Your Toilet Should Last 50 Years…
… And other estimates of how long appliances and components of a house should last
Everything in your house will require replacement. Here is a guide to the life expectancy of many of the components of the typical U.S. house. Please keep in mind that these are general industry standards, and family size and location can dramatically affect the expected life of an item. For example, furnaces last much longer in San Diego than they do in Chicago, and a family of 6 will need a clothes washer replaced sooner than a family of 2.
Home Inspectors will report the age of certain items such as water heaters and furnaces, but they do not itemize each component. It is up to the buyer to realize the age of appliances, and budget accordingly for replacement. If you are buying a house built in 1980, and the appliances look original, you will likely be faced with replacing them soon.
| Life Expectancy of Household Components | |
| Appliances | Life in years |
| Compactors | 10 |
| Dishwashers | 10 |
| Dryers | 14 |
| Disposal | 10 |
| Freezers, compact | 12 |
| Freezers, standard | 16 |
| Microwave ovens | 11 |
| Electric ranges | 17 |
| Gas ranges | 19 |
| Gas ovens | 14 |
| Refrigerators, compact | 14 |
| Refrigerators, standard | 17 |
| Washers, automatic and compact | 13 |
| Exhaust fans | 20 |
|
Source: Appliance Statistical Review, April 1990 |
|
| Bathrooms | Life in years |
| Cast iron bathtubs | 50 |
| Fiberglass bathtub and showers | 10-15 |
| Shower doors, average quality | 25 |
| Toilets | 50 |
|
Sources: Neil Kelly Designers, Thompson House of Kitchens and Bath |
|
| Cabinetry | Life in years |
| Kitchen cabinets | 15-20 |
| Medicine cabinets and bath vanities | 20 |
|
Sources: Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association, Neil Kelly Designers |
|
| Closet systems | Life in years |
| Closet shelves | Lifetime |
| Countertops | Life in years |
| Laminate | 10-15 |
| Ceramic tile, high-grade installation | Lifetime |
| Wood/butcher block | 20+ |
| Granite | 20+ |
|
Sources: AFPAssociates of Western Plastics, Ceramic Tile Institute of America |
|
| Doors | Life in years |
| Screen | 25-50 |
| Interior, hollow core | Less than 30 |
| Interior, solid core | 30-lifetime |
| Exterior, protected overhang | 80-100 |
| Exterior, unprotected and exposed | 25-30 |
| Folding | 30-lifetime |
| Garage doors | 20-50 |
| Garage door opener | 10 |
|
Sources: Wayne Dalton Corporation, National Wood Window and Door Association, Raynor Garage Doors |
|
| Electrical | Life in years |
| Copper wiring, copper plated, copper clad aluminum, and bare copper | 100+ |
| Armored cable (BX) | Lifetime |
| Conduit | Lifetime |
|
Source: Jesse Aronstein, Engineering Consultant |
|
| Finishes used for waterproofing | Life in years |
| Paint, plaster, and stucco | 3-5 |
| Sealer, silicone, and waxes | 1-5 |
| Source: Brick Institute of America Floors | |
| Floors | Life in years |
| Oak or pine | Lifetime |
| Slate flagstone | Lifetime |
| Vinyl sheet or tile | 20-30 |
| Terrazzo | Lifetime |
| Carpeting (depends on installation, amount of traffic, and quality of carpet) | 11 |
| Marble (depends on installation, thickness of marble, and amount of traffic) | Lifetime+ |
|
Sources: Carpet and Rug Institute, Congoleum Corporation, Hardwood Plywood Manufacturers Association, Marble Institute, National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association, National Wood Flooring Association, Resilient Floor Covering Institute |
|
| Footings and foundation | Life in years |
| Poured footings and foundations | 200 |
| Concrete block | 100 |
| Cement | 50 |
| Waterproofing, bituminous coating | 10 |
| Termite proofing (may have shorter life in damp climates) | 5 |
|
Source: WR Grace and Company |
|
| Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) | Life in years |
| Central air conditioning unit (newer units should last longer) | 15 |
| Window unit | 10 |
| Air conditioner compressor | 15 |
| Humidifier | 8 |
| Electric water heater | 14 |
| Gas water heater (depends on type of water heater lining and quality of water) | 11-13 |
