How long do you expect appliances to last?

[DawnM]

i have high hopes for my Vitamix. It is 10 years old already. I expect another 10 years min.

Our appliances were all replaced about 8 or 9 years ago, probably 9. I expect them to last another 11-12 years at least.

Our washer and dryer are over 10 years old. Washer is 13 years old and dryer is 11.

Thankfully, DH is handy so he can fix a lot of things.

 

[havaneselover]

When we replaced our 25+ year old washer and dryer(which were still working by the way) a few years ago, the installer made a comment about them being "oldies", so I asked if we can expect that life with the new ones and he said "no, about 8 years").

My lg washer and dryer (top of the line) are at about 7.5 years. I'd be shocked if they went anytime soon.

 

[wenrob]

We've been pretty lucky *knock wood* on what we've had to replace versus what we chose to update or needed to get because of a move.

We've been through many coffee pots over the years. I'd say replaced every 2-3 years, we're pretty hard on them. eta: We've had cheap, middle of the road and high end coffee pots, their life span averages about the same in my experience. Three or four toaster ovens over 27+ years so not too bad there.

Major appliances I've had to replace because of failure:

The washer we bought when we moved into our first house quit after 10ish years. Repairing would have cost at least half of what it originally cost. Front loaders were the new fangled thing back then so we opted to replace both the washer and dryer. Gave the dryer to my sister and as far as I know it's still running today.

When we moved we left all kitchen appliances with the new owners. The refrigerator we bought crapped out shortly after a second move. It was only 5ish years old. We didn't even bother looking into having repaired, I couldn't be without a fridge for the length of time it would take.

Ironically the dryer we didn't need from up above crapped out shortly after our third move, probably right at 15 years. Again we opted to replace the set. Gave the washer to my sister but her son broke it shortly after.

Many, many things we've replaced to update we have given away and are still chugging along in other people's homes so I'm not so sure about about the "not built to last anymore" theory. Only time will tell with this new round of appliances (kitchen remodel on deck). If they go at least 10 years I'll be good with that.

 

[loves to dive]

Small appliances we end up replacing more often than larger ones. Our Keurig usually gets replaced every 2 or 3 years, darn things aren't designed to last. I went through a blender a year until I got my Ninja, I'm expecting it to last at least 4 years. We replace honey's deep fryer about every 4 or 5 years as well as the little counter top grill. He has had 3 big outside gas grills since we've lived in the house. Our fridge is a LG and we've had it for 12 years and have had no problems with it. Our washer and dryer are both about 14 years old, the buzzer on the washer when the load is done works when it wants to and the dryer continues to run when it's done, sometimes. I actually like the dryer running because I can open the door and start taking out the clothes and have it still spinning and not wrinkling the clothes. Honey has offered to replace both at least 3 times in the last year and I've told him there are so many other things I'd rather spend that money on when they work fine. We replaced our stove, dishwasher, microwave and sink about 2 years ago but just because we hated the ones that came with the house. They were all cheap white appliances and the porcelain had started coming off in the sink from putting hot pots in it. We ended up getting stainless steel to match the fridge and a granite sink (which is my favorite thing). Our microwave has already started acting up, it keeps running when it's done and sometimes we have to open it and close it two or three times to get it to stop. Our HVAC came with the house so it's around 12 or 13 years old and doing fine, we get it serviced twice a year.

 

[wenrob]

Oh, we've had to replace the water heater in all three homes right after moving in.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I'd consider myself lucky if my appliances we picked when we built 3 years ago last 10 years. They are just not made to last anymore like the OPs who have had their stuff 20+ years. I believe I have read 7 yrs is the average.
Our rental home we just sold was built in 2008 and has whirlpool appliances that are all still working and have never needed repair. I assume they will start dying soon. Stinks for the new owners.

Small appliances I don't use a ton, aside from the coffee pot and toaster. We replace the toaster prob every 3 years and I usually buy whatever Costco has at the time. Coffee pot has been going strong since we purchased it in 2008, even though I'd love it to die b/c I want a single cup maker.

