Have you ever simply looked at your good old trusty fridge and wondered if it is time to replace it? Or have you stopped to look at your dependable dryer and appreciated that it’s working perfectly? Well, most of us don’t and it’s not your fault. It always doesn’t cross our minds to Google “Is my refrigerator old?. Although it might be and you might want to scroll down and check if it is.
You should be updated about all your major appliance’s lifespan. It just might save you from unexpected breakdowns and purchases. We have done our research and compiled the list of all major appliances and their average lifespan for you.
Not a lot of us pay attention, but household appliances are the backbone of our house. They are helping us out with everything – keeping our food fresh, helping in cooking hot tasty meals, giving us clean clothes, keeping our dishes squeaky clean and the list goes on. But just like everything else, they are also temporary. To make it easy to understand, here is a small list of appliances and their lifespans.
| APPLIANCE | AVERAGE LIFESPAN |
| Refrigerator | 10-15 years |
| Washer | 10 years |
| Dryer | 10-13 years |
| Dishwasher | 10 years |
| Oven/Store | 10-15 years |
| Microwave | 9 years |
Refrigerators: The 24/7 Hero
Have you ever stopped to appreciate your refrigerator which runs 24/7? It works hard every day to keep your food fresh. But until when? A refrigerator’s lifespan is typically between 10 to 15 years. These numbers largely depend on how you use as well as care for your hero. If you give it some TLC, it just might agree to stay with you a little bit longer.
What Affects Its Lifespan?
Is your fridge going to live with you for long or not, depends on three things:
- How You Use It: If you are someone who likes to open the fridge to take a look inside every five minutes, then you need to back off a little. Constant opening and closing can strain it and you might have to say goodbye a little early.
- How You Maintain It: Keep a constant check to see if it is doing okay, check and clean the condenser coils, take a look at the door seals and regular cleaning that keep your refrigerator around for the long haul.
- Where It Lives: If you are not treating your fridge right and keeping it in areas with extreme temperatures, then it might leave you faster. A temperature balance is important if you want to keep your fridge around for longer.
When Is It Time To Say Goodbye?
When your fridge starts to have constant breakdowns, weird loud noises, or feel like its energy is winding down then you might want to start searching for a new fridge friend.
Related: Where to Store Your Food in the Fridge: Does It Really Matter?
Washers: The Wardrobe Hero
Your washer is your best buddy who dedicatedly washes your clothes week after week, taking care of all your fabrics. So that you wear the best clothes all week long. Most washers work for 10 years but if you pay a little extra attention and provide care, then you might end up getting a few extra years of clean and warm laundry.
What Affects Its Lifespan?
Your washer’s life can depend on:
- How Much You Load It: Sometimes it’s tiring to do laundry in rounds and we think it’s normal to load everything at once. But it actually harms the washer because overloading strains the motor and some other parts. This results in wear and tear in the machine and if you continue to do so then your pockets too.
- How Often You Use It: If you love washing your clothes and use your washer multiple times a day, then consider giving your washer a break. Using your washer multiple times can wear out your machine faster.
- How You Maintain It: Constant maintenance for your washer is important. Consider it the same as you taking a bath. Keep your washer clean and check if there is any damage regularly.
Is It Time To Let Go?
If your washer is making loud noises, leaking, not being super dedicated and leaving your clothes unclean, then it’s time for you to find your laundry comfort in another washer.
Dryers: The Real MVP
The dryer might get overshadowed by a washer most of the time. But without washers, laundry would not be the same. You would not get warm, dry, soft ready-to-wear clothes. They are the real MVP of the laundry routines. These MVPs last between 10 to 13 years depending on how you use them.
What Affects Its Lifespan?
Some of the things that guide your dryer’s life are:
- How Regularly You Use It: If you love drying your laundry a little too much and use your dryer a lot, then you might want to give your dryer a well-deserved break. Making your dryer work overtime might damage it.
- Ventilation Matters: Your dryer needs to breathe in a better manner to dry your clothes faster. Proper ventilation will help your dryer stay with you for a long time. Bad ventilation can result in overheating and other problems.
- How To Keep It Alive: Do regular routine check-ups. Clean the lint filter vents regularly to make sure they work better.
How To Know It’s Time?
When your dryer starts to take longer to dry clothes, overheats easily or makes unusual noises then the dryer might be close to giving up.
Related: How to Safely Operate Your Kitchen Trash Compactor
Dishwashers: The Time-Saving Hero
Dishwashers are another level of heroes in your kitchen. They are your backbone in the kitchen and save your energy and time. Your time-saving kitchen hero can stay with you for 10 years if you are taking care!
What Affects It?
A simple checklist:
- How Regularly You Use It: If you think your kitchen hero can handle too many cycles in one day, then you might want to read about how many cycles are too many. Every machine needs a break and so does your dishwasher. If you use it too much, there are chances there will be wear and tear.
- Water Matters: Having good quality water is important for a dishwasher. Hard water is not so soft on your dishwasher. If you continuously use it, then there can be mineral buildup which can slow down your dishwasher.
- Maintenance!!: A little maintenance here and there like cleaning up the filters, using the recommended detergent and other similar things can help you and your dishwasher’s lasting relationship.
Time To Say Bye?
When your dishwasher starts to have constant leaks, makes loud noises, and doesn’t clean the dishes like it used to. Then you might want to start thinking about getting a new kitchen hero.
Oven/Stove: The Everyday Hero
Breakfast on a Sunday morning or a cooking date night on a Friday evening. Your oven is kind of like your mother who is ready to feed you every day. Most ovens and stoves live between 10 to 15 years. Don’t worry too much, it can be better if you care for them!
What Keeps It Alive?
Something you might not want to miss!
- How Much You Cook: Believe it or not, sometimes cooking too much can be tough on your stove’s burners and other internal parts. We aren’t saying you stop cooking, just give your hero a break!
- A Little Secret: Gas Stoves usually last longer than electric ones. It’s something about their design!
- Our Good Old Maintenance: To keep your loved stove/oven with you for a long time, clean clean clean!
When Is It Time?
When your oven starts to take forever to preheat or your stovetops are not heating up properly, you have to catch up with your appliance repair service provider every other day, then you might want to upgrade.
Microwave: The Speedy Sidekick
In a blog full of heroes, in the end, comes the sidekick, microwave. It brings you the ultimate comfort by reheating those amazing leftovers or making a quick meal. Even though sidekicks don’t stay for long, this one does. At least for 9 good years!
Revisiting Maintenance:
- Clean Your Microwave: Sometimes the food can spill or splatter on microwave walls. Simply make sure to keep the interiors clean.
- Avoid Metal: A lot of us don’t pay attention and put metals in the microwave. Well, don’t. It can cause sparking and damage.
- Clean the Door Seals: Clean the door deals regularly so that the microwave door is tightly closed.
Time For a New Microwave?
When your microwave doesn’t heat properly, makes noises, or has a loose door, then you should start looking to get a new microwave.
Related: Do Dryer Balls Work? Unpacking the Truth About Fabric Conditioner Balls
Conclusion
How do you feel about knowing your beloved appliances’ age? Are they old, do you have to say goodbye? It is always tough to say bye to old appliances, but it’s tougher to replace appliances that are new. It is important to make sure you are maintaining them regularly, and using them correctly. A little bit of care can increase the journey you have with your appliances. You know when it is time for you to bid them goodbye and welcome newer members! But this doesn’t mean that you don’t give older ones a chance. Try to focus on appliance repair! Your old one still might be the golden one. If you need appliance repair in Vancouver, then get in touch with Barton Appliance Repair.
