Guides · Equipment
How long do appliances and home systems last: a lifespan chart
Every appliance and system in a house wears out on its own clock. A dishwasher lasts about 9 years, a water heater 6 to 12, a furnace 15 to 25 and a slate roof a century. The chart below puts the common ones side by side, so you can see what is due next in your house and plan for it.
Kitchen and laundry appliances
| Appliance | Typical life | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 9 to 13 years | Clean the coils once a year. |
| Freezer (standalone) | 10 to 20 years | |
| Dishwasher | About 9 years | How long dishwashers last |
| Electric range | 13 to 15 years | |
| Gas range | 15 to 17 years | |
| Range hood | About 14 years | Clean the filter monthly. |
| Microwave | About 9 years | |
| Garbage disposal | About 12 years | |
| Clothes washer | 5 to 15 years | Replace rubber hoses every five years. |
| Clothes dryer | About 13 years | How often to clean a dryer vent |
Heating, cooling and water
| System | Typical life | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Tank water heater | 6 to 12 years | How long water heaters last |
| Tankless water heater | 10 years or more | |
| Gas furnace | 15 to 25 years | How long a furnace lasts |
| Boiler | Up to 40 years | |
| Central air conditioner | 7 to 15 years | How long an AC unit lasts |
| Heat pump | 10 to 15 years | How long an AC unit lasts |
| Sump pump | About 7 years | Test it each spring and fall. |
| Well pump | About 15 years | |
| Water softener | About 20 years | |
| Smoke alarms | Under 10 years | How often to replace smoke detectors |
The house itself
| Part | Typical life | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingle roof | 20 to 30 years | How long a roof lasts |
| Metal roof | 40 to 80 years | How long a roof lasts |
| Slate roof | 60 to 150 years | |
| Aluminum gutters | 20 to 40 years | |
| Windows | 20 to 40 years | |
| Garage door | 20 to 25 years | |
| Garage door opener | 10 to 15 years | |
| Vinyl or aluminum siding | 25 to 40 years or more |
All ranges from the InterNACHI standard estimated life expectancy chart. They are averages: use, climate, water hardness and care move each item up or down.
How to read this chart for your own house
The chart is only half the answer. The other half is how old each thing in your house already is. A ten year old water heater and a two year old one on the same chart are very different budgets.
Start with the year the house was built; see how to find out when your house was built. Anything that looks original is as old as the house. For the rest, the rating label on each appliance holds the model and serial number, and the serial usually holds the manufacture date.
How to find the age of each appliance
- Find the rating label: inside the fridge on a side wall, on the edge of the dishwasher tub, inside the dryer door, on the back of the range drawer, on the water heater tank, inside the furnace door and on the outdoor AC unit.
- Look for a printed manufacture date first.
- If there is none, decode the serial. Each brand has its own code; our water heater and furnace guides list the common ones.
- Or photograph each label with the Housemap label scan, which reads the brand, model and serial, works out the age where it can and checks each one for recalls.
Plan for what is due next
Once each item has an age, sort them by years left. Anything within two years of the end of its range is worth budgeting for now, so it can be replaced on your schedule instead of in an emergency. The home maintenance budget guide shows how to set money aside each year.
Keep receipts and install dates as you replace things. The record makes warranty claims simple and tells the next owner what they are buying.
Questions
How long do appliances last?
Most major appliances last about 9 to 15 years: a refrigerator 9 to 13, a dishwasher about 9, a dryer about 13, an electric range 13 to 15 and a gas range 15 to 17. Water heaters last 6 to 12 years and furnaces 15 to 25.
Which home appliance lasts the longest?
Among appliances, gas ranges and standalone freezers often last 15 years or more. Among systems, a boiler can last 40 years, and slate or tile roofs far longer.
How do I find out how old my appliances are?
Read the rating label on each one. Look for a printed manufacture date, or decode the date from the serial number using the brand’s code. A Housemap label scan reads it from a photo.
Should I replace an old appliance that still works?
Not just for its age. Replace it when repairs get frequent or expensive, when it is unsafe, or when a much more efficient model would pay back. Budget ahead so the choice is yours.
Sources
Related guides
A lifespan chart for your own house.
Scan each appliance label and Housemap works out the ages, checks for recalls and shows what is due next, with a reminder before each job.
