Most household items aren’t built to last forever. Knowing the lifespan of various different household items and fixtures can help to plan for replacements. While some items are likely to break after a certain period of time, others may become unsafe to use. This post explores 50 different household items and when to replace them.
Appliances
1. Air fryers: 3-5 years
The non-stick coating on air fryers will usually degrade after 3 to 5 years of heavy use, which could lead to chemical contamination of food.
2. Coffee machines: 5-10 years
Bitter tasting coffee, leaks or difficulty finding pods/filters are all good signs to replace a coffee machine.
3. Dishwashers: 9-16 years
After 10 years of using your dishwasher, you may start to experience frequent issues like leaks and poor cleaning performance.
4. Dryers: 10-15 years
Excessive noise or consistent failure to dry clothes are signs that a dryer is nearing the end of its life.
5. Electric ovens: 13-15 years
Replace your oven if it’s no longer cooking food properly or if you’re having to frequently repair it.
6. Gas ovens: 15-17 years
Gas ovens typically last a little longer than electric ovens, although it depends on the brand.
7. Microwave ovens: 8-10 years
Replacing microwave ovens after 10 years is advised as faulty door seals can leak radiation.
8. Refrigerators: 10-20 years
If your refrigerator is frequently breaking down, failing to chill food properly or guzzling energy, it’s time to replace it.
9. Vacuum cleaners: 10-15 years
After 10 years, vacuum cleaners can often experience reduced suction and other issues.
10. Washing machines: 7-15 years
Washing machines will usually develop faults after 10 years. Replace your machine if the cost of repairs exceeds 50% of the cost of a new machine.
Devices
11. Desktop computers: 5-7 years
A regularly used desktop computer will usually last 5 to 7 years. Check out these signs you may need a new PC.
12. Laptops: 3-5 years
Laptops typically don’t last as long as desktops, but it depends on how often and where you use them.
13. Smart speakers: 3-5 years
Smart speakers typically last 3 to 5 years – especially if moved around a lot and used outdoors.
14. Tablet: 3-5 years
Slow performance and battery life issues can become common after 3 years.
15. TV: 7-10 years
Consider replacing your TV if it has lines on the screen, burnt in images or frequently loses image/sound.
Furniture
16. Desk chair: 7-8 years
A wobby base or cracked/torn upholstery are signs that you should replace your desk chair.
17. Fabric sofa: 7-15 years
A sofa’s lifespan can depend on the quality of manufacture and how frequently used it is. Sagging, tears and unsightly stains are good signs you should replace.
18. Leather sofa: 15-25+ years
Leather sofas typically last longer than fabric sofas, potentially lasting up to 25 years (and longer if regularly cleaned and conditioned).
19. Mattress: 6-8 years
After 8 years, sleeping on the same mattress may become harmful due to foam breakage, bacteria exposure and allergen build-up.
20. Wooden table: 15-50+ years
Cheap flat-pack wooden tables may only last 15 years, while well-maintained hand-crafted tables and desks can last much longer.
Flooring
21. Carpets: 5-15 years
Carpets have the shortest life expectancy of any flooring. Expect fraying, stains, discoloration or a musty smell after 15 years of regular footfall.
22. Ceramic tile flooring: 20-50+ years
Ceramic tiles typically last a minimum of 20 years, but can last 50 or more years if regularly resealed and regrouted.
23. Hardwood flooring: 25-100+ years
Hardwood flooring lasts a minimum of 25 years. The ability to continuously refinish hardwood floors means that they can last a century or more. Be wary of water damage and insects though.
24. Laminate flooring: 15-25 years
Replace laminate flooring once it starts to get scratched up or shows signs of water damage.
25. Vinyl flooring: 10-25 years
Excessive scratching or warping are signs you should replace vinyl flooring.
Plumbing fixtures
26. Bathtubs: 10-30 years
The lifespan of a bathtub is dependent on the material. Once cracks and chips develop, it’s usually a good time to get a new tub as they may get worse over time.
27. Electric showers: 7-10 years
Leaks and frequent breakdowns are a sign that you should replace your electric shower.
