How long your appliances are actually supposed to last

InterNACHI, the home-inspector association, publishes the Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart that inspectors and appraisers use to judge whether a home’s systems are near the end of their run. For appliances, the numbers are a useful reality check: a refrigerator is expected to last about 9–13 years, a dishwasher and a microwave about 9, an electric range 13–15 and a gas range 15–17, and a clothes dryer about 13. Washing machines swing widely — anywhere from 5 to 15 years — depending on type and use.

The chart is careful to call these guidelines, not guarantees; they assume regular maintenance and normal wear, not neglect or abuse. But they anchor the single most important question when something breaks: how much life was left in the unit anyway? A failure at year three reads very differently from the same failure at year twelve.

That age-versus-cost tradeoff is exactly what OwnWise weighs for you. It identifies the likely fault, estimates a fair repair price, and sets both against your appliance’s age and expected lifespan — so you can tell a worthwhile fix from good money chasing a unit that’s near the end.