Free homeowner guide · 7 min
Appliance lifespan chart: useful ranges, not expiration dates
Expected life is a planning tool. Condition, use, maintenance, repair history, and installation quality determine the real decision.
- 1
Planning ranges used by this site are approximately 11 years for washers, 10 for dishwashers, 13 for refrigerators, 11 for tank water heaters, and 15 for ranges.
- 2
Do not replace a working appliance only because it reaches an average. A maintained unit can outlast the range, while a heavily used or poorly installed one may not.
- 3
Watch the repair pattern. Several service calls in two years, discontinued parts, corrosion, cabinet damage, or worsening performance can signal declining value.
- 4
Use the 50% guide carefully: when a major repair approaches half of a comparable installed replacement, age and reliability should weigh heavily.
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Document the model, serial number, installation date, repairs, and maintenance. Better records produce a better repair-versus-replace decision.
Related guides and tools
This date changes only when the guide is reviewed or revised. Cost decisions use national ranges and may differ by location, brand, access, permits, and parts availability.
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