How long do you expect appliances to last?

[CaterFamily]

I own an appliance repair company.

Let me just say that we make a kings ransom from doing manufacturer warranty repairs alone.

I agree that things are not made to last - they're made to be replaced every 5-10 years at most (major appliances). Consider yourself fortunate if your machine purchased within the past 5 years to last longer than 10.

 

[havaneselover]

I own an appliance repair company.

Let me just say that we make a kings ransom from doing manufacturer warranty repairs alone.

I agree that things are not made to last - they're made to be replaced every 5-10 years at most (major appliances). Consider yourself fortunate if your machine purchased within the past 5 years to last longer than 10.

Are there certain brands you've noticed that do better/worse than others?

 

[CaterFamily]

Are there certain brands you've noticed that do better/worse than others?

Hard question to answer. I only see the bad of everything.

I will note that typically the higher end of every brand tends to have less repairs than their lower end counter parts. Then again, I have worked on some of the most expensive units out there. Everything breaks sooner or later - especially if there is anything mechanical about it.

 

[kathy884]

Forever -- but that doesn't usually work. They wear out so infrequently though and prices are always going down, meaning we do not have specific budgets for them, but take monies out of a home repair maintenance fund or more often just current monthly spending.

We bought a Kenmore refrigerator when we moved into our house here in 1989 and it's still working. 27+ years

I don't know how old the original dishwasher in our house that we bought in 89 was, but we had to replace it in 2010 -- love how quiet the new LG one is, so previous lasted 21+ years

We've had to replace both our washer and dryer that we purchased in 1985 -- These Kenmore ones each lasted 20+ years.

Microwaves -- every cross country move I have made has broken the microwave. These don't last as long for us as other appliances. Even without a move, we typically are only getting 12+ years.

TV -- not sure, as I replaced the old tub TV that I had that was 25+ years old that was still working great with an HDTV about 8 years ago. It's still working great. And I bought a second HDTV for my son about three years ago.

Computers -- replaced to get the new technology not because they were broken. We usually keep ours for five years, less if there is a new application we want to run that new hardware would be great for.

Cell Phone -- DS loves new technology and I have him on the apple annual replacement plan. DH and I usually keep our phones for three or four years.

 

[kidshop]

They don't make things like they used to. I work for a high-volume homebuilder and appliances are included in our contracts. For example, of 300+ fridges a year we put in houses (any make and model and some quite high-end all the way from Samsung and Whirlpool to Miele and Sub-Zero); 2-5% will need replacement during the first year, which is the standard warranty period. The odds of having any major appliance lasting more than 5 years is only about 75% and less than 50/50 for 8 years. One of the issues with them now is that even cheap ones have so many electronic and computerized features, all of which are built into "modules". It's not really possible to fix small, individual issues any more, nor will the units continue to operate if minor features malfunction.

oh yeah. buy the extended warranty, you're gonna need it! Any appliance you buy today...washer/dryer/fridge/dishwasher, I expect 5 years tops. That is the way they are made and it is for sure the electronics. It is much cheaper to replace rather than repair.

 

[havaneselover]

oh yeah. buy the extended warranty, you're gonna need it! Any appliance you buy today...washer/dryer/fridge/dishwasher, I expect 5 years tops. That is the way they are made and it is for sure the electronics. It is much cheaper to replace rather than repair.

Extended warranties are sold because they are profitable. I self insure on things like this. My newest major appliance is five years old. The rest are 7-9. I've not had issues with any of them. No way am I buying one thinking it's only lasting five years. And I highly recommend LG.

 

[ronandannette]

oh yeah. buy the extended warranty, you're gonna need it! Any appliance you buy today...washer/dryer/fridge/dishwasher, I expect 5 years tops. That is the way they are made and it is for sure the electronics. It is much cheaper to replace rather than repair.

I sure wish all my customers would - I manage the Warranty department for a homebuilder. We warranty the entire home, appliances and all, for 1 year. Past that, various components revert back to coverage through the manufacturer, which is generally also only 1 year unless extend warranty is purchased through the retailer. Most buyers don't take it because they assume they can just wheedle a repair or replacement out of us (their homebuilder) if needed. Some of my most serious customer satisfaction problems come from people who I've had to decline service to appliances when they're several years old.

 

[dreiwhit]

Our microwave died at the 8.75 year mark. The refridgerator/freezer died at close to 10 years. Right now, the dishwasher, garbage disposal and oven/range are at the 11 year mark and still working. However, the stove/range has been having weird electronic issues with the key pad for a while now and we expect it to go next.

<heavily knocking on wood> Our washer and dryer are now 16 years old and working fine. When something happens, i'm going to fix them and keep on going.

I get sticker shock looking at what new appliances cost, and knowing they may not last as long as the ones I have now.

 

[CaterFamily]

Extended warranties are sold because they are profitable. I self insure on things like this. My newest major appliance is five years old. The rest are 7-9. I've not had issues with any of them. No way am I buying one thinking it's only lasting five years. And I highly recommend LG.

As someone who is in the appliance repair industry - extended warranties are sold for a profit. However, so is the [insert major appliance here] you bought. The store wouldn't sell it having no profit margin.

I always tell my clients to purchase extended warranties on major appliances only - especially washers, dryers, stoves and fridges.

 

[havaneselover]

As someone who is in the appliance repair industry - extended warranties are sold for a profit. However, so is the [insert major appliance here] you bought. The store wouldn't sell it having no profit margin.

I always tell my clients to purchase extended warranties on major appliances only - especially washers, dryers, stoves and fridgesy.

On average in the long run you do better not buying them IMO. I don't see the relevance of appliances being sold for a profit. I need a fridge. I don't have a good alternative. I don't need a warranty on it. I can pay for repairs out of my pocket.

 

[powellrj]

I will never buy an extended warranty again. I bought one for a water heater I bought. The heating element went bad so my DH called to get it repaired. The only repair place we could use was 3 hours away and was behind a week, so we had to wait. He gets here and tells me we need a part, but he has to order it which is another 2 weeks. Finally after a month we get it fixed. Lucky for us my parents had moved and their condo was empty and for sale so we were able to shower there. Our last water heater we bought in the early 90's and it was the low end one and lasted over 20 years.

We finally just called a local company that was here that day and replaced it when it went out again.