Average Life Expectancy of Your Home Appliance for 2021
Our home appliances are more important now than ever. Each day we are spending more time at home, placing wear and tear on those appliances. So, how are they to keep up when we are adding so much use in the work-from-home days of 2020-2021? In fact, do you even know the average life expectancy of your home appliance? Each one plays such a critical role in our lives.
Seriously, how would we make it through a day without our excellent household appliances? We cook our meals with our stoves and ovens.
- Our food stays fresh longer with a refrigerator or freezer.
- Clothes are washed and dried for everyday use.
- Dishes become germ-free by running the dishwasher.
- We are fortunate to take warm baths and showers because of another home appliance.
And, most appliances come with an expiration date and life expectancy.
As a homeowner, it’s good to know how long these items will last in our homes before making decisions on repairs and new purchases or purchasing a resale home.
Is your dishwasher on the fritz? Fridge not so frigid? Washer behaving wishy-washy? Perhaps you are wondering how long your appliances should last and whether you are due for an upgrade?
Below is a list of some of your more common appliances. The range of lifespan is for each one based on information gathered from research and experience.
Laundry Appliances
Washer: Washing machines have an average lifespan between 10 to 16 years. To extend your washer’s longevity, wash only when you have a full load. This cuts down on the number of cycles the machine runs each year, and it also saves water and energy. Regular maintenance, including cleaning the trap or filter and replacing hoses as needed, can also help stretch a washer’s lifespan.
Dryer: Both electric and gas-powered clothes dryers have the same functional lifespan, an average of 11 to 16 years. Regularly cleaning the lint filter and ducts will help your dryer run more efficiently and safely and increase its longevity.
Kitchen Appliances
Dishwasher: An efficient dishwasher can offer homeowners considerable savings in energy, time, and water. On average, a dishwasher needs replacement after about nine years. The average life span is approximately 9-16 years.
Freezer: Some homeowners own a separate upright or chest model freezer. Modern freezers have a life expectancy of up to 20 years, but the average lifespan is about 12 years and up. To maximize your freezer’s life expectancy and efficiency, invest in a model with an automatic defrosting cycle or manually defrost it regularly.
Garbage Disposal: Garbage disposals can keep grinding away for an average of 12 years if they’re correctly used and maintained. The reported range is 10-15 years of life.
Gas and Electric Stove: A gas range lasts the longest at about 20 years. Electric ranges are not far behind, with an expected lifespan of 13 years. A range hood typically lasts about 14 years. Again, with proper care and maintenance, you can achieve a longer lifespan.
Microwave Oven: Microwave ovens are a miracle of modern food preparation, but unfortunately, they don’t last all that long. Owners can expect a microwave to last anywhere from five to 10 years, with an average lifespan of nine years.
Refrigerator: Refrigerator technology is continually changing as manufacturers devise more energy and space-efficient methods of keeping food fresher for longer. Refrigerators last between 12 to 18 years, depending on the model and if they have an Energy Star label or not. Standard refrigerators can last about 13 years; compact models typically last about nine years. Ensuring the filters are changed, and the coils are free of dust will help your fridge keep on cooling.
*Note: A Sub-Zero Refrigerator is designed to last 20 years on average. Click here to learn more about Sub-Zero Refrigerators.
Other Appliances
Water Heater: It really depends on what type of water heater you have when estimating its lifespan. Tankless models or on-demand water heaters have the most extended lifespan at 20-plus years. Standard electric water heaters will usually last about 11 years, and gas water heaters last about ten years.
Let us know if you need any assistance maintaining or repairing your appliance to make sure it lasts as long as it can. Gulf Coast Appliance Repair is here to help you with annual maintenance and upkeep for all your home appliances.
Extending the Average Life Expectancy of Your Home Appliance
If you take good care of your appliances with regular maintenance, they will last longer and become a better value to you and those who use them. With clean filters, parts that work well, and clean coils, most appliances will last for a long time. Here are some of the steps to extending the average life expectancy of your home appliances.
The first step to improving the appliance’s lifespan would be to check the device’s age. Simply locate the tag with the serial number on it. There you will find the manufactured date, so you know what to expect from the age of the unit.
Second, you will need to consider if you have been the only owner of the appliance or it’s a used item. Suppose someone else owned the unit before you. In that case, it is a good idea to get the appliances checked over and adequately serviced. Then you will know how they have been maintained by the former owner and what can be done to improve the units.
Additional efforts you can make to help your appliances function their best.
- Cleaning Appliances is a part of maintenance. When a dishwasher or washing machine gets a proper cleaning, the drains and pipes become clear. Preventing clogs and water calcification helps the motor run easier. Additionally, an oven cooks better when it is clean, both inside and out. A stovetop transmits heat more evenly when clean. And a refrigerator cools better when not overstuffed. Be sure to add appliance cleaning to your daily and monthly routine to ensure a long life for those machines.
- Using your appliances according to the owner’s manual is always a best practice. Unfortunately, operator error is often the issue with home appliances. Dryers function best when on the right settings. Garbage disposals should not have grease poured down them. A spoon cannot be left in the bowl when using a microwave. You get the drift here.
- Schedule routine maintenance and necessary repairs with an appliance repair company you trust. They will keep your appliances in good shape and warn you if any parts need repair or replacement.
Does Your Appliance Need Repair or Service?
If your appliance is not working at peak performance, a repair or a service check might be a good idea. Make sure to call an experienced quality appliance and repair specialist who will restore it to top condition.
Just like with any machine, your appliances need care. You wouldn’t think of driving around in a car with no air in the tires or no oil in the engine. It is the same for your household machinery. All those moving parts inside your appliances need attention from time to time to last as long as possible and remain energy efficient.
So, if you hear a new sound come from the washer or the fridge is not cooling, do not despair. It may need a minor adjustment to remedy the issue.
Gulf Coast Appliance Repair Maintains the Average Life Expectancy of Your Home Appliance
With all of the knowledge you now have about how to extend the life of your household appliances, why not set up a maintenance plan with Gulf Coast Appliance Repair if you live on Florida’s west coast? If you live elsewhere, give your local appliance repair company a call to schedule a conversation about regular maintenance and service of your home’s appliances.
If you want your days to flow smoothly from task to task and your appliances to work while you are busy doing other things, consistent appliance maintenance is necessary. Each of the following reasons listed here is equally important for the machine’s overall health and the optimal running of the business of your home.
Here are the reasons we have seen prove to be beneficial year after year at Gulf Coast Appliance Repair.
Maintaining appliances…
- Improves Efficiency
- Saves You Money on Costly Repairs
- Extends the Lifespan of Each Unit
- Puts Safety First
- Avoids Those Inopportune Surprises
Gulf Coast Appliance Repair is the local appliance repair company that you can count on. For 10+ years, our family-owned business has been serving customers in Pinellas County and the west coast of Florida. We specialize in repairing appliances, including refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, stoves, dishwashers, and much more. Contact us today for more information on appliance maintenance and to schedule your appliance inspection today.
