Home Appliance Lifespan

How long will Your Home Appliances Last?

If you’re paying a lot of money for new appliances, wouldn’t it be nice to know how long you should expect it to last? There is, of course, no exact formula for figuring that out because every brand and unit is different. There are however, some broad estimates on lifespan of your appliances.

According to an article in Consumer Reports, a washer and dryer will hum along just fine for about ten years, with a likelihood of needing a repair during the last two to three years of its life. Leading brands offer a parts and labor guarantee for at least a year. So, if something goes wrong during that period, be sure to contact the manufacturer right away.

The National Association of Home Builders released a report a few years ago on the longevity of kitchen appliances. They found that refrigerators can last up to 13 years under normal use. Dishwashers and ovens will start to show their age after about nine years. However, the worst lifespan is for trash compactors, with a life expectancy of only six years before repairs or replacement is required.

Microwave ovens can last an average of nine years, but be sure to check the door seal as often as possible. Otherwise, the unit could quickly lose efficiency. (You’ll start to notice this when your food doesn’t heat up as quickly and evenly.)

Appliance experts agree that the best way to keep them functioning properly is to follow manufacturer instructions for use and maintenance, this information is usually found in the user manual that came with your machine. If you’ve lost your user’s manual, you can usually download a new one (which may even contain important updates for the machine) from the manufacturer’s website.

If you are appliance hunting, I hope this information helps in your endeavor’s. As always, if you have any questions or are looking for some advice on anything you’ve read in my blog, feel free to get in touch anytime. Happy appliance hunting!