Expected Lifespan of 9 Items Around Your Home

At some point in apartment living or home ownership, something inside or outside of the home breaks and needs to be replaced. I mean, things definitely do not last forever — and not even as long as items once did. So, here’s a rundown on the expected lifespan of nine items around the home. This way, you can prepare mentally and financially if the time is approaching when you might have to replace them.

Dishwasher Lifespan

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Photo credit: Leah Ingram.

The average dishwasher lasts about 12 years. We recently replaced a dishwasher that was barely that old. What led to its early demise? Those plastic packet dishwasher tabs. With the new dishwasher, we’re using old school dish detergent powder only.

Water Heater

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Usually, when it is time to replace your water heater, it is because something catastrophic has happened. In most instances, a traditional water heater lasts about a decade and the tankless kind twice as long.

Shower Enclosures

Stylish bathroom interior with countertop, shower stall and houseplants. Design idea
Photo credit: Depositphotos.

If you get a one-piece shower stall to go over an old one or one you bought new, chances are it could last as long as 50 years. Traditional tubs and shower enclosures don’t last as long because water seepage is much more likely.

Refrigerator Lifespan

old-refrigerator-meet-new-refrigerator
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Early in our marriage, we bought a 1970s home that came with a 1970s refrigerator. Unbelievably, in the aughts, it was still running. Unfortunately, refrigerators no longer last for 30 years or more. Their typical lifespan is about 15 years.

Kitchen Countertops

Woman using paper towels in kitchen, closeup
Photo credit: Depositphotos.

We’ve had both quartz and granite countertops in our kitchens. Turns out we should have chosen marble. Marble countertops are typically durable enough to last a lifetime. Literally, a lifetime.

Kitchen Cabinets

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Kitchen cabinets can last literal decades. The problem with them is doors become outdated pretty quickly. So if you think you need to replace those cabinets, maybe you only need to replace or reface the doors. It’s a much more affordable fix.

House Siding

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Vinyl siding lasts between 20 and 40 years. However, it can discolor and often doesn’t stand up as well to extreme weather. On the other hand, brick or stone siding lasts much longer. Hand-split cedar shingles, as long as they remain covered in paint or stain, last even longer.

Lifespan of a Roof

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Your home’s roof is constantly being abused: rain, wind, falling limbs, animals, etc. So it’s not surprising that a roof covered in asphalt shingles will last only about 20 years. A metal roof, on the other hand, will last for decades.

Washer and Dryer

blue gel caps in hand for washing mashine, liquid coloured detergent
Photo credit: Adobe Photos.
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Washing machines and clothes dryers each last about a decade. Some can last even longer than that. Pro tip: never buy a washer dryer combo because if one part of it goes, you have to get rid of the whole thing. Always buy them separately.
Read the Article: How Long Do Home Appliance Last

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  1. We bought a new Maytag washer in 1995 and finally had to replace it last month. In all those years of washing laundry for a family of 8, (3 were middle school through high school athletes) I never had to make a service call. The machine hummed away until it didn’t. We looked at 12 washers before we purchased a replacement, all were constructed with a significant amount of plastic. The only pieces of plastic on our old Maytag were the dials and the bleach cup. They don’t make things like they used to.