How Often You Really Need to Replace Everything in Your Home

Category	Item	Typical Lifespan	What Usually Happens First
Appliances	Dishwasher	8–12 years	Poor draining, leaks
Appliances	Refrigerator	10–20 years	Cooling inconsistency
Appliances	Washer	8–14 years	Noise, vibration, hose stress
Appliances	Dryer	10–15 years	Longer dry times
Appliances	Range / Oven	13–20 years	Temperature inaccuracy
Bathroom	Shower Caulk	3–7 years	Mold, gaps, water behind tile
Exterior	Exterior Caulk	5–10 years	Shrinks and cracks quietly
Exterior	Gutters	20–30 years	Sagging, overflow, hidden rot
Finishing	Exterior Paint (Good Prep)	7–12 years	Fading, peeling at edges
Finishing	Interior Paint	5–10 years	Scuffs and wear show first
Floors	Hardwood Refinish	7–15 years	Dull finish, surface wear
Floors	LVP / Laminate	10–25 years	Joint separation, edge lifting
HVAC	Furnace	15–25 years	Efficiency drops, uneven heating
HVAC	AC Condenser	12–20 years	Longer run times, poor cooling
HVAC	Boiler	15–30 years	Leaks, pressure issues, noise
Roof	Asphalt Roof	15–30 years	Granule loss, slow leaks
Roof	Flashing & Seals	10–20 years	Water intrusion at joints
Safety	Smoke & CO Alarms	10 years	Sensors weaken without warning
Safety	GFCI Outlets	10–15 years	Trips inconsistently or fails
Water	Sump Pump	7–10 years	Fails silently until heavy rain
Water	Water Heater (Tank)	8–12 years	Rust, sediment, sudden leaks
Water	Water Heater (Tankless)	15–20 years	Scale buildup, error codes
Water	Washer Hoses	5–10 years	Bulging before burst

Home Repairs Aren’t Random. They Follow a Timeline.

Most things in a home don’t fail suddenly. They wear out gradually—and usually give small warning signs first. The real question isn’t can this be fixed, but is it still worth fixing.

A simple rule helps:

• Under 30% of replacement → fixing usually makes sense

• 30–50% → pause and think

• Over 50% → you’re often keeping an aging system alive

One last check: age matters. If something is already near the end of its lifespan, even a reasonable repair may only buy you a little time.