28. Pipes: 50-100 years
Once you start to experience frequent leaks around your home, it’s usually a sign you need to replumb your home. Pipes can be made from various materials, but most won’t last more than 100 years.
29. Sinks/faucets: 15-20 years
Sink basin cracks and drainage issues are a sign you should replace your sink. Replace faucets once they become heavily corroded.
30. Toilets: 10-25 years
As a general rule, you should replace your toilet every 25 years. Leaks or frequent clogging are telltale signs you need a new toilet.
Exterior fixtures
31. Aluminium windows: 30-45 years
Aluminium windows can last a while, but may start to experience problems like drafts and corrosion after 45 years.
32. Asphalt shingles: 15-25 years
You should replace an asphalt roof if you experience frequent leaks, if the roof is sagging or there are lots of missing/damaged shingles.
33. Decking: 10-25+ years
A wooden deck will usually last at least 10 years, but could last much longer with the right amount of maintenance. Look out for rotting or warping.
34. Front door: 20-40 years
The material of a door can impact how long it will last, however most doors over 40 years will need replacing due to inferior locks and hinge degradation.
35. Garage door: 15-30 years
Garage doors can become a safety concern if they stop working properly. It’s a good idea to replace your garage door if it’s over 30 years old.
36. Metal roofs: 40-70 years
Metal roofs can last for many years, but typically need replacing once they start to show signs or rust.
37. Sliding doors: 20-30 years
The average life expectancy of sliding doors is 20 to 30 years, after which functional issues can set in.
38. Solar panels: 25-30 years
Solar panel lifespan can vary, however after 30 years most panels are expected to degrade and become much less efficient at harvesting energy.
39. Timber windows: 15-65+ years
If not maintained, timber windows should last at least 15 years. If regularly treated and cared for, they can last up to 65 years or much longer.
40. Vinyl windows: 20-40 years
After 30 years, vinyl windows typically become cracked and discolored and you may experience issues like condensation between panels.
Other miscellaneous stuff…
41. Boilers: 10-20 years
Pressure problems, leaks and poor energy-efficiency are common issues with boilers after a certain amount of time. Older cheaper boilers may only last 10 years, while more modern high-quality boilers can last up to 20 years.
42. Electric lawn mower: 3-5 years
While it depends on the brand, electric lawn mowers can often start to experience battery issues and other faults after 5 years.
43. Gas lawn mower: 10-15 years
Gas lawn mowers are easier to repair and can last much longer as a result. You may get 15 years or more out of a gas lawn mower if it is well maintained.
44. HVAC filter: 1.5-3 months
Although most people don’t do it, most HVAC manufacturers recommend replacing filters every 90 days to every 3 months to maintain healthy air quality and efficient ventilation.
45. Kitchen sponge: 1-2 weeks
No matter how worn your kitchen sponge is, it’s usually a good idea to not use the same sponge for any longer than 2 weeks due to potential bacteria build–up in the sponge.
46. Make-up brushes: 2-3 years
How often you replace your make-up brushes depends on how often you wear make-up, but it’s usually worth throwing away a brush once the bristles become damaged or it looks dirty.
47. Non-stick pans: 3-5 years
Once the non-stick coating is damaged on a non-stick pan, you should consider throwing away the pan to prevent chemicals leaching into food.
48. Razor blades: 2-6 weeks
Razor blades should be replaced every 5 to 10 shaves, after which they can become dull and may cause razor burn.
49. Smoke alarms: 10 years
Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years as a matter of safety to ensure that they are working properly.
50. Toothbrush: 3-4 months
Replace your toothbrush when the bristles become damaged (usually after 3 or 4 months) so that you’re still able to effectively brush away plaque. If you get ill and use your toothbrush, you should also replace it.
Time to replace?
Keeping track of when things were last replaced can help you to know when to next schedule a replacement. It’s worth noting that you can often extend the life of items by taking extra measures to maintain them. Similarly, carelessness may shorten the life of all of the above items. It pays to look after your stuff!
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