

Use the guidelines below on the average lifespan of various appliances to determine when it’s time to start looking for a new one. Know the average lifespan of various appliances. But it’s important to review the print or web ad for any sale event before you attend to make sure that the appliance you want is available and at a price that’s actually lower than its original price. Top retailers offered an average discount of anywhere from 25 to 60 percent on appliances on Black Friday in 2018, according to WalletHub. Plan instead to make your purchase on the next holiday or big sale day like Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday (for online purchases), when the cost of major and small appliances are reduced well below the original list price to encourage shoppers to spend more time and money shopping during their day off of work.

If you want a newly released appliance of any type rather than a prior-year model, hold off on buying at the time new models are released-when prices are highest. Buy new appliances on major holidays and sale events. Retailers offer lower prices on these units during these two months to clear out excess inventory left at the end of the year. Snag small appliances such as microwaves, coffee makers, and toaster ovens during November and December. What’s more, HVAC professionals receive fewer service calls during these periods, so they’re often willing to negotiate a lower appliance installation cost with you. Similarly, the best time to buy an air conditioner or heater is either from September through November or from March through May, two periods when the HVAC retailers who supply HVAC installers with equipment are overstocked, and as a result are willing to sell them to the installers at a discount, who pass the savings along to you. For example, prices on gas grills take a dive in September and October, when summer grilling wanes.

Retailers put seasonal appliances on sale during these periods to help move more of a product that’s in low demand. The best time to buy such seasonal items as air conditioners, heaters (i.e., furnaces and boilers), and gas grills is during periods when that appliance gets little use. Buy seasonal appliances in the off-season. For example, May is “Maytag Month,” when Maytag issues generous rebates on its fridges. Some manufacturers also run promotions during the month new models are released that result in even deeper discounts. When manufacturers unveil the latest models, retailers reduce prices on models from previous years at these times to create more room for new models. Photo: The best time to buy appliances is when new models roll out: washers, dryers, and dishwashers in September and October, refrigerators in May, and ranges/ovens in January.
