account by the relevant rating; for a new washing machine, also look at the durability rating. | I am looking for a repair that can be completed with parts and a professional who are available. In the same study, 77% of respondents felt that manufacturers make repairs difficult, while 52% were concerned about the quality after repair. |
| Confirmed fault and continued use | Start with the accessible maintenance checks in the manual; if the cause remains uncertain, ask for a diagnosis; compare the actual timescale with how urgently your household needs the appliance. | I want to avoid replacing an appliance because of a simple issue, while quickly getting everyday laundry, washing-up or vacuuming back on track. |
ADEME estimates that in France, one in two appliances taken to an after-sales service is not actually broken and does not need a part to work again.
Limit yourself to the maintenance checks recommended in the manual. If the appliance still does not work, ask for a professional diagnosis rather than dismantling an electrical appliance.
The amount you actually pay may differ from the initial quote when the Repair Bonus applies, but the scheme is subject to conditions relating to warranty status, the fault and an approved repairer.
Before any work begins, confirm the warranty status, the repairer’s accreditation and whether the fault qualifies, then request a detailed quote.
Repairability and durability ratings provide information about factors such as documentation, dismantling, parts or reliability, depending on the category. They do not determine the cost of a particular part or the local repair timescale.
Use the rating to compare similar new models, then check the parts, timescale and quote for the faulty appliance separately.
The DGCCRF identified shortcomings or breaches at 46% of the establishments inspected for information about warranties and insurance for consumer electronics and household appliances.
Keep your proof of purchase and read the duration, exclusions and claims process before taking out an extension or giving up your right to make a claim.
These Joybuy options are intended to replace a faulty household vacuum cleaner. Before buying, compare the repairability rating shown for the model, along with parts and service conditions suited to your household.
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An option to consider for everyday cleaning, with a station advertised for automatic emptying and charging.
The product listing states that it includes a multi-surface brush, seven accessories and up to 100 minutes of battery life.
Before buying, check the model’s French repairability rating and confirm the availability, lead time and terms for spare parts.
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This model is designed to clean several areas of the home after replacing a faulty vacuum cleaner.
The product listing specifies six tools, a collection and charging station, an anti-tangle brush and up to 70 minutes of battery life.
Check the repairability rating, battery life in the modes you use at home, and the terms for supplying parts or consumables.
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An option for households looking to resume cleaning carpets and hard floors with a station advertised for automatic emptying.
The product listing specifies 170 AW, an anti-tangle brush, dust detection with a green LED and up to 80 minutes of battery life.
Check the model’s repairability rating, the station’s consumables and parts availability before finalising your choice.
No. According to the French Ministry of the Economy and ecosystem, the equipment must, among other conditions, be owned by a household, have been bought in France, no longer be covered by a warranty or insurance, have an eligible fault and be taken to an approved repairer. The discount is deducted directly from the bill when these conditions are met.
Compare the durability rating and energy label of models suitable for your household. ADEME states that, since April 2025, the durability rating has also applied to washing machines and combines repairability and reliability in its score.
For these appliances, check the repairability rating displayed for the model. According to the French Ministry of the Economy, it takes into account factors including documentation, dismantling, and the availability and price of parts, with criteria specific to each category; it does not guarantee the cost or success of a particular future repair.
Not necessarily. ADEME estimates that in France, around one in two appliances taken to an after-sales service is not broken and does not require a replacement part. First check the accessible maintenance points without carrying out technical work, then ask for a professional diagnosis or quote if the problem persists.
The European Consumer Centre France states that parts availability rules apply for 10 years in particular to washing machines and dishwashers, starting from the date the last unit of the model was placed on the market. However, check the model and type of part with the manufacturer or repairer before basing your decision on this timescale.