Suggested Appliance Replacement Periods

FYI...

In reference to the suggested times

Air conditioners: 8 to 15 years Dishwashers: 5 to 12 years Disposals: 5 to 12 years Dryers: 8 to 12 years Freezers: 15 to 20 years Furnaces: 8 to 12 years Heat pumps: 8 to 12 years Refrigerators: 15 to 20 years Stoves: 15 to 20 years Washers: 8 to 12 years Water heaters: 8 to 12 years

I find my own experience with the most current appliances has been...

Air conditioners: 15 years Dishwashers: 21 years Disposals: 31 years Dryers: 23 years Freezers: 23 years Furnaces: 15 years Heat pumps: N/A Refrigerators: 23 years Stoves: 31 years Washers: 23 years Water heaters: 31 years

As you can see, many of my appliances have lasted beyond the suggested replacement periods before needing replacement.

Two comments on this article.

First is when you can save substantial money with improved efficiency, I think it is a good idea to replace the appliance. Refrigerators, freezers, dryers, furnaces and air conditioners fall under this heading. These are appliances that run for a long period of time and use considerable amount of energy.

Second when you buy an appliance buy one as generic as possible. The more fashion conscious it is, the sooner it will be out of style and become an eyesore. There is a reason why white is the most popular color of appliances.

Third is always consider these types of articles with a grain of salt. With the housing market and the economy in free fall, appliance manufacturers are desperate to get the consumer to buy their wares. Many industry trade groups will commission a writer to produce articles to motivate consumers under the guise of saving money to buy their wares. (If you look you will find the car companies are doing the same thing.) Before doing any purchase, do the cost analysis to determine whether there will be a true saving.

Comments?

TMT

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Creative Consumer: Time to Fix or Trash Your Appliances? Elisabeth Leamy's Tips About What to Do With Your Aging Appliances By ELISABETH LEAMY ABC NEWS Consumer Correspondent Oct. 29 2007 =97

I got some new appliances for my kitchen this week. Woo hoo! When we bought our house a couple of years ago, one of the less-than-appealing aspects was the collection of 1980s-era kitchen appliances. They were ugly and didn't work well either. But the darn things just would not fail altogether. So I kept wondering, should I take them to the repair shop or the junkyard?

I finally got my act together to research a reputable appliance repair firm, and when I told the company my address, I got lucky. Turns out the previous owner had also used this company and I was able to find out that they had worked on the oven multiple times. That was all the excuse I needed. And then I needed a dishwasher and microwave to match, right?

Whether to fix it or trash it is a tough call. The first step is to check your warranty. Many household appliances have long-term manufacturer's warranties. Next, get an estimate. If the repair cost is 50 percent or more of the price of replacement, you should scrap it.

If the repair cost is 50 percent or less, ask yourself some questions. What kind of shape is the appliance in? If it's already been fixed several times like my oven, it may not be worth another overhaul. Do newer models offer vastly improved features? For example, new refrigerators use less energy than old ones. You may be able to recoup part of the cost of replacement that way.

Consider whether the appliance is unique. If it fits into an odd space or it's an unusual color, it may be too expensive and difficult to replace. Finally, figure out how old the appliance is. Over the years, experts have figured out the average life of most household appliances.

Air conditioners: 8 to 15 years

Dishwashers: 5 to 12 years

Disposals: 5 to 12 years

Dryers: 8 to 12 years

Freezers: 15 to 20 years

Furnaces: 8 to 12 years

Heat pumps: 8 to 12 years

Refrigerators: 15 to 20 years

Stoves: 15 to 20 years

Washers: 8 to 12 years

Water heaters: 8 to 12 years

Don't just open up the phone book and get an estimate from the company with the biggest ad. Ask friends and family for referrals and check out the companies with the better business bureau and your county or state consumer protection office. Keep in mind, in some states, appliance repair companies have to be licensed. If you don't have a solid referral, plan on getting more than one repair estimate on expensive appliances.

When you call for an appointment, be ready with the make and model number of the appliance. That way you can make sure the company services that brand and that the technician is prepared to bring the proper tools. Ask whether the company charges for estimates. Most companies waive that fee if you go ahead with the repair work. Find out the charge for the first half hour of work and see if there's a minimum repair charge.

