When a major appliance stops doing the one thing it is meant to do, many homeowners face the same question: Is it better to repair it or replace it?
The owner of one inherited Maytag dryer took to Reddit's r/Homeowners community to ask this very question.
Here's what to know
The discussion started in an August 16, 2026, thread on Reddit by a homeowner who said a Maytag dryer had been left behind when they bought their house, and they did not know the machine's age.
"It seems the heating element is broken because the clothes will spin through many cycles and not get dry," the original poster wrote, "Everything else seems to be working. So I'm wondering if it makes sense to try and fix it or get a new dryer."
With the drum still turning, many commenters approached the post as a troubleshooting question rather than a reason to scrap the appliance.
For these commenters, the next move was to look up the unit information. One commenter suggested, "Put the make and model in here www.repairclinic.com and it will show you what's wrong and how to fix it and you can decide."
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
Another reply pointed the homeowner toward a different parts site and paired that advice with skepticism about modern replacements, adding, "Older is better in my mind. I think these new appliances are built to break down intentionally so you buy a new one."
More background
Doubts about newer models came up repeatedly. One wrote, "When I bought my house, I replaced the older dishwasher with a dial that worked fine because I wanted an upgrade. I'm now on my third dishwasher. The newer ones are a POS, unless you spend $1,500, which is insane."
Although that commenter was talking about a dishwasher, the point aligned with the larger theme in the thread: newer does not automatically mean longer-lasting or more cost-effective.
Repairing the existing machine could also have an environmental upside. Throwing away a dryer before it is truly finished adds landfill waste, and buying a replacement brings the material and energy costs of manufacturing another appliance.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
