Home Facts: This is How Long These Parts of Your Home Should Last

You know how it goes: When you're least expecting it, you'll need to replace something in your home. Maybe the refrigerator or the dishwasher stops working unexpectedly. Perhaps the roof starts leaking or the washing machine stops spinning. Here's a look at the life expectancy of some of your home's big-ticket items.

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Man Installing Roof
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Roof

The life expectancy of your roof really depends on where you live, along with building design, materials and how much work you put into maintaining it. According to the National Association of Home Builders, a tile, copper or slate roof can last more than 50 years. Wood shake roofs should last about 30 years, while you’ll get about 25 years out of fiber cement. Asphalt shingles will give you about 20 years of reliable service.

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Refrigerator

You’ll get about six to 15 years out of your refrigerator, according to Angie’s List. The most common refrigerator repairs include ice maker failure, main control board failure and a clogged drain.

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dishwasher
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Dishwasher

Consumer Reports asked manufacturers of 13 dishwasher brands to weigh in on the lifespan of the appliance, and 10 years is about the norm. All manufactures noted it’s important to follow the owner’s manual and regularly clean out your dishwasher to keep it running properly.

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washing machine repair
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Washing Machine

Angie’s List reports the average life of a washing machine is eight to 12 years. If the repair exceeds $500, it may be worth considering a new machine. The most common repairs include gasket replacement, a switch failure and valve issues.

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Clothes Dryer

Ten years is the average life expectancy of a clothes dryer, according to Consumer Reports. To help increase your dryer’s life, keep the dryer vent clean and consider air drying when possible.

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Cooktop and Oven
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Cooktop and Oven

When it comes to your kitchen cooktop and oven, how long it lasts depends on the type and how often you use it. According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, you can expect to get 10 to 18 years out of your gas oven and 15 to 17 years out of your gas range. An electric range will last 13 to 15 years.

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HVAC System repair tech
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HVAC System

Your home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems should last you 15 to 25 years with proper upkeep, with furnaces averaging about 15 to 20 years. However, according to Comfort Pro, Inc., an HVAC company, many homeowners choose to update their furnace after 10 to 15 years for a more efficient model.

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deck installation repair
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Deck

Like your roof, your deck’s life expectancy depends greatly on climate and maintenance. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors estimates decks made from wood planks will last about 15 years, while structural wood will give you 10 to 30 years. Composite decking will last anywhere from eight to 25 years.

Here’s how often you can expect and should replace everything in your home.

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toilet repair
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Toilet

When it comes to your home’s toilet, it can be hard to say how long it will last. However, there are some things that can tell you when it needs to be replaced. If you’re rebuilding the toilet guts regularly, it has recurring clogs or a crack in the porcelain, it may be time for a new toilet.

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Water Heater

A rule of thumb for water heaters—according to Angie’s List— is that those older than 10 years should be considered for a replacement. Some signs that your water heater is about to die include rusty water, rumbling noises and leaks.

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white house with front porch exterior landscaping
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Outside Materials

Many homeowners will never have to replace their home’s exterior materials such as brick, stone, vinyl and fiber cement—all should outlast you. HomeAdvisor notes you should expect to replace both your aluminum gutters and your wood shutters after about 20 years.

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Flooring

You can expect your wood flooring to last about 100 years, or even more with proper upkeep. Vinyl flooring will last about 50 years, while you’ll get about 10 years out of your carpet. When it comes to tile flooring, life expectancy depends on the type of tile, maintenance and amount of foot traffic.

Rachel Brougham
Rachel Brougham spent years working in newsrooms, for television and newspapers, and has won several awards for her writing. In 2015, she left her full-time job as a newspaper editor to focus on freelance writing and editing. She has been a Family Handyman contributor since 2017.
In 2019, Rachel lived through a major remodeling project on her home, and she uses that experience to inform her Family Handyman content. She's also an avid gardener (both native plants and vegetables), enjoys keeping up with decor trends and spends a lot of time traveling, cooking and hanging out with her family and their giant dog.