How long does everything last?

Central heating and cooling systems last 15–20 years under normal use. In hot climates like Florida or Texas, expect closer to 12–15 years.

Tank water heaters last 8–12 years. Tankless models last 20+ years with annual descaling maintenance.

Asphalt shingle roofs last 20–30 years. A 3-tab shingle roof on the lower end, architectural shingles closer to 30 years with proper ventilation.

Dishwashers last 9–12 years with typical household use. The main failure points are the pump, door latch, and heating element.

Washing machines last 10–13 years with average household use. Front-loaders are slightly less reliable than top-loaders due to door seal complexity.

Dryers last 10–15 years with normal use. Gas dryers tend to outlast electric dryers. A clean lint trap isn't just about lifespan — it's a fire safety issue.

Refrigerators last 10–20 years, averaging 13–15 years. French door models tend to have more repair issues; standard top-freezer units last the longest.

Gas furnaces last 15–30 years, averaging 17–20 years. Electric furnaces can last 20–30 years. Annual tune-ups are the single most important maintenance task.

Most mattresses last 7–10 years. Memory foam and latex mattresses last slightly longer; innerspring mattresses toward the lower end of that range.

Electrical panels last 25–40 years functionally, but technology upgrades and safety concerns often drive earlier replacement. Some panel brands have known safety defects.

Garbage disposals last 8–15 years, averaging 12 years. The leading cause of premature failure is grinding inappropriate food items.

Air duct systems last 15–25 years. Leaky ducts are one of the most common causes of high energy bills — up to 30% of conditioned air escapes through unsealed joints.

Sump pumps last 7–10 years. Failure during a storm is the most common disaster in basements — test yours before every wet season.

Water softeners last 10–20 years depending on quality and water hardness. The resin tank typically fails before the control valve.

Gas ranges last 15–20 years; electric ranges 13–15 years. Ranges are among the longest-lived kitchen appliances with proper maintenance.

Microwaves last 7–10 years. Over-range microwaves have shorter lifespans than countertop units due to heat exposure from the stovetop below.

Wall-to-wall carpet lasts 8–10 years in normal use. Heavy traffic, pets, and no padding underneath all shorten lifespan significantly.

Interior paint lasts 5–10 years in most rooms. Low-traffic rooms can go 10+ years; kitchens and bathrooms need repainting every 3–5 years.

Exterior paint lasts 5–10 years on most surfaces. Wood siding needs repainting every 3–7 years; masonry and stucco can go 10–15 years between coats.

Garage door openers last 10–15 years. Belt-drive openers last longer than chain-drive models and are significantly quieter.

Vinyl siding lasts 20–40 years; fiber cement (Hardie board) up to 50 years; wood siding 10–30 years depending on maintenance.

Double-pane windows last 15–20 years. The most common failure is insulated glass unit (IGU) seal failure — visible as permanent fogging between panes.

Smoke detectors must be replaced exactly 10 years from the manufacture date — this is NFPA 72 code, not a guideline. The sensor degrades whether the alarm functions or not.

Carbon monoxide detectors last only 5–7 years. The electrochemical sensor degrades invisibly — a 7-year-old CO detector may give false protection.

NFPA 10 requires annual inspection and 6-year internal service for fire extinguishers. Disposable units should be replaced at 6 years.

The EPA recommends radon testing every 2 years. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US — and most homes have never been tested.

NFPA 211 requires chimneys and fireplaces to be inspected at least once per year. Creosote buildup from wood burning can cause chimney fires.

Synthetic oil: every 7,500–10,000 miles or 12 months. Conventional oil: every 3,000–5,000 miles or 6 months. The "3,000 mile myth" is outdated for modern engines.

Tires last 40,000–60,000 miles OR 6 years from the manufacture date — whichever comes first. Old rubber is dangerous even with remaining tread.

Brake pads last 30,000–70,000 miles depending on driving style and vehicle weight. Front brakes wear twice as fast as rear brakes.

Car batteries last 3–5 years on average. Extreme heat (Florida, Arizona) kills batteries at 2–3 years; extreme cold forces weak batteries to fail when you need them most.

Timing belts must be replaced at 60,000–100,000 miles per OEM schedule. Failure destroys the engine — it is the most important maintenance item you cannot skip.

Cabin air filters should be replaced every 15,000–25,000 miles or annually. A clogged filter reduces A/C airflow and fills the cabin with unfiltered air.

Replace wiper blades every 6–12 months. Rubber degrades from UV exposure even when the wipers aren't used — Florida and Arizona blades wear faster.

The American Dental Association recommends professional dental cleaning every 6 months for most adults. Some high-risk patients need cleanings every 3–4 months.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends comprehensive eye exams every 1–2 years. Adults over 40 should be seen annually.

USPSTF and the American Heart Association recommend annual physical exams for adults. The annual visit is where most preventive screenings are ordered and coordinated.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends annual full-body skin exams for all adults. Melanoma survival is 99% when caught at Stage I; 30% at Stage IV.

The CDC recommends annual flu vaccination for all adults. Influenza viruses mutate each year, requiring a new formulation — last year's vaccine does not protect against this year's strains.

USPSTF recommends colorectal cancer screening starting at age 45 — colonoscopy every 10 years for average-risk adults. Colorectal cancer is 90% treatable when found early.

Windows laptops typically last 3–5 years. MacBooks last 5–7 years. Battery degradation, thermal throttling, and software obsolescence are the main failure modes.

The average US smartphone is replaced every 2.5–3 years. iPhones receive OS updates for 5–6 years. Android flagships now offer 7 years of updates.

LED/LCD TVs last 7–10 years. OLED TVs last 5–10 years depending on brightness and content type. Backlight failure is the most common cause of replacement.

Desktop PCs last 5–10 years. Unlike laptops, they can be upgraded component by component — extending life significantly beyond what laptops allow.

Wi-Fi routers last 3–5 years before firmware support ends. After that, security vulnerabilities accumulate without patches. Wi-Fi 6 replaces Wi-Fi 5 as the current standard.