How Long Should Things Actually Last?
Before deciding an appliance died "too early," it helps to know what "on schedule" actually looks like.
Real numbers, not vibes
The National Association of Home Builders tracks average life expectancy for major home appliances. These are averages across all brands and price tiers — a well-maintained, higher-end unit can beat these numbers significantly.
Average Appliance Lifespan (Years)
Source: National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components. Individual units vary by usage, maintenance, and brand tier.
Maintenance changes the math significantly: industry estimates suggest consistent basic maintenance (cleaning coils, replacing hoses, clearing filters) can extend appliance life by roughly 20-40% versus a neglected unit — often the difference between replacing at year 9 or year 13.
A few non-appliance benchmarks
Mattress
7-10 years is the commonly cited range before support genuinely degrades.
Running shoes
300-500 miles for regular runners before cushioning breaks down, regardless of visible wear.
Cast iron skillet
Generations, with basic care — genuinely one of the only "buy once" categories in a kitchen.
Good enough, not perfect
You don't need to memorize every number. Just knowing the rough range helps you tell "this failed unusually early, worth investigating a repair" from "this lived a completely normal life."