When the technician comes to your home, ask for a written estimate. That estimate should list all parts needed, plus labor charges. Some states require the technician to get your permission if the price is going to rise more than 10 percent above the written estimate. Find out if the company offers a warranty and get it in writing. Typically, repair companies guarantee their labor for 30 days, parts for 90 days.

Once you choose a repair company, alert the technician up front that you are going to want your old parts back. This is a good test to make sure the technician really does replace those parts. Keep in mind, the technician cannot give you your old parts if they contain hazardous materials or if the manufacturer requires their return in exchange for warranty service.

Don't pay big bucks up front. Established companies should not ask you for any money at the beginning of the job. Certainly don't pay more than ten or twenty percent. When the job is complete, pay by check or credit card. It's hard to fight the charges if you pay cash. If the company has misdiagnosed your machine, it should send a technician back at no charge. However, if the new repair requires different parts, you may get some money back or owe some more.

If you take small appliances or electronics to a repair store, get a claim check before you leave your belongings behind. And pick your items up in a timely manner to avoid storage fees.

Beware of situations where appliance repair companies approach you. An air conditioning company called William B. and offered to tune up his AC unit for $34.95. Once the technicians got in the door, they claimed William's air conditioner needed much more than a tune-up. They persuaded him to pay $259 for all sorts of services he probably didn't need at all. Unfortunately, upselling like this is common.

Be the hunter, not the hunted. Don't do business with companies that come to you out of the blue. Beware of companies that call and claim to be subsidiaries or affiliates of the company you usually use. And don't panic if one of these companies tells you your appliance is a hazard. That's an age-old ploy. Stop using the appliance and get a second opinion.

To Be a Savvy Consumer Figure out if the appliance is under warranty. If so, contact an authorized repair facility and the fix should be free.

Check out appliance repair companies with the BBB and your state and county consumer protection agencies. Also check to see if they are properly licensed, if applicable.

Get an itemized written estimate and a written warranty.

Apply the 50 percent test to decide whether to repair or replace the appliance.

Don't do business with appliance repair companies that contact you until you check them out.

Where to Complain If you have difficulty with an appliance repair company, contact your county and state consumer protection offices plus the Better Business Bureau. If the company must be licensed, complain to the state agency that licensed that industry.

Copyright =A9 2009 ABC News Internet Ventures

Reply to
Too_Many_Tools
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What is the source for the appliance life spans?

Reply to
tmurf.1

Those numbers are completely meaningless.

What matters is whether the device has failed or not and what the cost of the repair is relative to the cost of replacement and that last isnt constant either, obviously if you can repair it yourself and just pay for the parts required, its going to be viable to repair it for longer than if you have to pay someone else to repair it etc.

And with some of those the replacement isnt just because its better value to replace it, it can be just because the new device is more capable than the old one was and you just say get sick of manually defrosting the original manual defrost fridge etc and go for a frost free etc.

Just goes to show how stupid that 'suggested replacement period' idea is.

And since advances with particular technology arent uniform, the idea of a specified replacement cycle is even sillier.

I'm never ever stupid enough to replace stuff for that reason.

Doesnt work with laptops and other electronic appliances.

And its unlikely that say the bare metal style will go out of fashion any time soon anyway.

I dont even bother to read them in the first place.

Its nothing like in free fall.

Mindless conspiracy theory. This type of article has been around forever.

Hardly anyone bothers to read that sort of article about cars.

It isnt just about savings. I replaced a working 1950s fridge just because I got sick of manually defrosting it and because it was too small for my approach to shopping, a major run every 2 months or so, just because its too boring to bother with.

Reply to
Rod Speed

Straight from someone's arse. You can tell from the smell.

Reply to
Rod Speed

I had a water heater work for 35 years and a refigerator for 45 years, but that's when things were made in the USA.

Reply to
Phisherman

Nothing is made like it used to be, I have a 80b yr old boiler, new units fail in 10. Its to much cheapining in major China controls or overseas parts.

Reply to
ransley

Good question...I do not know.

That is why I included the link to the article for anyone who wanted to follow up on the sources.

TMT

Reply to
Too_Many_Tools

Yes. And sometimes its the other way round, an older appliance can be more reliable, easier to use, better looking, etc. Some people still have a few ancient appliances that it would be crazy to replace with new, 1950s, 1920s etc.

Thats only true when the savings outweight the replacement cost, which is frequently not the case. When calculating savings one also has to take into account expected lifetimes of the newer replacement, which in some cases can be all too short. Its a mistake to assume replacement is the way to go with many furnaces.

you got to live with it for 20+ years. So no lime green fridges!

soon anyway.

