How long everything in your house lasts
Updated August 2026
Every major system and appliance in a house has a service life, and knowing it is the difference between replacing on your own terms and replacing after a failure. Here is how long the big-ticket items last, what shortens each one, and when to start budgeting for the next.
HVAC
Plumbing
Electrical
| Question | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|
| How long does a smoke detector last? | 10 years |
| How long does a whole-house generator last? | 20–30 years |
| How long does an electrical panel last? | 25–40 years |
| How long does an EV charger last? | 10–15 years |
| How long do solar panels last? | 25–30 years |
| How long does a carbon monoxide detector last? | 5–7 years |
| How long does a ceiling fan last? | 10–20 years |
| How long does a solar inverter last? | 10–25 years |
| How long does a circuit breaker last? | 30–40 years |
| How long does a GFCI outlet last? | 10–15 years |
| How long does a home battery last? | 10–15 years |
| How long does a portable generator last? | 10–15 years |
| How long does a surge protector last? | 3–10 years |
| How long does a transfer switch last? | 20–30 years |
| How long does electrical wiring last? | 50–100 years |
Roofing Exterior
| Question | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|
| How long does a deck last? | 10–50 years |
| How long does a driveway last? | 20–40 years |
| How long does a garage door opener last? | 10–15 years |
| How long does a metal roof last? | 40–70 years |
| How long does a roof last? | 20–50 years |
| How long does an asphalt shingle roof last? | 15–30 years |
| How long do gutters last? | 20–50 years |
| How long do windows last? | 20–40 years |
| How long does a chimney last? | 50–100 years |
| How long does a fence last? | 15–30 years |
| How long does attic insulation last? | 20–30+ years |
| How long do garage door springs last? | 7–12 years |
| How long do gutter guards last? | 2–20+ years |
| How long does roof flashing last? | 20–50 years |
| How long does stucco last? | 50–80 years |
| How long does wood siding last? | 20–40 years |
| How long does a chimney cap last? | 3–50 years |
Kitchen Appliances
| Question | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|
| How long does a dishwasher last? | 9–12 years |
| How long does a range last? | 13–15 years |
| How long does a refrigerator last? | 10–15 years |
| How long does a microwave last? | 7–10 years |
| How long does an induction range last? | 10–15 years |
| How long does an oven last? | 13–18 years |
| How long does a built-in refrigerator last? | 15–20 years |
| How long does a cooktop last? | 13–18 years |
| How long does a freezer last? | 12–20 years |
| How long does a gas range last? | 15–18 years |
| How long does a range hood last? | 10–15 years |
| How long does a wall oven last? | 13–16 years |
| How long does an electric range last? | 13–15 years |
| How long does an ice maker last? | 4–10 years |
Laundry
| Question | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|
| How long does a dryer last? | 10–15 years |
| How long does a washing machine last? | 10–14 years |
| How long does a front-load washer last? | 11–14 years |
| How long does a washing machine hose last? | 3–8 years |
| How long does a gas dryer last? | 13–15 years |
| How long does a top-load washer last? | 12–14 years |
Outdoor Lawn
| Question | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|
| How long does a sprinkler system last? | 20–30 years |
| How long does a lawn mower last? | 8–15 years |
| How long does a pool pump last? | 8–12 years |
| How long does a concrete patio last? | 25–40 years |
| How long does a gas grill last? | 5–15 years |
| How long does a hot tub last? | 5–20 years |
| How long does a pool filter last? | 3–15 years |
| How long does a pool heater last? | 5–20 years |
| How long does a pool liner last? | 6–12 years |
| How long does a pressure washer last? | 5–10 years |
| How long does a riding lawn mower last? | 10–15 years |
| How long does a robot mower last? | 8–10 years |
| How long does a shed last? | 15–30 years |
| How long does a snow blower last? | 10–15 years |
| How long does landscape lighting last? | 15–20 years |
Safety Specialty
| Question | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|
| How long does a fire extinguisher last? | 5–15 years |
| How long does a water leak detector last? | 3–5 years |
| How long does a radon mitigation system last? | 20+ years |
| How long does a security system last? | About 10 years |
| How long does a smart lock last? | 5–10 years |
| How long does a video doorbell last? | 3–5 years |
| How long does a well water system last? | 20–30+ years (well) |
Interior
| Question | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|
| How long does carpet last? | 5–15 years |
| How long do hardwood floors last? | 25–100 years |
| How long do countertops last? | 10–50+ years |
| How long do kitchen cabinets last? | 20–50 years |
The hardest part is knowing when the clock runs out. OnOtto tracks the age and service history of every system in your home and warns you as each one nears the end of its life, so replacement is a plan, not an emergency.
Track your home, free for 30 days