| Forced air furnaces, heat pump | 15 |
| Rooftop air conditioners | 15 |
| Boilers, hot water or steam (depends on quality of water) | 30 |
| Furnaces, gas- or oil-fired | 18 |
| Unit heaters, gas or electric | 13 |
| Radiant heaters, electric | 10 |
| Radiant heaters, hot water or steam | 25 |
| Baseboard systems | 20 |
| Diffusers, grilles, and registers | 27 |
| Induction and fan coil units | 20 |
| Dampers | 20 |
| Centrifugal fans | 25 |
| Axial fans | 20 |
| Ventilating roof-mounted fans | 20 |
| DX, water, and steam coils | 20 |
| Electric coils | 15 |
| Heat Exchangers, shell-and-tube | 24 |
| Molded insulation | 20 |
| Pumps, sump and well | 10 |
| Burners | 21 |
| Home security appliances | Life in years |
| Intrusion systems | 14 |
| Smoke detectors | 12 |
| Smoke/fire/intrusion systems | 10 |
| Insulation | Life in years |
| For foundations, roofs, ceilings, walls, and floors | Lifetime |
| Sources: Insulation Contractors Association of America, North American Insulation Manufacturers Association | |
| Landscaping | Life in years |
| Wooden decks | 15 |
| Brick and concrete patios | 24 |
| Tennis courts | 10 |
| Concrete walks | 24 |
| Gravel walks | 4 |
| Asphalt driveways | 10 |
| Swimming pools | 18 |
| Sprinkler systems | 12 |
| Fences | 12 |
| Sources: Associated Landscape Contractors of America, Irrigation Association | |
| Masonry | Life in years |
| Chimney, fireplace, and brick veneer | Lifetime |
| Brick and stone walls | 100+ |
| Stucco | Lifetime |
| Sources: Brick Institute of America, Architectural Components, National Association of Brick Distributors, National Stone Association | |
| Millwork | Life in years |
| Stairs, trim | 50-100 |
| Disappearing stairs | 30-40 |
| Paints and stains | Life in years |
| Exterior paint on wood, brick, and aluminum | 7-10 |
| Interior wall paint (depends on the acrylic content) | 5-10 |
| Interior trim and door paint | 5-10 |
| Wallpaper | 7 |
| Sources: Finnaren and Haley, Glidden Company, The Wall Paper | |
| Plumbing | Life in years |
| Waste piping, cast iron | 75-100 |
| Sinks, enamel steel | 5-10 |
| Sinks, enamel cast iron | 25-30 |
| Sinks, china | 25-30 |
| Faucets, low quality | 13-15 |
| Faucets, high quality | 15-20 |
| Sources: American Concrete Pipe Association, Cast Iron Soil and Pipe Institute, Neil Kelly Designers, Thompson House of Kitchens and Baths | |
| Roofing | Life in years |
| Asphalt and wood shingles and shakes | 15-30 |
| Tile (depends on quality of tile and climate) | 50 |
| Slate (depends on grade) | 50-100 |
| Sheet metal (depends on gauge of metal and quality of fastening and application) | 20-50+ |
| Built-up roofing, asphalt | 12-25 |
| Built-up roofing, coal and tar | 12-30 |
| Asphalt composition shingle | 15-30 |
| Asphalt overlag | 25-35 |
| Source: National Roofing Contractors Association | |
| Rough structure | Life in years |
| Basement floor systems | Lifetime |
| Framing, exterior and interior walls | Lifetime |
| Source: NAHB Research Foundation | |
| Shutters | Life in years |
| Wood, interior | Lifetime |
| Wood, exterior (depends on weather conditions) | 4-5 |
| Vinyl plastic, exterior | 7-8 |
| Aluminum, interior | 35-50 |
| Aluminum, exterior | 3-5 |
| Sources: A.C. Shutters, Inc., Alcoa Building Products, American Heritage Shutters | |
| Siding | Life in years |
| Gutters and downspouts | 30 |
| Siding, wood (depends on maintenance) | 10-100 |
| Siding, steel | 50-Lifetime |
| Siding, aluminum | 20-50 |
| Siding, vinyl | 50 |
| Sources: Alcoa Building Products, Alside, Inc., Vinyl Siding Institute | |
| Walls and window treatments | Life in years |
| Drywall and plaster | 30-70 |
| Ceramic tile, high-grade installation | Lifetime |
| Sources: Association of Wall and Ceiling Industries International, Ceramic Tile Institute of America | |
| Windows | Life in years |
| Window glazing | 20 |
| Wood casement | 20-50 |
| Aluminum and vinyl casement | 20-30 |
| Screen | 25-50 |
| Sources: Best Built Products, Optimum Window Manufacturing, Safety Glazing Certification Council, Screen Manufacturers Association | |