 

[Anthony1971]

My opinion...
By lower end within reason and plan to replace it with similar in a few years with small appliances... if a 100 blender lasts 5 years and a 30 one lasts 3 you have by far made out on the deal... however in most cases the 10 blender has more features but the same internal workings of the 30 blender... there is not such thing as high end just more features these days... larger appliances Dryer a has automatic dry and a few other cycles.. B has automatic dry and more selectable cycles C has automatic dry and even more selectable cycles D has automatic dry and a digital display E plays music when it is done....ahhh give me the 300.00 (less on sale) one with the automatic dry why would I use anything else as it says it senses all.....breaks no problem send me another 300.00 one... pay someone to come in to fix your 800.00 one and it costs you 300.00...mine is now shinny and new yours is cruddy looking but has a digital display...

 

[havaneselover]

My opinion...
By lower end within reason and plan to replace it with similar in a few years with small appliances... if a 100 blender lasts 5 years and a 30 one lasts 3 you have by far made out on the deal... however in most cases the 10 blender has more features but the same internal workings of the 30 blender... there is not such thing as high end just more features these days... larger appliances Dryer a has automatic dry and a few other cycles.. B has automatic dry and more selectable cycles C has automatic dry and even more selectable cycles D has automatic dry and a digital display E plays music when it is done....ahhh give me the 300.00 (less on sale) one with the automatic dry why would I use anything else as it says it senses all.....breaks no problem send me another 300.00 one... pay someone to come in to fix your 800.00 one and it costs you 300.00...mine is now shinny and new yours is cruddy looking but has a digital display...

Meh. My LG dryer cost over $1,000 in 2009 and it's still shiny and new looking. I'll never go back to cheap washers and dryers now that I've been spoiled. They do a much better job IMO.

 

[Straitlover]

. Our microwave has already started acting up, it keeps running when it's done and sometimes we have to open it and close it two or three times to get it to stop.

You open the microwave and it still runs? Is that safe? What about the radiation?

 

[loves to dive]

You open the microwave and it still runs? Is that safe? What about the radiation?

Not sure I worded that right. The time set ends, it dings but continues to run, we open it and it doesn't run while it's open (the dryer does), we close it and it starts running again and hitting cancel doesn't help, we have to open it again and close it again maybe 2 or 3 times. We might have ghosts since our appliances like to run after they should stop.

 

[bababear_50]

The less bells and whistles (sensors,timers,etc) on appliances the better.
I used to think 20 or more years for appliances. My parents had the old
Harvest Gold and Avacado Green appliances that are still kicking
today (at cottage and yes they do suck alot of energy).
I spoke with a manager of appliances at Sears and she told me "off the record " expect 5-7 years with the new appliances.
Hugs Mel

 

[havaneselover]

The less bells and whistles (sensors,timers,etc) on appliances the better.
I used to think 20 or more years for appliances. My parents had the old
Harvest Gold and Avacado Green appliances that are still kicking
today (at cottage and yes they do suck alot of energy).
I spoke with a manager of appliances at Sears and she told me "off the record " expect 5-7 years with the new appliances.
Hugs Mel

Maybe they are trying to set low expectations so when they last 10 years you're happy. Five to seven years is a joke.

 

[Straitlover]

Not sure I worded that right. The time set ends, it dings but continues to run, we open it and it doesn't run while it's open (the dryer does), we close it and it starts running again and hitting cancel doesn't help, we have to open it again and close it again maybe 2 or 3 times. We might have ghosts since our appliances like to run after they should stop.

Whew!! I was worried about that. Didn't want you to start growing a third eye or something.

 

[powellrj]

I am old so I expect everything to last forever. We replaced our low-end sears water heater we bought back in 1990 last year. I have started buying used larger things like a washer and fridge because they seem to last longer than the newer ones do.

To show how bad I am, I was complaining to DH when my hot rollers went out a few years ago. I told him they should have lasted longer until I realized that I had bought them right after we got married at Wards. #1 Wards hasn't been in business for years and #2 we have been married 38 years so it has been awhile!

 

[amcnj]

My lg washer and dryer (top of the line) are at about 7.5 years. I'd be shocked if they went anytime soon.

Yeah I am hoping he was just being pessimistic! My parents had a refrigerator that was over 40 years old and still working, though I am sure inefficiently, but got rid of it as it was by then the extra room one in the basement that was no longer needed. I always wondered if some place would have wanted it for tv shows or movies set in earlier decades.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I've been told by appliance repairmen and deliverymen that appliances just aren't made like they used to be, and I believe them.

