#HTE

How Long Do the Appliances and Objects in Our Homes Last For?

For those of you that design appliances and/or household fixtures, how long do they last for? Some of you are privy to the client’s planned obsolescence figures, but I’m guessing most of you just watch the BOM get whittled down, then reduce your estimate of that moving part’s longevity.

While companies and designers can predict how long an object will last before it breaks, the people who really know are home inspectors. They examine houses and the objects inside of them after real-world use, and long after they were new.

Florida-based firm McGarry and Madsen Home Inspection combined the figures from their own experience with stats from the National Association of Home Builders and home inspection organization InterNACHI to come up with the following list. I’ve edited it down primarily to things that designers work on, but have included a few non-designed items out of general interest:

AIR CONDITIONING

Split System Condensers (outside unit) - 10 to 16 years

Split System Air Handler (inside unit) - 14 to 18 years

Ductless (Mini-Split) - 10 to 16 years

Window Air Conditioner - 5 to 8 years

PLUMBING FIXTURES

Water Heaters - 10 to 20 years

Faucets - 15 to 25 years

Sinks, Tubs, Toilets - 40 to 80 years

Shut-off Valves - 20 years

CABINETRY

Kitchen Cabinets - 50 years

Closet shelves - 60+ years

Medicine Cabinets - 20 to 30 years

SITE

Wood Decks - 20 years

Sprinkler Systems - 20 years

APPLIANCES

Gas and Electric Ranges - 15 years

Washers and Dryers - 12 years

Refrigerators - 13 years

Dishwashers - 9 years

Microwave Ovens - 9 years

COUNTERTOPS

Mica - 20 years

Cultured Marble - 25 years

Natural Stone - 50+ years

DOORS

Fiberglass and Steel Doors - 50+ years

Wood Doors - 40 to 50 years

Garage Doors - 30 years

Garage Door Openers - 10 to 15 years

WINDOWS

Wood - 35 to 60 years

Aluminum - 25 to 40 years

Vinyl - 25 to 40 years

Insulated Glass Windows - 20 to 30 years

ELECTRICAL

GFCI Circuit Breaker - 20 to 30 years

AFCI Circuit Breaker - 20 to 30 years

Wall Switches - 30 to 40 years

Wall Receptacle/Outlets - 50 years

Fixtures - 40 years

Wiring - 60 to 80+ years

PAINT AND CAULK

Exterior Paint - 7 to 10 years

Interior Paint - 10 to 15 years

Caulk (interior and exterior) - 6 to 15 years

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These are just rough guidelines, of course. “While we hope you find this series of articles about home inspection helpful,” writes McGarry and Madsen, “they should not be considered an alternative to an actual home inspection by a local inspector.”