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Appliances fail on their own schedule, but they do have honest typical lifespans — and knowing them turns a surprise repair bill into a planned decision. This check takes the appliance's type and age, compares them against the realistic lifespan for that category, and adds the classic repair-versus-replace rule: if a repair costs more than about half of a new unit and the appliance is past half its life, replacement is usually the better money move. Enter a repair quote if you have one and the calculator will tell you which side of that line you sit on; leave it blank and you still get where the unit stands, how long it should have left, and what a fair replacement costs — so the money is mentally set aside before the failure, not scrambled for after it.
See where each major appliance sits against its typical lifespan, what a fair replacement costs, and whether a repair quote is worth paying or money better put toward a new unit.
Typical lifespans for major appliances run 9-18 years depending on the category: refrigerators and dryers around 13, dishwashers and water heaters about 12, furnaces up to 18, and smaller units like microwaves and disposals 9-10. These are averages — maintenance and model quality move the real number either way.
Yes — the rule is a guide, not a law. If an appliance past its typical life is otherwise healthy and the repair is small (under about a quarter of replacement cost), a repair can sensibly buy a few more years. The calculator shows which side of those lines your quote sits on.
Often, yes: a 15-year-old refrigerator, furnace or water heater can be dramatically less efficient than a current model, and part of the replacement cost can be recovered in utility savings over the new unit's life. When you compare, include the energy rating, not just the sticker price.
Every tool answers instantly from our own knowledge and calculators — no AI wait, no account. Honest maths and plain guidance, always educational and never alarmist: homes are built to be lived in, and these tools exist to keep yours safe, efficient and affordable — not to scare you into spending. Results are estimates and reflections, not appraisals or prescriptions, and nothing you type is stored. Want the deeper, personalised version? Each has a $2.95 full report.