Major household appliances have 10-year lifespan
MetroCreativeConnection
Experts estimate the average lifespan of today’s major household components is slightly above 10 years.
Experts estimate the average lifespan of today's major household components is slightly above 10 years.
Experts estimate the average lifespan of today's major household components is slightly above 10 years.
While older appliances seem to have stood the test of time, statistics from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) estimate the average lifespan of today’s major household components is slightly above 10 years.
The true longevity of any household material depends on maintenance, use, quality of installation, and climate conditions, according to a report from NAHB and Bank of America.
A gas range was listed by NAHB as lasting the longest at up to 15 years compared with 19 years in 1993.
New dryers and refrigerators were projected to last around 13 years.
Trash compactors were projected to last six years and and microwaves and dishwashers, nine years.
Alan Thompson, appliance manager at Reese Warehouse in Smithfield, said most of today’s major appliances are made to last between seven to 10 years.
Thompson said a lot of people opt to replace an appliance when the cost is higher than half the price of a comparable new model.
“A lot of folks with the cost of service are hesitant to have a machine (fixed) that’s seven or eight years old and ready to go on the blink,” said Thompson.
For the most part, Thompson said major appliance manufacturers offer a one year warranty with the exception of Speed Queen, which is three years.
Thompson added that Speed Queen is currently the most heavy duty washer on the market.
“It’s tested to outlast other machines, he said. “It’s like what everybody’s grandma had.”
Thompson further stated that some companies such as Maytag test their machines, which are known for twice the motor life.
However, Thompson said any appliance can wear out faster when a person is using it more often because the components aren’t made as heavy as in the past.
Over the past couple of decades, advances in appliances and electronics have changed the way energy is used in a home.
Through the U.S. Department of Energy’s appliance standards, manufacturers are developing new, more efficient appliances that are saving consumers money on their energy bills.
Consumer Reports said replacing a 20-year-old refrigerator with a new, energy-efficient one could save as much as $100 a year.
When buying a secondhand appliance, consumers need to consider product safety because it may be unknown if the previous owner has properly maintained it.
While receipts and user manuals are good records, homeowners do not always keep them.
Consumers can find out when an appliance was manufactured by locating a nameplate or model and serial numbers on the appliance itself, the Association of Home Appliance Manufactures said.
The nameplate may display the month and year that a product was manufactured while the model and serial numbers can also be used to call the manufacturer and request the information.
It can also be found on the company’s website.
Because appliances are not biodegradable, they can be recycled while those that don’t work can also be used for scrap metal.
Many retailers that sell major appliances offer to dispose of an old one at no extra cost while consumers can also contact their local municipality to find out where they can be taken to be disposed of.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency also provides information on its website for household appliance disposal.