Seems Everything Needs Repair During Retirement

[easysurfer]

Is it just me, or does more things seem to break down or need servicing once you've retired. I guess may make sense since being home retired means more use of stuff around house, thus more wear and tear.

Over the course of about a month, I've had the arm of one glasses go bad. I happened to have another good old pair of glasses, but today the a screw just popped out and got lost. A couple days ago the refrigerator stopped getting cold so I lost some food. Ends up just needed to clean the coils so I fixed that. Not long ago, a knob on the washing machine cracked so that needed changing.

I don't remember all this activity during the w*rk years.

 

[athena53]

I think these things just occur in clusters. I've noted in other threads that over 2 months I've had to replace my laptop, had to recharge my car A/C, had to have a leaking pipe in my sprinkler system repaired, paid the resulting $1,000 water bill (leak started when I was out of the house for 4 days). I had a "smart valve" installed that will detect these leaks and shut off the water supply, which technically wasn't a repair but cost $$$.

And two days ago my dishwasher died.

Fortunately I have a big "Stuff Happens" budget.

 

[mountainsoft]

It did for us. Within the first year of retirement our well pump died, we had to replace our water heater, the catalytic converter failed in my car, and many more items. We had set aside money for these types of things, but it still hurts to have so many major expenses in just a few months.

 

[target2019]

Your stuff is getting old and requires more maintenance?

 

[Luvtoride]

Your stuff is getting old and requires more maintenance?

Exactly! Since I retired, we have replaced the roof on our house (paid for with deferred no interest financing for 13 months), needed a new AC compressor unit as well as some major repairs to the AC air handler in the attic.
Athena, I like that "big stuff happens" budget line...I think I will add that to mine. Sort of like a deferred maintenance reserve at a condominium HOA.

 

[TheWizard]

It has nothing much to do with retirement. My various tools, appliances, etc have been wearing out and breaking forever.

But if you're one of those folks who tries to figure out your "expenses" going into retirement, it can be tricky. Best to allow a few thousand extra each month to be prepared...

 

[pb4uski]

Not so much in retirement for us, but 2023 was "bad" year. We had to replace the dishwasher and refrigerator. I thought that we ht have to replace the laundry washer but we were able to get away with just replacing the pump.

This year... just the tubing to the icemaker.

 

[Markola]

Murphy’s Law strikes again.

 

[FI_RElater]

Murphy was an optomist

 

[JoeWras]

I was just thinking this yesterday as I was waiting for the slow-as-molasses counterman at the Toyota dealer parts department. Had to get some parts to fix DW's car which suddenly started throwing misfires. And this is after cleaning the clogged gutters and chasing mice.

Then it dawned on me. We're keeping stuff much longer. The house is now 45 years old. I try to repair stuff I would just throw away when I worked.

Basically, we have the time to notice and the time to deal with it. Before, I think we'd just hire someone and forget about it, or replace whatever it is.

 

[Badger]

Since buying a car 50+ years ago and my first fix-er-upper house 45 years ago I bought some tools and learned to build and repair just about everything with only a few exceptions. Now there is a bit of wear and tear on my 76 year old body that has required attention for the past 13 years that prevents some of the larger heavier jobs. Fortunately most of the repairs are small and I have time to deal with them. However, there is still the chimney that needs some attention and I am debating on whether to attempt it. It may be a good idea to hire someone to climb on the roof. I don't bounce as good as I used to.

 

[jazz4cash]

You maintain things over the yrs and they still doesn’t last your entire lifetime….hips, knees, etc. Then you have to get new things but you are only gonna need them for a relatively short period.

 

[Car-Guy]

I thought this was going to be about medical conditions/fixes/repairs.

Oh well, some of the stuff around the house needs fixen too. Excluding my old collectable cars, I'm not sure it's more often now than when I was working, but maybe it is. After all, most of it is aging (like me) and I have more stuff and I use it a lot more....."So far", except for a new central air and a new roof, I've done it all myself.

It does seems like it's always something!

Is it just me, or does more things seem to break down or need servicing once you've retired. I guess may make sense since being home retired means more use of stuff around house, thus more wear and tear.

Over the course of about a month, I've had the arm of one glasses go bad. I happened to have another good old pair of glasses, but today the a screw just popped out and got lost. A couple days ago the refrigerator stopped getting cold so I lost some food. Ends up just needed to clean the coils so I fixed that. Not long ago, a knob on the washing machine cracked so that needed changing.

I don't remember all this activity during the w*rk years.

 

[Koolau]

I think it's just clusters of stuff happening. This year, upon returning to the family homestead for the summer, the plumbing stopped up - first time in my 77 years living in the house (on and off.) Turns out there were roots invading. BIG expensive deal to fix.

This year we had bats in the living space. Turns out it's illegal to kill/injure them. Can't figure how they get into the living space.

One of the bathroom fans quit w*rking.

The 24 year old Buick is leaking oil (go figure.)

We had to replace the screen in the front storm door - it was disintegrating after 45 years (go figure.)

