If you’re planning to buy a new appliance, think twice about getting that extended warranty.

That’s the advice from J.D. Power and Associates, which released a study today that concluded that the high reliability of appliances may reduce the need for such warranties.

The J.D. Power study, based on more than 22,000 responses from consumers who bought appliances, found that one in 10 customers reported a problem with their appliances during the first two years of ownership.

Many of the problems could be resolved by consulting an owner’s manual or a manufacturer’s Web site, with relatively few requiring a service visit, the firm added.

“Major appliances tend to be very reliable, and consumers should consider very carefully — depending upon their circumstances — whether an extended warranty is worth the additional cost,” said Dale Haines, senior director of J.D. Power’s real estate and construction industries practice.

The survey, which tracked satisfaction with laundry and kitchen appliances, found that appliances from Germany’s Bosch, General Electric, Whirlpool (whose Duet washing machine is pictured), and South Korea’s LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics scored highest in various segments.

(Photo: Whirlpool)