While things might break sooner than expected – and a few might last longer than as well – knowing the expected life of an appliance or system is a great first step in crafting a home budget, so you will know what to save for their eventual replacement. To help you, we compiled the average life expectancies of some of the major systems and appliances in found in homes. Of course, proper maintenance will prolong the life of most appliances and systems, and we assumed you’re taking these steps when we calculated the following life expectancies. Please let us know if you have any questions or if see that we need to add an appliance or system to the list. After all, we’re here to help you get the most out of your home here in Evanston and the surrounding areas.
5-7 years
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (best practice is to replace both at least every 7 years)
- Dehumidifiers
10-15 years
- Dishwasher
- Freezer
- Washing machine
- Water heater
- Window unit air conditioners
- Microwave
- Garbage disposal
- Humidifier
15-17 years
- Central air conditioning
- Dryer
- Furnace
- Range
- Refrigerator
- Oven hood
- Aluminum windows
- Kitchen faucet
- Garage door openers
20-25 years
- Garage doors
- Boiler
- Tankless water heater
- Asphalt shingle roof
- Solar panels
- Wooden deck
- Aluminum gutters
- Sprinkler and valves
- Asphalt driveway
30 years +
- Wooden shake roof
- Wooden windows
- Thermostats
50 years +
- Copper, concrete or slate roof
- Copper gutters
- Copper-plated electrical wiring
- Stone or brick patio
- Wood floors
- Steel or wood doors
- Kitchen sink
- Stucco
- Exterior brick/masonry (chimneys tend to need more frequent maintenance since they’re more exposed)