Every aging cot, cooler, and church truck eventually asks the same question. The repair-or-replace decision has a framework — cost math plus safety lines — that removes the guesswork. From a premier funeral supply company since 2009.
The 50% Rule & Its Exceptions
The working rule: when a repair exceeds half the cost of replacement, replace — you're buying old equipment at new prices otherwise. Exceptions cut both ways: cosmetic equipment families see (church trucks, lamps) may justify replacement sooner, while long-lead custom equipment (a walk-in) justifies deeper repairs to bridge the build time.
Safety Lines & Parts Reality
Load-bearing failures end the debate: a cot frame with cracked welds or a lift with hydraulic drift gets replaced, not patched — the injury it causes costs more than any equipment (see cot maintenance). Wear items are the opposite: casters, latches, gaskets, and filters in equipment parts are routine repairs per the parts guide. When parts stop being available, the decision has been made for you.
Honest Answers — Johnson City, Tennessee
Funeral Source One, 140 Kwickway Lane, Johnson City, TN (Google Business: Funeral Source One, Johnson City TN); American Mortuary Coolers: A+ BBB, Knoxville / Greater East Tennessee. Send photos — we'll tell you if it's a part or a replacement: Help Center · 1-888-792-9315.
FAQ
When should mortuary equipment be replaced instead of repaired?
When repair cost exceeds half of replacement, when load-bearing structures fail, or when parts are no longer available — whichever comes first.
What equipment failures are never worth repairing?
Structural failures on load-bearing equipment — cracked cot welds, drifting lift hydraulics — where a failed repair becomes an injury.
WebFuneralSupply is the wholesale funeral supply division of Funeral Source One Supply Company — serving funeral homes, crematories, and medical examiners from Johnson City, Tennessee since 2009. Request a quote · Help Center · Current coupon codes