The EU is in the process of introducing a new Right to Repair law. What this will essentially mean is that manufacturers of all kinds of appliances have an obligation to make sure that they can be repaired if they break.
Under the new legislation, which is due to come into force in the EU in 2021, all appliances, including washing machines, dishwashers, televisions and fridges, will need to be designed so that key components can be removed and replaced using commonly available tools.
What’s more, manufacturers will be forced to make sure that spare parts are available to professional repairers for at least seven years after the last unit is sold, Positive News reported.
The aim is to encourage manufacturers to return to the days of building appliances that are meant to last and to make it more cost effective for consumers to repair items rather than replacing them.
This will have the effect of making our appliances more eco-friendly; it will mean we generate less E-waste and therefore that carbon emissions across the sector are lower.
And as a consumer, it means less hassle because you won’t have to shop around for a new washing machine or dishwasher as frequently – a process that we all know can be quite stressful.
Although this new legislation isn’t due to come into force for another couple of years and the UK could well be out of the EU by then, that doesn’t mean it won’t benefit us. Manufacturers are likely already developing more robust and repairable products to ensure they’re compliant in 2021, so we could still see the benefits in the UK.
WSB Radio recently offered some advice on when you should repair rather than replace appliances. The general rule for the likes of washing machines is to repair it if it’s less than four years old. If it’s between four and seven years old, find out how much the cost will be and only repair the appliance if the repairs come in at less than half of the cost of buying a replacement.
If you need an appliance repair quote, contact us today.