Dishwasher: the one that was in our current house when we bought it (short sale) was broken so we replaced it immediately in 2010. It started leaking about 3 years later and I had it fixed. It leaked again a year or so after that, and the repairman told me it was "impossible" to fix because it was the solenoid leaking and no matter what he did, he'd never be able to get a tight seal on that part so it would always leak. He recommended buying a new one, so I did. I thought 4 years of use was ridiculous. I've had my current one almost 2 years and all's well, knock on wood. At our old house, we had to replace the house's original when it was about 15 years old and I thought that was pretty good.

Stove/oven: replaced the old coil one that was in the house as soon as we moved in. I hope it lasts 20 years. I love my new one. The one at our old house was over 20 years old and worked fine.

Microwave: counter-top models I expect to last 10 years. We replaced the installed one in our current house even though it still worked because there were things I hated about it.

Refrigerator: 10-15 years, tops. We replaced ours when we moved in and it's still working great. The old one wasn't suitable to use everyday (mold in the water lines and rust in the icemaker from sitting unused in a vacant house), but still works fine in our garage for holding sodas and extra freezer space. I have no idea how old it is, though.

Washer/dryer: We started our married life with hand-me-downs from my sister and her husband, that they'd gotten for a wedding gift about 15 years prior. They worked fine another 8-10 years. The guy who delivered the new ones said, "oh, wow, you won't get the same life out of these new ones - they're only made to last 8 years nowadays." He wasn't kidding. Since then, we've already had to replace the washer again (after only about 5 years of use) because the circuit board went out and it was a $500+ repair. I got a new one for $700.

 

[loves to dive]

I am old so I expect everything to last forever. We replaced our low-end sears water heater we bought back in 1990 last year. I have started buying used larger things like a washer and fridge because they seem to last longer than the newer ones do.

To show how bad I am, I was complaining to DH when my hot rollers went out a few years ago. I told him they should have lasted longer until I realized that I had bought them right after we got married at Wards. #1 Wards hasn't been in business for years and #2 we have been married 38 years so it has been awhile!

My hot rollers I've had for at least 30 years still work but that might be because I stopped using them about 15 years ago and just can't bring myself to throw them out.

 

[powellrj]

My hot rollers I've had for at least 30 years still work but that might be because I stopped using them about 15 years ago and just can't bring myself to throw them out.

Actually that was me too. I hadn't used them in years and was doing DDs hair for a dance recital and they didn't work and I was really ticked off because it seemed like I had just gotten them.

 

[loves to dive]

Yeah I am hoping he was just being pessimistic! My parents had a refrigerator that was over 40 years old and still working, though I am sure inefficiently, but got rid of it as it was by then the extra room one in the basement that was no longer needed. I always wondered if some place would have wanted it for tv shows or movies set in earlier decades.

When my grandmother died she had one of the old ones that still had the fans on the top on the outside, kind of like you see in CoP. I think it was a Westinghouse, they wanted to buy it when because it still worked but my aunt (who isn't too bright) just sent it to the junk pile.

 

[loves to dive]

Speaking of microwaves, before we got the one that now is haunted and doesn't want to turn off, I managed to set the previous one on fire while heating up some frozen yams. They were on a paper towel, nothing metal in the thing. I was grilling some chicken looked up and there was a nice big ole fire burning. We also had an old stove in our previous house, which we were renting that shot a fireball out of it. Honey and I were in the kitchen cooking something, little galley kitchen but thankfully he was chopping something and I was at the sink, all of the sudden the oven door flew open and a fireball shot out across the room. Not a flame of fire, a ball of fire left the oven and flew across the room. I'm not sure what was in the oven. We both just kind of looked at each other, he walked over and turned it off and we went out to eat and called the landlord the next day. He said he thought it could be fixed, we were pretty good tenants and never complained and rarely called for anything broke, we just fixed it ourselves, but we put our foot down on that one. We also had an old dryer we had bought second hand, thing had to have been 20 or 30 years old. The door came off and honey being the resourceful man he is, decided all he had to do was superglue the hinges (which worked by the way) unfortunately he also super glued his fingers together and to the door. Acetone is your friend in such circumstances. The dryer continued to run until the day we got rid of it, we had to buy a new washing machine and figured what the heck, let's get a matching set.