From Dishwashers to Furnaces: How Often to Replace Everything in Your Home

There’s no escaping the reality that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. What this means for you as a homeowner is that things in your home will eventually wear down, break and need replacing, not fixing. So, how do you know when to replace your dishwasher, the deck you built a couple of summers ago or your roof?

Even though many appliances outlive their warranties by several years, none last forever. Roofs, decks and other structural elements of your home last longer than appliances, but they, too, eventually stop functioning. Here, with the help of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI), we provide an idea of roughly how long the components of your home will last.

Exterior Replacements

Deck

Like your roof, your deck’s life expectancy depends greatly on climate and maintenance. InterNACHI estimates decks made from wood planks will last about 15 years, while pressure-treated wood will give you 10 to 30 years. Composite decking can last anywhere from eight to 25 years.

Outside Materials

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

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. A tile, copper or slate roof can last more than 50 years. Wood shake roofs should last about 30 years, and asphalt shingles will give you about 20 years of reliable service.

These timelines are approximate, and you can often do spot repairs instead of replacing the whole roof. However, Florida-based roofer Mike Powell advises: “If 30% or more of the roof is damaged or worn, it’s often more cost-effective in the long term to opt for a full replacement, especially if the roof is nearing the end of its expected lifespan.” This is especially true with asphalt roofs, because “older asphalt shingle roofs become very brittle and lifting tabs to complete repairs can cause damage and make repairs difficult.”

Foundations

You shouldn’t have to worry about your foundation, but if you treat and waterproof foundations, expect those things to last around 10 to 12 years before you’ll have to reapply.

Kitchen Replacements

Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets should last around 50 years, but you can always update them. Medicine cabinets have a shorter shelf life of 25 years, while garage and laundry cabinets should last as long as 70 years. Your closets should last the life of the house.

Countertops

Stone countertops should last a lifetime, while solid surface materials like cultured marble and quartzite typically last around 20 years. Laminate countertops have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years.

Dishwasher

For most dishwasher brands,  a nine-year lifespan is about the norm. All manufacturers note it’s important to follow the owner’s manual and regularly clean out your dishwasher to keep it running properly.

Garbage Disposal

You can expect your garbage disposal to last at least 12 years.

Refrigerator

You’ll get about nine to 13 years out of your refrigerator. The most common refrigerator repairs include ice maker failure, main control board failure and a clogged drain.

Stovetop and Oven

When it comes to your kitchen cooktop and oven, how long they last depends on the type and how often you use them. 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.

Laundry Room Replacements

Washing Machine

The average life of a washing machine is five to 15 years. If any repair exceeds $500, it may be worth considering a new machine. The most common repairs include gasket and switch replacement and issues with leaking.

Clothes Dryer

Thirteen years is the average life expectancy of a clothes dryer, but many last longer. We’ve had our gas dryer since we moved into the house 20 years ago, and all it has ever needed during that period is a new tumbler belt.

To help extend your dryer’s life, keep the dryer vent clean and consider air drying when possible. According to InterNACHI, galvanized steel dryer vents also need replacement after about 20 years.

Bathroom Replacements

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 or it has recurring clogs , those usually aren’t the fault of the toilet itself but of the way you’re using it. However, if you see a crack in the porcelain, don’t wait; it’s time for a new toilet.

Water Heater

A rule of thumb for water heaters is that those older than 12 years should be considered for replacement, although it’s common for them to last much longer. Some signs you shouldn’t ignore that indicate that your water heater is about to die include rusty water, rumbling noises and leaks.

Flooring

Wood flooring will last about 100 years or even more with proper upkeep. Vinyl flooring will last about 25 years, while carpet will last about 10 years.

When it comes to tile flooring, life expectancy depends on the type of tile, maintenance and amount of foot traffic, but new tile will probably last 75 to 100 years—or as long as the house.

Here are a few apartment repairs and maintenance you can do yourself.

Whole Home Replacements

Doors

Exterior doors usually last the lifetime of a house while screen doors and vinyl doors typically last 30 years. It’s common for French doors to last 30 to 50 years.

HVAC System

Your home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system has many parts, but with proper upkeep, it should last 15 to 25 years.

Furnace lifespans average about 15 to 20 years. Many homeowners choose to update their furnaces after 10 to 15 years for a more efficient model.

This is in line with HVAC pro Tim David’s assessment: “If your system is nearing 15 years old or older and you have to call out an HVAC tech at least once a year for three years in a row then its time to replace your system.” If you opt for a heat pump system, which can both heat and cool your home, you’re looking at an expenditure from $5,000 to $8,000, he says.

Masonry

Brick fireplaces should last the life of a house, and brick walls should extend past 100 years.

Wiring/Electrical

Most wiring should last a lifetime, whereas electric components like lighting controls typically last a little more than a decade.

Faucets and Sinks

Faucets will work properly for an average of 15 to 20 years, while most sinks will last around 50 years. Shower enclosures typically remain in good condition for 50 years but shower doors usually last around 20 years. Whirlpool tubs have a lifespan of 20 to 50 years.

Paint

Interior and exterior paint typically lasts around 15 years before you need to apply new coats or repaint.

Windows

Aluminum windows have an average lifespan of 15 to 20 years while wooden ones run a little longer at 30 years.

About the Experts

• Mike Powell is the owner of Red Flag Home Inspection in Tampa, FL.
• Tim David is a retired HVAC tech with 25 years of experience. He has written many books on HVAC topics offers advice to homeowners at Airlucent.com.

Sources

International Association of Certified Home Inspectors: InterNACHI’s Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart for Homes; (2025)