Household Component Life Spans

Houses are built to last a lifetime, but certain components wear out periodically and will need to be replaced on a fairly regular time cycle.

The following life cycles are not personal opinions, but are based upon the individual manufacturers suggested service-life of these components. The life-expectancy of some components may vary with the severity of the local weather, the design, the type and quality of the original components, the quality of the installation, and the level of maintenance that the component has received.

Also, please remember that these components and systems are like people: some fail early in life and some last much longer than we ever thought possible.

  Air
Conditioning

Years
1. Compressors 6-12
2. Blowers /
Fans
10-15
3. Heat Pump /
Condenser (the outside unit)
8-15
 
 
Heating

Years
4. Forced-Air,
Gas Furnace
15-20
5. Electric Furnaces

(Heating Elements may need periodic
replacement)

20-25
6. Electric
Baseboard Heaters
10-15
7. Gas Boilers
(Cast Iron)
30-60
8. Gas Boilers
(Steel)
20-35
9. Radiators /
Expansion Tanks
30-45
 
 
Plumbing Systems

Years
10. Hot Water
Heaters
10-15
11. Galvanized Water Supply Lines
(With spot replacement of some sections)
35-65
12. Copper
Water Supply Lines
60-100
13. Plastic
Supply Lines (PVC, CPVC, ABS, PEX)
?
14. Cast Iron
Drain Lines
45-90
15. Copper
Drain Lines
50-100
16. Plastic
Drain Lines (PVC, ABS)
?
17. Builders
Grade Faucets, etc.
20-30
18. Builders
Grade Tubs, Toilets, Sinks, etc.
35-50
 
 
Appliances

Years
19. Garbage
Disposal
5-10
20. Dishwasher
10-15
21. Gas Ranges,
Ovens & Cook-Tops
20-35
22. Electric
Ranges, Ovens & Cook-Tops
15-25
23. Built-In
Microwave
5-10
24. Trash
Compactor
6-12
25.
Refrigerator
10-20
26. Humidifiers
(with regular maintenance)
5-10
27. Laundry
Equipment (Washers/Dryers)
10-20
 
 
Roofing / Guttering

Years
28. Aluminum / Galvanized Gutters (if well
maintained)
15-25
29. Composition Shingle Roof (1st layer of
roofing)
16-20
30. Composition
Shingle Roof (2nd roof on top of existing shingles)
12-16
31. Roll
Roofing (composition)
6-10
32. Wood Shake
Roofing
15-20
33. Wood
Shingle Roofing
14-18
34. Slate Roofing

(depends on type of slate and quarry
they came from)

45-150
35.
Clay/Tile/Concrete Roofing
30-50
36. Metal Roofing

(as long as kept from rusting)

35-70
 
 
Interior

Years
37. Paint
(Wall, Ceiling, Trim)
5-10
38. Drywall
(Walls & Ceilings)
50-?
39. Plaster
(Walls & Ceilings)
60-90
40. Ceramic Tile:

Wet Bead

Mastic Bead

45-80

15-20

41. Carpeting 10-12
 
 
Exterior

Years
42. Exterior
Paint
5-10
43. Wood Decks 12-16
44. Aluminum
Siding
25-40
45. Vinyl
Siding
30-45
46. Hardboard / Composition Siding

(depends on moisture entry)

15-40
47. T-111, Wood
or Plywood
20-40
48. Stucco (Hardcoat
Conventional)
60+
 
  Wells
& Septic Systems

Years
49. Well Pumps,
Tanks, Sumps
15-25
50. Septic Leaching Fields

(depends on factors such as regular
maintenance)

10-50
51. Concrete
Septic Tank
20-40
52. Steel
Septic Tank
15-30