When you buy a new appliance, you expect it to last many years. Several factors affect the lifespans of appliances in your home. Regular cleaning and maintenance, proper use, type, model, and brand all play a role in how long a machine will last. Let’s look at the average life expectancies of some major household appliances.
The Lifespans of Kitchen Appliances
Kitchen appliances are among the most used and most essential appliances in a home. Regular maintenance and cleaning can extend the lifespans of your appliances and help them work more efficiently.
Ranges
Gas and electric ranges have different average life expectancies. Gas appliances usually last longer than their electric counterparts. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), a gas range will last around 15 years, and an electric range averages 13 years of use. If you have a hood over your range, this appliance has a life expectancy of about 14 years.
Refrigerators
If you have an older refrigerator, upgrade to a more energy-efficient model because technology in this field is always improving. A new fridge will be more energy-efficient and you’ll save money on your power bill.
You can expect to get roughly 13 years out of a standard fridge and 9 years for a compact refrigerator with regular maintenance and upkeep.
Dishwashers
Dishwashers have a shorter lifespan than many other appliances, but a dishwasher saves time, water, and energy when run efficiently with full loads.
The average dishwasher has a lifespan of about 9 years. One benefit of installing a newer model dishwasher is that they use, on average, less than five gallons of water per cycle.
Lifespans of Other Major Household Appliances
Knowing the expected lifespans of your appliances plays an important role in your household budget. If you have an older model appliance, you can begin to plan for the purchase of a new machine. Upgrading to a newer model allows you to take advantage of better energy-saving technology.
Lifespans of Laundry Appliances
Your clothes washing machine has an average lifespan of about 10 years. If you use your washing machine efficiently by only running full loads, performing maintenance, and regularly cleaning the filter, you can extend its life beyond that timeframe.
For clothes dryers, both electric and gas dryers have about the same life expectancy of 13 years. To increase the lifespan of your dryer, clean the lint trap and dryer ducts regularly.
The Furnace
The average lifespan of a furnace varies depending on its fuel source. An oil-fired furnace can last up to 20 years. A gas-fired furnace has a lifespan of roughly 18 years. Electric furnaces have the shortest lifespan of about 15 years.
If you use a gas-fired boiler to heat your home, then you can expect it to last about 21 years. An electric boiler has a life expectancy of around 13 years. The average heat pump has a lifespan of 16 years.
By knowing the average life expectancies of your appliances you can better prepare for purchasing a new machine. If your machine is only a couple of years old, call a professional repair service if you’re experiencing problems. For an older appliance that’s nearing the end of its lifespan, it’s better to replace it than pay for repairs.
Catawba Island Home Inspections provides inspections in Northwest Ohio. Contact us to schedule our services.