Appliance Lifespan & Replacement Calculator

Appliance Lifespan Guide

What's the key thing to understand about Typical Appliance Lifespans?

Average UK lifespan (Which? data): washing machine: 7-11 years. Premium brands (Miele, Bosch high end) reach 15+ years with care. Budget brands (Hoover, Beko) often 5-8 years. Dishwasher: 6-9 years. Tumble dryer: 8-12 years. Heat pump dryers more reliable than vented or condenser. Fridge-freezer: 10-13 years. American-style fridges typically less reliable than upright UK styles. Oven/cooker: 13-18 years. Gas hobs 15-20 years. Microwave: 8-10 years. Vacuum: 5-10 years (corded). 3-5 years for cordless vacuums, since the battery typically degrades faster than the motor or other components.

What's the difference between Repair and Replace Decision?

Rule of thumb: if repair cost is more than 50% of new price AND appliance is past 50% of expected lifespan: REPLACE. If repair cost is below 30% of new AND appliance has 50%+ life remaining: REPAIR. Other factors: energy efficiency — new appliances (A++/A+++ rated) save £100-300/year vs 10-year-old appliances. Significant for fridges and freezers (running 24/7). Spare parts availability: appliances over 10 years old often have discontinued parts. Major repair on an old appliance risks further failures shortly after, since other components are likely near end-of-life too — factor this into the repair-vs-replace decision, not just the immediate fault.

What's the key thing to understand about Extending Lifespan?

Washing machine: monthly hot wash empty (60-90°C) prevents bacterial buildup. Don't overload. Clean filter and detergent drawer monthly. Use less detergent (most people use 2× too much). Dishwasher: clean filter weekly. Salt and rinse aid maintained. Run hot cycle monthly. Tumble dryer: clean lint filter EVERY load (fire risk if not). Annual professional clean of internal ducts. Fridge: clean condenser coils annually (vacuum behind/below). Don't overload — air must circulate. Don't keep the door open longer than necessary, since this forces the compressor to work harder to recover the lost cold air.

When to Buy New?

Replace immediately if: leaks (washing machine, dishwasher) — water damage costs far exceed repair. Gas leaks (boiler) — emergency. Burning smell (electrical). Anywhere near 1.5× expected lifespan — failures cascade. Best time to buy: black Friday (significant deals 25-40% off). Boxing Day sales. May (start of summer, retailers clearing winter stock). End of model year — usually March-May. Energy ratings (2021 system): A is now the highest. G the lowest. Older A+++ rated appliances might now only be C or D rated under the newer, stricter labelling system introduced in 2021, so comparing an old rating directly to a new one can be misleading.