I think Rod's spot on this time.

These sort of articles are just mindless junk turned out to pretend to be useful to magazine buyers, and theyre always there to help sell more appliances, and always have been. The mag positively reviews the things it sells, increasing sales, so advertisers want to adv in that mag. Same old - its just a bs game. No conspiracy, its just each party taking actions that suit their own ends.

NT

Reply to
meow2222

At best they are averages. There may be some basis for the numbers, but there are too many variables to be useful. Some appliances start out with better made parts. Some people use the dishwasher twice a day, others twice a week. Some people just seem to abuse anything mechanical.

They state a dishwasher can last 5 to 12 years. So what? A range like that does little to help a potential buyer decide anything. Most of our appliances have lasted near or past the top numbers they give. .

Reply to
Ed Pawlowski

Yeah, I do that with a Sunbeam Mixmaster that still works fine.

Picked up another identical one at a yard sale for peanuts.

Its amazing what those go for on ebay.

He is every time, and dont you forget it |-)

Reply to
Rod Speed

All of mine have, and WAY past the top number too.

But then I'm one of the few I know that kept a new car for 35+ years and only replaced that because I was stupid enough to not fix a known leaking windscreen until the floor rusted out and was no longer legally registerable anymore.

Reply to
Rod Speed

You're an amateur.

"[UK] Frederick Stephens was among the first in Britain to buy [a microwave oven] and 150,000 meals later, it is still going strong. "

He bought it 40 years ago.

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Reply to
HeyBub

how about numbers for microwave ovens and vacuum cleaners. I find I am in a constant battle against planned obsolescence with vacuum cleaners. Even my really expensive "Shark" needs repair all the time.

My microwave was made in 1975, (harvest gold color) it is by todays standards very slow and very sturdy. Just a dial and two buttons on the front so even a 4 year old can operate it. I wish it was faster but I don't replace it because I know a newer model would not last as long.

Reply to
Sue Bilkens

The ones that I have bought new lasted as long or longer then those numbers. I always buy used washers and dryers and have never replaced one but have had to repair them myself or pay for repairs on them several times.

Reply to
Sue Bilkens

Don't blame China, blame capitalism. Once the saturation rate for a new device is reached (such as radios when they are first invented) the only market left is for replacements.

Reply to
Sue Bilkens

Kewl.. mine is a 1975 Sharp Carousel and it wieghs much more then a modern microwave. The door is so solid on mine that I find myself slamming the doors on the newer models in the office. I just wish I could find an easy way to replace the light bulb.

Reply to
Sue Bilkens

Going on the 18 year of using a Panasonic vacuum cleaner, used twice a week. Replaced the belt one time and repaired a tool holder. The Whirlpool microwave lasted 13 years with daily use.

Reply to
Phisherman

My suggestion, when they fail and the cost of repair is more than it is worth, or when the estimated energy savings over the expected remaining life is sufficient to make it worth while

Remember that an appliance that is close to the estimated life for an appliance is much like mine. I have had cancer many times in the last 45 yeras, but since I am now 60+ years old, my expected life is now higher than the national average because I have already avoided dying in those first 60 years.

An old appliance approaching the average life of that kind of appliance is likely to live well past that average, it must in order to keep the average because of all those that previously died.

Reply to
sligoNoSPAMjoe

80 yrs old because you are too cheap to replace it with something much more efficient all the while thinking it is just as cheap to operate. The utility companies love idiots like you. Bubba
Reply to
Bubba

snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com wrote

That isnt viable, because they are worth so little when hardly anyone repairs much anymore.

A better test is to compare the cost of repair with the cost of replacement, and the cost of replacement varys significantly. Some replace with another new appliance, others replace with dirt cheap used appliances instead.

And its impossible to put a value on the time wasted when appliances fail, so much harder to decide what is appropriate when the cost of the repair is getting on towards the cost of the new replacement.

Hardly anyone is silly enough to repair a VCR nowdays even if they still use them.

In spades with stuff like PC DVD drives etc and phones and cellphones.

No it isnt any higher than that of other 60+ year olds, significantly lower in fact.

And you dont get that effect with appliances anyway.

Utterly mangled all over again. And that is irrelevant to the chance of it failing anyway.

Reply to
Rod Speed

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