Guides → Appliance lifespans
How long do home appliances last? On average, most major appliances give you somewhere between 8 and 15 years, while the big building systems — furnace, roof, water heater — can run longer or shorter depending on how they're treated. Knowing the typical lifespan of each item helps you tell a normal repair from a sign the end is near, and lets you budget for the next replacement before it fails on you. Below is a quick-reference chart, followed by what actually moves the numbers and how to decide between fixing and replacing.
These are widely-accepted general ranges for how long each item lasts with typical use and reasonable maintenance. Your mileage will vary with the factors covered further down.
| Appliance / system | Average lifespan |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 10–15 years |
| Dishwasher | 9–12 years |
| Clothes washer | 10–13 years |
| Clothes dryer | 10–13 years |
| Range / oven (electric) | ~13–15 years |
| Gas range | ~15 years |
| Microwave | 9–10 years |
| Garbage disposal | 10–12 years |
| Furnace | 15–20 years |
| Central air conditioner | 10–15 years |
| Heat pump | 10–15 years |
| Water heater (tank) | 8–12 years |
| Tankless water heater | 20+ years |
| Asphalt shingle roof | 20–30 years |
| Garage door opener | 10–15 years |
| Sump pump | 7–10 years |
| Water softener | 10–15 years |
| Carpet | 8–10 years |
| Exterior paint | 7–10 years |
Two identical fridges bought the same day can be years apart in how long they last. The difference comes down to a handful of factors:
Most of what stretches an appliance's lifespan is cheap and takes minutes:
When something breaks, the hard question is whether to fix it or start over. A simple guideline used by many home pros is the 50% rule: if a repair costs more than roughly half the price of a new unit — and the appliance is already near the end of its expected life — replacement is usually the smarter move. A $400 repair on a 12-year-old washer that costs $700 to replace rarely pays off.
Two other things belong in the decision. First, age: use the chart above to see how much life is realistically left. An early failure in a young appliance is often worth fixing; a breakdown near the end of the range usually isn't. Second, energy efficiency: an older fridge, furnace, or water heater can cost noticeably more to run than a current model, and those monthly savings can tip a borderline call toward replacement. When both the repair cost is high and the unit is old and inefficient, replacing is almost always the better long-term value.
Among common household equipment, the big building systems tend to outlast the appliances plugged into them. A well-maintained furnace often runs 15 to 20 years, and a tankless water heater can last 20 years or more. Among kitchen and laundry appliances, gas ranges are usually the longest-lived at around 15 years.
Keep them clean and serviced. Vacuum the refrigerator coils, clean the dryer lint trap and vent, flush the water heater once a year, avoid overloading the washer, and book annual servicing for the furnace and AC. Softening hard water and not running units past their limits also add years of life.
Use the 50% rule: if a repair costs more than about half the price of a new unit and the appliance is already near the end of its expected life, replacement is usually the better value. A newer, more energy-efficient model can also lower running costs enough to offset its price over time.
Roostly