How Long Do Appliances and Other Home Components Last?

Houses are expensive to buy and almost as much of a financial challenge to maintain. Just ask new homeowner Jessica Thornton, who is having second thoughts about her investment because she underestimated the cost of routine repairs.

“I can afford the monthly payment for the mortgage and taxes, but just barely. I budgeted down to the penny. What really hurts are the expensive home repair bills. I had to use the income tax refund on a new water heater and a few other things that just stopped working. Now I’m worried. Should I have expected this? Or am I just having a bit of bad luck?”

I’d call it a reality check. Houses are living, breathing entities: they’re more like pets than works of art. You have to take care of them, sometimes more than you expect, and you’ll suffer the consequences if you ignore them too long.

One of the best things you can do is plan. Few things in a house last forever, and those that do at least require maintenance. The life expectancies of the components of a home depend on the quality of installation, the level of maintenance, weather and climate conditions, and the intensity of use.

Some components remain functional but become obsolete because of changing styles or improvements in technologies. Others may have a short life expectancy due to intensive use.

Last year, the National Association of Home Builders and Bank of America researched on the average life expectancies of various home components. The study found gas ranges have the longest life expectancy: 15 years. Dryers and refrigerators last about 13 years. Appliances with the shortest lifespan are: compactors (6 years), dishwashers (9 years) and microwave ovens (9 years).

You can get a list of the life expectancies of other home components, including heating and cooling systems, floors and doors, here.

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