LIFESPAN OF YOUR APPLIANCES

You just bought a house and you come home to find the dishwasher broken. There is water all over the flood. You keep thinking to yourself, “How could this happen? The dishwasher is only 5 years old! Should I replace it or just try to get someone out to repair it?” This exact scenario happened to myself two months after purchasing my house. The dishwasher was actually 10 years old and the builders grade model. So my wife and I decided that it was more cost effective to replace rather than repair. As first time home buyers we received a crash course on how expensive owning a home can be.

That got me to thinking, “How long do appliances typically last?” I did some research and found out the average lifespan of your everyday appliances.

Lifespans of your appliances; according to the National Association of Home Builders:

• Washer- 10 years
• Dryer- 13 years
• Dishwasher- 9 years
• Garbage disposal- 12 years
• Trash compactor- 6 years
• Refrigerator- 13 years
• Freezer- 11 years
• Gas range- 15 years
• Range hood- 14 years
• Microwave over- 9 years
• Air conditioner (central)- 15 years
• Air conditioner (window)- 10 years
• Furnace- 15-20 years
• Water heater- 10-20 years

Tips on how to get your appliances to last longer:

• Cleaning your refrigerator coils with a vacuum or a brush.
• Cleaning your oven and stove-top with approved cleaners.
• Making sure your dishwasher and washing machine are level, so they’re less likely to vibrate or shut off unexpectedly.
• Avoiding overloading your washing machine.
• Cleaning your dryer’s lint trap and making sure its vent is free from build up.

By using these tips and paying attention to the age of your appliance can help prevent an insurance claim as well. Here at Konen we have seen a lot of claims come from something that could have been prevented. By simply cleaning or just