How long do appliances last? Expected life by appliance
| Appliance | NAHB estimate | Other published figures |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator, standard | 13 years | Fixr: 13 years; NAHB gives compact refrigerators 9 |
| Clothes washer | 10 years | Fixr: retailers say about 11 years front-load, 14 top-load |
| Clothes dryer (gas or electric) | 13 years | Fixr: most designed for 8 to 12, many reach 15+ |
| Gas range | 15 years | Fixr: ovens and stoves 10 to 15 years |
| Electric range | 13 years | Fixr: ovens and stoves 10 to 15 years |
| Freezer | 11 years | Fixr cites the same 11-year NAHB figure |
| Dishwasher | 9 years | Fixr: most built for 8 to 10 years, some high-end models 15 to 20 |
NAHB and Bank of America Home Equity, Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components, February 2007; Fixr guides updated January to August 2025.
Where those numbers come from, and their limits
The NAHB figures are the average lifespan of appliances as experts estimated it, not measured failure rates. They come from a telephone survey in the summer of 2006 of manufacturers, trade associations and researchers, who gave their estimates of how long each component lasts. The study itself stresses two limits: life expectancy depends heavily on maintenance, and many appliances are replaced before they wear out because owners want a new style or new features. Treat each number as a midpoint for an average household, not a promise.
Fixr adds a sentence worth keeping in mind: appliances now tend to fail at a higher rate than they used to. Newer machines carry more electronics, sensors and control boards, which fail differently from the switches and timers of older models.
What shortens an appliance's life
| Appliance | What wears it out early |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | dusty condenser coils, vents packed with food, a door gasket that no longer seals, a blocked defrost drain |
| Washer | overloading, too much detergent, a machine that is not level, bulky items spun alone |
| Dryer | a lint-packed or overlong vent, overloading, a crushed transition duct |
| Range and oven | boil-overs into burners, spills on glass tops, hard use of self-clean cycles |
| Freezer | dusty condenser, boxes blocking airflow, a torn gasket, a very hot garage |
| Dishwasher | a filter never cleaned, running on a slow or blocked drain, leaks left under the tub |
The dryer entry matters most for safety as well as life: heat that cannot leave through the vent overheats the element, the thermostats and the drum bearings, and it is the setup behind many dryer fires. The page on a dryer not drying covers the vent in detail.
Signs an appliance is near the end
- A second major part fails within a year or two of the first.
- Rust has come through the cabinet or the tub, or the frame is bent.
- The part you need is no longer made for your model.
- A fridge or freezer's compressor or sealed system has failed, or a washer needs a drum or bearings, past its expected life.
How to use age in a repair decision
Divide the appliance's age by its expected life. Under half, a repair almost always makes sense. Past three quarters, compare the repair with a new unit before agreeing to anything expensive. The repair or replace page works through the arithmetic with real price ranges, and the model and serial number on the appliance's tag usually encode the build date if you are not sure how old it is.
Questions people ask next
How long should a washer last?
About 10 years by the National Association of Home Builders estimate. Fixr adds that retailers put front-loaders around 11 years and top-loaders around 14. Heavy family use and overloading shorten that; light use and a level, well-maintained machine stretch it.
How long does a dryer last?
About 13 years for both gas and electric in the NAHB study. Fixr says most are designed for 8 to 12 years and many run 15 or more with a clean vent. Airflow is the main thing that ages a dryer early, because heat that cannot leave cooks its parts.
How long does a refrigerator last?
About 13 years for a standard refrigerator in the NAHB study, the same figure Fixr gives, and 9 for a compact one. Clean condenser coils and a gasket that still seals help it get there; a compressor failure past ten years usually ends it.
Do gas ranges really outlast electric ones?
In the NAHB figures, yes: 15 years for gas against 13 for electric. Both use parts that are simple to replace, so a range often stays in service past those numbers with an igniter, element or sensor along the way.
Sources
- Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components (PDF, third-party copy), National Association of Home Builders and Bank of America Home Equity, February 2007.
- How much does it cost to repair an appliance?, Fixr, updated January 30, 2025.
- How much does it cost to repair a refrigerator?, Fixr, updated August 29, 2025.
- How much does it cost to repair a washing machine?, Fixr, updated January 31, 2025.
- How much does it cost to repair a dryer?, Fixr, updated January 31, 2025.
- How much does it cost to repair a dishwasher?, Fixr, updated January 31, 2025.
- How much does it cost to repair an oven?, Fixr, updated August 29, 2025.
- How much does it cost to repair a freezer?, Fixr, updated August 29, 2025.
Reviewed October 1, 2026. Spotted an error? Write to admin@compareappliancerepair.com.