How Long Do Home Appliances Last?

As homeowners, we would all love to be able to outfit our homes with new appliances and systems and never have to worry about spending money to replace them ever again.  Unfortunately, though, the systems and appliances in your home do in fact have lifespans that you can expect to wear out at some point.  After years of consistent use, their mechanical parts will start to wear down, and they will stop working altogether.  And you know what that means – You have to pay for a brand-new replacement.  

What You Should Know About Appliances in a Real Estate Transaction

Another reason that it helps to know the lifespan of a home’s major appliances, of course, is that they are often included in purchase negotiations. In many cases, buyers hope to keep certain major items in the home – most often, it’s the stove, refrigerator, and dishwasher, but it may also include other appliances in the home.

If you are a buyer, you want to know what to expect, and the last thing you want is an unanticipated replacement cost right after you move in. The same goes for sellers in a transaction – you may be more willing to part with your appliances if they are a few years old, whereas you may want to specify that you will be taking newer items with you.

The Lifespan of Major Home Appliances and Systems

After years of use in your home, appliance parts will eventually deteriorate from normal wear and tear. That’s expected, but it’s also nice to know how long each appliance in your home should last so that you can budget for a new machine, or at least make sure that your home is covered with a home warranty.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common household appliances and systems like your dishwasher, washer, furnace and more and when they will (on average) wear down and need to be replaced.  We’ll also take a look at the average cost to replace each item so that you can start budgeting before you reach total system failure.  Here are the numbers:   

Furnace

• Average lifespan:  15 – 20 years
• Average cost to replace:  $3,880

Air Conditioner

• Average lifespan:  10 – 15 years
• Average cost to replace:  $5,210

Toilet

• Average lifespan:  10 years
• Average cost to replace:  $348

Water Heater

• Average lifespan:  10 – 15 years
• Average cost to replace:  $886

Pipes

• Average lifespan:  75 – 100 years
• Average cost to replace:  $1,193

Shower

• Average lifespan:  20 years
• Average cost to replace:  $857

Dishwasher

• Average lifespan:  9 years
• Average cost to replace:  $568

Garbage Disposal

• Average lifespan:  12 years
• Average cost to replace:  $400

Trash Compactor

• Average lifespan:  6 years
• Average cost to replace:  $554

Oven

• Average lifespan:  13 – 15 years
• Average cost to replace:  $1,000

Microwave

• Average lifespan:  9 years
• Average cost to replace:  $300

Electrical

• Average lifespan:  10 years
• Average cost to replace:  $1,343

Garage Door Opener

• Average lifespan:  10 – 15 years
• Average cost to replace:  $319

Refrigerator

• Average lifespan:  13 years
• Average cost to replace:  $1,500

Washer & Dryer

• Average lifespan:  10 – 13 years
• Average cost to replace:  $1,000

Roof

• Average lifespan:  20 – 30 years
• Average cost to replace:  $6,624

The good news in all of this is that if you do have a home warranty protecting your home, you won’t have to pay these average costs.  If these systems and appliances fail from normal wear and tear, with your warranty, you will only have to pay a fraction of the cost to repair or replace them.

Do you need help navigating the process of buying or selling a home? If so, we would love to help. Contact us today!