The AC wouldn't come on when we needed it the first time. Just a relay or something and it was covered by the "contract" on the system.

Stuff happens. YMMV

 

[mountainsoft]

This year, upon returning to the family homestead for the summer, the plumbing stopped up - first time in my 77 years living in the house (on and off.) Turns out there were roots invading. BIG expensive deal to fix.

We had something similar with our driveway drain:

VIDEO: Clearing a Clogged Driveway Drain

Clearing a Clogged Driveway Drain.

www.watsondiy.com

We have since removed that tree.

 

[marko]

Is it just me, or does more things seem to break down or need servicing once you've retired. I guess may make sense since being home retired means more use of stuff around house, thus more wear and tear.

Over the course of about a month, I've had the arm of one glasses go bad. I happened to have another good old pair of glasses, but today the a screw just popped out and got lost. A couple days ago the refrigerator stopped getting cold so I lost some food. Ends up just needed to clean the coils so I fixed that. Not long ago, a knob on the washing machine cracked so that needed changing.

I don't remember all this activity during the w*rk years.

It's the way of the universe. You now have all day, every day get attend to these things hence, their demand for attention.

 

[jollystomper]

I do not think it has to do with retirement per se. In my view it seems more things are just not built to last as much as before, or have become so complex that a minor issue impacts the entire object. In addition there may be less "DIY" repair being designed into objects.

One example: When we first bought a home 30+ years ago, appliances seemed to be designed to last 15-20 years. Our first microwave, which we received as a gift for purchasing the condo, lasted over 20 years. But now one jumps for joy if a new appliance lasts 10 years.

While many repairs seem to be able to be DIY if one chooses, there is much less documentation availabel to the public on troubleshooting an appliance. We had an issue with our refrigerator a few year back that could have been DIY repaired with just a screwdriver and replacing a plug-in module. But I could not find any info from the manufacturer, nor on YouTube (which has helped me *many* times with DIY repairs). So a $40 module failure became a $400 repair.

 

[skipro33]

I'm using the failures as an opportunity to upgrade those items to ones that should now outlast me. I'd rather deal with failures that way than either a repair or replacement with cheap stuff than when I'm not physically or mentally able to handle the issue.
Most recently: dishwasher, fridge, water heater all replaced with products I've researched and have high marks on longevity. I am so glad I have the funds now to do that, instead of either fixing myself or doing without.

 

[brett]

Just about the only thing that has not broken post retirement has been our 2006 Honda Accord! And I am going to hang on to it.

 

[happy2bretired]

Just about the only thing that has not broken post retirement has been our 2006 Honda Accord! And I am going to hang on to it.

I’m hoping that my 2013 Accord will last me until I give up my license. That time is getting closer I’m afraid.

 

[AudiDudi]

Seems that way. Thermostat housing on the car cracked (for the 2nd time!), Replaced front brakes and rear shocks on one car, just ruined a tire on the motor home that had about 1600 miles on it, "repaired"a pack rat (it was alive, now it isn't) that thought it would set up winter housekeeping in my shop. Hot tub started leaking on both ends of the heater ($20 fix) and the in-tub light wasn't working (broken wire). Need to replace one of the decks, but that can wait til after we return from AZ in the Spring. One wonders how one ever had the time to w*rk

 

[momoney]

Most recently: dishwasher, fridge, water heater all replaced with products I've researched and have high marks on longevity.

Care to share what you bought?

 

[MC Rider]

Lots of repairs since retiring it seems, but then again we moved and bought a new to us used home.

Furnace started blowing only cold air in January. Burners replaced. Water Heater quit soon after, burners clogged, replace the whole thing. Also replace the pressure regulator on the propane tank. The fridge died. The porch deck roof turned out to leak. The back steps were very rickety, front not much better. Electric and plumbing work, paint, and on and on. OK. some of his we knew before we bought, but most of it only came to light after we were here a while. The home warranty paid for by the seller did help to some extent. The home inspection during escrow found some things, but could have found more.

 

[motley]

oy. I just bought the house I've been renting out for some time and kick myself for being a "good renter" and not making them take care of some thing that now I have to esp as I don't plan to stay here long term, like my underground sprinkler system and the wooden fence around the yard falling apart in various places. I also fear being a 20-yr old house that some things may need replaced before I sell it, like the HVAC, roof, etc.

 

[SecondAttempt]

Is it just me, or does more things seem to break down or need servicing once you've retired. I guess may make sense since being home retired means more use of stuff around house, thus more wear and tear.

Over the course of about a month, I've had the arm of one glasses go bad. I happened to have another good old pair of glasses, but today the a screw just popped out and got lost. A couple days ago the refrigerator stopped getting cold so I lost some food. Ends up just needed to clean the coils so I fixed that. Not long ago, a knob on the washing machine cracked so that needed changing.

I don't remember all this activity during the w*rk years.

Google knows you are retired so it is giving you stuff to do to keep you from getting bored. It's a feature not a bug.