A breakdown doesn’t necessarily mean you need to replace your appliance. First, check the warranty, then ask for a diagnosis and a detailed quote. Compare the repair cost and timescale, taking any Repair Bonus into account, with the full cost of an appliance that suits your home and how you use it. If you’re replacing a washing machine, check its durability index; for a dishwasher, check its repairability index, as well as the specifications of the exact model. There’s no single price threshold that applies to every situation.
Everyday laundry or dishwashing has come to a halt, but you want to find out what’s wrong, check your warranty cover and compare the net cost of a repair before buying a replacement. ADEME lists repair as an option to consider when a large household appliance breaks down.
If repair isn’t the right option, you’ll need to find a machine with suitable capacity and dimensions, then compare its durability index and energy label information. The French Ministry of the Economy states that this index has applied to the relevant front-loading and top-loading washing machines since 8 April 2025.
Check that it can be installed in your kitchen, as well as its capacity and repairability. The French Ministry of the Economy distinguishes the dishwasher repairability index from the durability index that applies to the relevant washing machines.
Start by checking the warranty and getting a diagnosis with a detailed quote. If you need a replacement, check the dimensions and the index that applies to the appliance category. For a second-hand or refurbished model, also look at its condition and the terms of sale.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Net repair cost and timescale | Check the warranty and ask for a diagnosis, a detailed quote and a timescale. For an out-of-warranty repair, confirm your eligibility for the Repair Bonus with a QualiRépar-approved repairer. | If I can avoid buying a replacement by having my appliance repaired, I want to know how much I’ll have to pay and how long it will take before I decide. Around 36 % of consumers prioritise repair before considering replacement. |
| Replacing a washing machine | Compare capacity and dimensions. For the relevant front-loading and top-loading washing machines covered since 8 April 2025, check the durability index and its breakdown, as well as the energy label. | If I need to replace my washing machine, I want a model that suits my usual laundry loads and the space available, with useful information to help me compare its durability. Around 29 % of consumers put replacing their washing machine at the top of their list. |
| Replacing a dishwasher | Measure the space and check the installation type and capacity. Check the repairability index and its breakdown, then compare the label information on a like-for-like basis. | If my dishwasher can’t be repaired on acceptable terms, I want a new model that fits my kitchen and meets my everyday needs. Around 21 % of consumers prioritise replacing their dishwasher. |
| Second-hand appliances and verifiable condition | Check the seller’s identity, the stated condition, the tests carried out and the delivery terms. Distinguish between a sale by a professional and a private sale. | If I choose a second-hand appliance, I want to be able to check its actual condition and know who to contact if there’s a problem. Around 14 % of consumers prioritise a second-hand or refurbished appliance whose condition and terms of sale can be verified. |
ecosystem offers a Repair Bonus of 50 € for a washing machine or dishwasher when an out-of-warranty repair is eligible and carried out by a QualiRépar-approved repairer. Ask them to confirm that the fault is eligible and that the discount will be applied before comparing quotes. This support doesn’t replace a diagnosis or an assessment of the total cost.
A fixed percentage doesn’t take the diagnosis, quote, timescale or warranty into account. ADEME points out that repair is worth considering before replacement.
Compare the net repair cost and timescale with the full cost of a suitable replacement appliance. Don’t rely on an automatic threshold.
Also factor in call-out and diagnostic fees, as well as installation or removal costs if you replace the appliance.
The durability index has applied to the relevant front-loading and top-loading washing machines since 8 April 2025, while dishwashers have a repairability index. The indices have different names and use different criteria.
For the exact model, check which index applies and read the details of its criteria. Then compare this information with the dimensions and your needs. The French Ministry of the Economy states that the breakdown of the durability index must be available when you buy online.
In France, an appliance described as refurbished must undergo tests covering its functionality, but this alone doesn’t guarantee that it’s in the same condition as a new one. The protections that apply depend, among other things, on whether the seller is a professional or a private individual.
Ask for the specifications, condition, tests carried out and terms of sale in writing. Also check the seller’s identity and what options you have if something goes wrong.
If you haven’t checked the condition or delivery arrangements properly, transporting and installing the appliance could be more complicated.
The information below relates to specific models and doesn’t describe each brand’s entire range. Check the model number, dimensions and information displayed for the model on offer.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a freestanding dishwasher: Bosch lists the SMS4EMI06E as 60 cm wide, with a B energy rating and water consumption of 9.0 l for the stated Eco cycle.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a freestanding dishwasher: the BDFN26440WP product information lists a C energy rating and provides access to its repairability report.
Worth considering if you’re looking for an 8 kg front-loading washing machine: Electrolux presents the PerfectCare 600 EW6F5814BA as a freestanding model.
Worth considering if you’re looking for an 8 kg front-loading washing machine: Miele lists the WWA120 WCS Active in its W1 range, with a stated spin speed of 1 400 rpm.
These models are for replacing an appliance with a new one: freestanding dishwashers and top-loading or front-loading washing machines. Check the dimensions, capacity and information that applies to the exact model before choosing.
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If you’re replacing a freestanding dishwasher, check that its size and capacity suit your kitchen and the loads you usually wash.
14 place settings; stated width of 60 cm; C energy rating; 9.5 l per Eco cycle; 11 programmes.
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If you’re replacing a freestanding dishwasher, compare its capacity and dimensions with the space available for installation.
14 place settings; stated width of 60 cm; C energy rating; third cutlery drawer.
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This freestanding model is worth considering if its dimensions and capacity suit the space available and the loads you expect to wash.
14 place settings; stated width of 60 cm; E energy rating; 6 programmes; 85-minute Push&Go cycle at 50 °C.
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If you’re replacing a washing machine, check that a top-loading model with this capacity suits your space and laundry needs.
6 kg capacity; 17 programmes; maximum spin speed of 1 400 rpm; 49 kWh per 100 cycles; B energy rating.
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If you need to replace a front-loading machine with a large-capacity model, measure the space before checking whether this one suits your needs.
12 kg capacity; stated depth of 681 mm; 16 programmes; 44 kWh per 100 Eco cycles; A energy rating; spin speed of 1 400 rpm.
No. ecosystem offers a 50 € discount for each of these appliances when an out-of-warranty repair is eligible and carried out by a QualiRépar-approved repairer. Before comparing quotes, ask the professional to confirm that the fault is eligible and that the discount will be applied to the bill.
For the relevant front-loading and top-loading washing machines, look for the durability index. It has applied since 8 April 2025, and its breakdown must be available when buying online. For a dishwasher covered by the scheme, look for the repairability index and the criteria behind its score. These indices provide information about the model you’re buying, not the fault with your old appliance.
Check the model’s dimensions and installation type against the space available, then follow the instructions for connecting it. ADEME recommends regularly cleaning the filters and seals, and descaling washing machines and dishwashers.
No. In France, the legal guarantee of conformity may apply to a fault that appears within two years of delivery of an item bought from a professional seller, whether it’s new, second-hand or refurbished. It doesn’t apply in the same way to a private sale; a commercial warranty is separate.
In France, the “one-for-one” take-back scheme means the retailer must take back an equivalent used appliance free of charge, up to the type and quantity of products sold. Check the arrangements before delivery; take-back doesn’t mean installation of the new appliance is included.