My part is no longer available! What do I do now?

Provided they’re well cared for, most major home appliances can be expected to last between ten and fifteen years – lawn equipment, too, with proper maintenance. That’s a decent lifetime already, and it’s not entirely unusual for appliances and other equipment to last well past that manufacturer expiration date.

Eventually, though, parts will start to break. Rubber gaskets will rot, plastic will crack, metal will corrode, and mechanical parts will wear down and fail. When something does go wrong, you can almost always count on AppliancePartsPros.com to set you up with compatible OEM parts for all major appliance brands, but what happens when you just can’t find the part you’re looking for?

Just because a part you need was discontinued (or NLA, which stands for no longer available) doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road for your appliance. There are a few different avenues you can take to try and find working components for older or deprecated appliances, and in this guide, we’ll give you some tips to help you out.

Keep reading to learn what to do when the parts you need for your appliance or lawn equipment are discontinued!

Why Are Compatible Parts No Longer Available?

Shifts in popular styles, federal and state safety and efficiency regulations, leaps in technology, and design changes all mean that, over the years, the parts manufacturers put in their appliances will change. Eventually, the manufacturer discontinues parts entirely. Stocks dwindle and listings eventually disappear, but for the first decade or so after a major appliance model is released, it should be fairly easy to find compatible OEM replacement parts when you need them. That may not always be the case, though.

Sometimes, a manufacturer pulls a part within just a few years because there was an issue with the design. Maybe it breaks easily or causes other issues within the appliance. Whatever the reason, a newly designed part is usually released to replace the old one. This part will look different from the original component and will have a new part number, but it should still work with all appliances listed on its compatibility chart.

This is why the two most important things to have when searching for a discontinued part are the appliance model number and part number for the component you’re trying to replace. Even if a part is no longer available, you may be able to use the model number to find a compatible replacement.

Your Appliance’s Full Model Number Is A Necessity

Before you start your search for a compatible but discontinued part, there are a few things you’ll need:

• Your appliance’s full model number. The full model number for your appliance can generally be found on the appliance itself, and the number listed in your appliance’s manual on the box is usually just partial – but even a partial number can be useful. Check out our guide to tracking down your appliance’s model number for more detailed tips.
• The number for the part you are replacing. Some appliance components will have the part number stamped somewhere on their body, so don’t toss a broken part before you’ve gotten yourself a replacement. Having the number for the part is especially helpful when a new compatible replacement part exists – for example if the part in question was recalled.

If you are having serious trouble tracking this information down, give AppliancePartsPros.com a call. So long as you have at least a partial model number, we may be able to help you get the information you need. Even if your appliance is so old that manuals aren’t available online, we may – with a few days’ time for research – be able to retrieve part and model numbers.

What Are My Options When Trying To Get Discontinued Parts?

Once you’ve got your appliance model and part numbers handy, it’s time to start your search. Bear in mind that some of the suggestions we’re giving here will void the warranty on your appliance if you use them. These are last-ditch options for replacing parts that you simply can’t find otherwise, and we don’t recommend using them if you can still track down an appropriate OEM part for your appliance, especially if it’s still under warranty.

Check for an updated part

Sometimes, a particular component was found to have a design flaw and was pulled from the market. In these cases, that part is eventually replaced with an updated design, and it will list the parts it’s replacing in its description. In this best-case scenario, getting the part you need is as easy as calling a supplier like AppliancePartsPros.com.

With your model number and the original part number for the component you want to replace, they should be able to track down the updated part for you.

Buy refurbished parts

One of your best bets for finding a component that’s no longer available is checking both online and locally for used and refurbished part vendors. Despite the name, these parts may not have actually seen that much use. For example, a refurbished component may have been part of an appliance that arrived otherwise damaged or one that sat as a floor model for years and was never sold. The trouble is, it can be hard to tell.

Used and refurbished parts likely have some wear and tear on them when you buy them, and they don’t always come with warranties. Be sure to do your research before purchasing, because you may wind up with a part that breaks not long after you’ve installed it. We generally recommend against buying parts through sites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace as they likely don’t come with a return policy.

Seek out new old stock sellers

When you’re searching for your part, try adding “new old stock”, “NOS”, or “old stock” to your search criteria. These terms all mean about the same thing – old merchandise that has never been sold but is still in a vendor’s inventory.

You may be able to find a good deal, but prices on NOS can vary wildly. While a NOS item may have simply been merchandise that wasn’t in high demand, there’s a chance it may also be stock kept specifically because the part is discontinued. You may find yourself paying a premium price for a part that used to be much more affordable. In cases like this, consider the cost of the part and the repair versus the cost of buying an entirely new appliance before you buy. Check out our article that explains how to weigh whether to DIY a repair or buy a new appliance.

Take your search offline

Don’t forget to look locally! Local appliance dealers and appliance repair shops are a great source of new old stock, used, and refurbished parts. Before you give a vendor or repair shop a call, though, be sure you have both your appliance’s exact model number and the number for the part you’re replacing on hand – it’ll make the process a whole lot faster!

Buy a third party or aftermarket component

We here at AppliancePartsPros.com generally recommend that you stick with original manufacturer parts because they are generally higher quality, more durable, and made to fit specific appliances, but if you’ve exhausted your OEM options and still can’t find the part you need, why not give third party components a try?

Third party parts, also called aftermarket, universal, generic, or exact replacement parts, are designed to fit as many appliances as possible, which can help you in a pinch. However, because they are made for universal use, they likely will not perfectly fit your appliance – a problem that, depending on the part, could go unnoticed or render the part useless. If you’ve found a third party part that you think will work, be sure to check out the reviews before buying!

Fabrication

Really at the end of your rope and not willing to let an old appliance go? Get in touch with local machine or engineering workshops to see about having a new part created for you. Bear in mind that the price tag can get quite high for services like this.

Tips for Specific Issues

We’ve got a couple of tips for specific parts that frequently run into issues. Check these out:

• Damaged control boards can interfere with a number of different appliance functions, but you’re not necessarily out of luck if you can’t find a new or used board to replace your old one. A number of services, like fixyourboard.com and corecentricsolutions.com, are available to rebuild and refurbish some damaged control boards.
• Issues with your refrigerator’s run capacitor can be a serious pain that ends in a whole lot of spoiled food. If you’re unable to track down a suitable replacement and need a fix quickly, a 3-in-1 hard start device may be an appropriate option. Keep in mind that these kits, which act as a relay, overload, and start capacitor in one, will void your refrigerator’s warranty and put extra strain on the compressor. A 3-in-1 start device can stretch a refrigerator’s working life out a bit longer, but it’s not a permanent solution. Use them as a last resort, and anticipate needing a new refrigerator within the next six to 12 months.

Wrapping Up

Tracking down a part once it’s been discontinued can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Search smart – you’ve already taken the first step by educating yourself with our guide – and you might just be able to save a reliable old appliance from the recycling heap.

We hope our guide has helped you out! Keep us in mind the next time you need tips, tutorials, or genuine replacement parts. At AppliancePartsPros.com, we’re happy to help you fix your appliance yourself.