The coming of the new year tends to get homeowners excited about changes to their homes. It will soon be time to start planting spring flowers, the rejuvenation of spring cleaning is right around the corner, and some of you may even be thinking about replacing a few of your aging appliances.
Appliance replacement can be an expensive upgrade, but if you time your purchases right, you can take advantage of the year’s biggest sales. So when is the best time to buy appliances? Let’s walk through the calendar and identify the prime bargain hunting opportunities in each season.
Buy Appliances on Sale in Winter
Fewer choices but cheaper prices
If you want brand new machines but aren’t picky about brands and features, January just might be your best time of year to buy appliances. Most new large appliance models are previewed in the fall, which kicks off a series of ever-increasing discounts on last year’s stock. By January, the selection of older models is often picked over, but what’s left may be available at rock-bottom prices. Both brick-and-mortar retailers and online sellers need to make room for new inventory, so you can find these deals no matter how you prefer to shop.
The weekends of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January and President’s Day in February may also bring big sales to your local appliance retailers. If there’s any late-model inventory left, expect these sales to be your last chance for a huge discount — but it may also be your first chance at a good deal on the newest generation of appliance models.
Buy Refrigerators in Spring
Get discounts on last summer’s models
Usually, the best time to buy kitchen appliances is in the fall. But when it comes to refrigerators, spring is king. The latest refrigerator models are usually introduced over the summer, which means that refrigerator discounts on last summer’s models start appearing in April and kick into high gear in May so that retailers can make room for the new stock for the summer ahead.
If you’re feeling lucky, you might find a St. Patrick’s Day sale here or there. But Memorial Day in late May is the major appliance sale of the season. This is when you should expect to find the very best refrigerator prices on what’s left of last year’s supply.
Best Time to Buy Appliances in Summer
Summer holidays offer big discounts
If you missed your last chance for a cheap refrigerator, you should hope that your current model hangs in there for several more months — with the latest models dominating the retail space, prices are at their peak in summer.
But there are a couple of bright spots: Independence Day weekend and Labor Day weekend both bring big sale prices on major appliances.
Fall Brings a Bigger Selection at Lower Prices
The best time to shop
This is your optimal opportunity to save on the appliances you really want. The latest models of ovens, ranges, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers and many other major appliances (excluding refrigerators) are about to hit the market, so prices on last year’s stock will start to drop in September.
As the fall wears on, prices will often continue to fall, but so will the limited inventories of your local retailers. If you’ve had your eye on a particular model, you might want to buy earlier in the fall to make sure you don’t miss out. If you’re more flexible about brands and features, you may be able to save more by waiting a few weeks.
In October and November, expect Columbus Day and Veterans Day to bring some noteworthy weekend sales. But the major savings event of the year begins Thanksgiving week and extends through the holiday weekend. What began as a one-day “Black Friday” shopping bonanza has been extended into a days-long string of sales at both physical stores and online retailers, making it easier for shoppers to take advantage of some of the best appliance prices of the year.
Should You Replace Your Old Appliances?
Replacing an appliance that is still chugging along can feel like an extravagance, but in many cases, it can be the cost-saving choice. When it comes to those appliances that use the most energy, like your water heater, clothes dryer or refrigerator, the costs associated with the gradual loss of energy efficiency can start to eat into the savings associated with delaying replacement.
At some point, it just makes financial sense to buy a new model and start reaping the monthly savings of reduced operating costs. But in order to save as much money as possible, it’s still important to stake out a big seasonal sale when you’re ready to buy.
By replacing your aging appliances proactively, you can avoid the worst-case scenario, which is that your older appliances will fail at the wrong time and rob you of the opportunity to buy when you have maximum purchasing power. So size up your older appliances today and make a replacement plan that works for your budget!