How Long Do Appliances Last? Lifespans for Every Major Appliance

How long do appliances last? Most major appliances last roughly 9 to 15 years. According to InterNACHI's estimated life-expectancy chart, a refrigerator lasts 9 to 13 years, a dishwasher about 9, a clothes dryer about 13, an electric range 13 to 15, a garbage disposal about 12, and a washing machine anywhere from 5 to 15. These are estimates, not guarantees: care, use and climate move them, and Atlanta's long, hot, humid summers are hard on appliances.

How long do appliances last? Typical lifespans

InterNACHI, the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, presents these figures as guidelines only, based on regular recommended maintenance and normal wear and tear. How much an appliance is used matters a great deal.

The chart does not list wall ovens or cooktops separately. Treat an electric wall oven or cooktop like an electric range as a starting point, and remember that a built-in unit is often worth more effort to keep because a replacement has to fit the cutout.

How long does a refrigerator last?

About 9 to 13 years, and ENERGY STAR figures its savings over a 12-year refrigerator lifetime, right in that range. Fans, defrost parts and start relays tend to wear out before the compressor, and all are repairable. To reach the top of the range, keep the condenser coils clean, keep the door gaskets sealing, and give a garage refrigerator shade and clearance. Our guide to why your fridge is not cooling shows how to clean the coils, and is it worth repairing a refrigerator covers the repair decision.

How long does a freezer last?

Anywhere from 10 to 20 years. A chest or upright freezer is a simpler machine than a refrigerator with an ice maker and dispenser, and one that sits in a cool, shaded spot with clean coils has the best chance at the long end. A freezer in a hot garage works much harder. If yours is not holding temperature, see freezer not freezing.

How long does a washer last?

Anywhere from 5 to 15 years, the widest spread on the chart, and use explains most of it: a washer running daily loads for a large family wears faster than one running a few loads a week. Drain pumps, door locks and belts are routine repairs; worn tub bearings are the failure that usually ends a washer's life. Leave a front-load door open between loads, clean the pump filter regularly, use HE detergent sparingly, and keep the machine level. See washer smells like mildew and is it worth repairing a washing machine.

How long does a dryer last?

About 13 years. Dryers are simple machines: belts, rollers, idler pulleys and thermal fuses wear out, and all are inexpensive to replace. The main enemy is lint. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that failure to clean was the leading factor in home clothes dryer fires from 2018 to 2020. Clean the lint screen every load and have the vent duct cleaned regularly, more often for a long run through the attic or to the roof. A clogged vent makes the dryer run hot and long; see dryer takes forever to dry. Every dryer repair visit includes a vent airflow check.

How long does a dishwasher last?

About 9 years. Pumps, latches and inlet valves are the usual repairs, while a cracked tub generally means replacing the machine. Clean the filter regularly and use rinse aid. See dishwasher not cleaning dishes for the filter routine.

How long does a range or oven last?

About 13 to 15 years for an electric range. Elements, sensors and switches are the usual repairs, and they are worth doing. Self-clean cycles run extremely hot, which is hard on door locks and controls, so use them sparingly; see oven door locked after self-clean.

How long does a microwave last?

About 9 years. The more useful question is what kind you have. A countertop model is usually cheaper to replace than to repair, while over-the-range and built-in units are usually worth fixing; see is it worth repairing a microwave.

How long does a garbage disposal last?

About 12 years. Run cold water while it grinds, feed food in gradually, and keep grease out of the drain. For a jam or a hum, see garbage disposal humming but not working.

Do new appliances last as long as old ones?

Newer appliances carry more electronics, from control boards to sensors, which means more parts that can fail, and a power surge has more to damage. That is not a reason to avoid buying new, but it is a reason not to replace a well-built appliance just because of its age. A solid older dishwasher with a new pump can outlast a bargain new one.

What shortens appliance life in Atlanta

• Humidity. The EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60%, ideally 30% to 50%. Above that, mold gets a foothold in front-load washer seals and dishwasher filters, and humid air that slips past a worn refrigerator gasket turns into frost.
• Damp garages and laundry rooms. Moisture that sits on metal turns into rust. Whirlpool's major appliance warranty, for example, excludes rust or oxidation caused by corrosive environments, including high moisture or humidity, so that damage is on the owner.
• Power surges. Storms bring lightning and outages, and Ready.gov warns that power can return with surges or spikes that damage equipment. Control boards take the hit.
• Heat. A refrigerator or freezer in an Atlanta garage works at its limit all summer.

Our Atlanta maintenance checklist covers each of these, including why a whole-house surge protector is worth considering.

Signs an appliance is near the end

• Repairs are coming close together, and the next quote is a big one.
• Rust through a cabinet or tub, or a cracked dishwasher tub.
• A refrigerator past the middle of its range with a failed compressor or sealed-system leak.
• An older front-load washer that roars on spin, which points to the tub bearings.
• Parts for the model are discontinued.
• It is past the top of its typical range and running poorly.

The 50% rule

If a repair costs more than half the price of a comparable new appliance, and the appliance is past the midpoint of its expected life, replace it. If either condition is not met, repair it. Our repair-or-replace guide walks through the decision step by step.

What a repair costs

The diagnostic is $80 on standard appliances and $120 on built-in wall ovens, double ovens and combos, waived when you approve the repair. Labor is priced by appliance, from $180 plus parts for a garbage disposal to $180 for a refrigerator and $250 for built-in ovens and combos, with a written flat-rate estimate first and a 60-day parts-and-labor warranty. See our pricing for typical totals by appliance.

Schedule a visit or read about our repair services. Prefer to talk? Call (470) 778-4087.