April 15, 2025

How Long With It Last?

A Home Buyer’s Guide to the Life Expectancy of Major Systems and Appliances

Before you move to a new home, it’s wise to find out the age of things that have a fixed lifespan such as major appliances, HVAC systems, floor and window coverings and garage door openers. If you’re buying an existing home and don’t demand or opt for a home warranty  – investigate how much those items cost to replace if they’re approaching the end of their life expectancy.

With lots of these items, preventative maintenance, tune-ups and servicing can play a significant role in how long they will last. A little expense to properly maintain systems can stave off a bigger expense in the future. But unless you are buying new construction (like Looking Glass in Parker) it’s difficult to guarantee how much or how little previous owners cared for their property.

The Life Expectancy of Appliances

The average life expectancy for a properly maintained refrigerator is between 10 and 14 years, depending on the model and size. Some models may last only about 10 years, while others may run for up to 20+. (Consumer Reports can tell you which are the most dependable brands and models with the fewest number of service calls – and CR has no “skin in the game.”)

Depending on size, new refrigerators can cost between $1200 to $2,500 and a new range/oven between $650 and $1,500. (You can always spend more – these are fairly conservative estimates.)

A washing machine should last for between 10 to 15 years and a dryer about the same amount of time. New appliances can run between $600 and $1,000. An oven should last for between 11 and 15 years and a dishwasher between 9 and 13 years.

Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems need proper and regular maintenance in order to work efficiently, but even in the best-case scenarios most components only last 15 to 25 years. Furnaces on average last 15 to 20 years and air conditioning units 10 to 15 years. Thermostats usually are replaced before the end of their 35-year lifespan due to technological improvements.

A new furnace can cost between $2,800 to $6,800 with installation depending on efficiency, size and where you live. We’ve seen estimates for gas furnaces in the $8-$9,000 range. But if the home is all electric and you have a heat pump-air handler system, they can range from $6,000 to $16,000.

Tankless water heaters last more than 20 years, while an electric or gas water heater has a life expectancy of about 10 years. The average cost, with installation, is about $500-$800 (for 40-to-50-gallon tank), $2250 for an 80 gallon, smart, high efficiency hybrid heat pump water heater.   Top selling tankless water heaters run from $250 to $1,700.

When shopping for a home, new construction like the new build homes at Looking Glass in Parker, may be priced slightly higher than resale, but they also come with fewer breakdowns, leaks, impending disasters and replacement costs. So…when pricing existing homes on your shopping list, don’t forget to include possible repairs and replacement costs!

Carpet and Flooring 

Carpet will not last forever, even with good care. Inexpensive apartment-grade carpet will last one-to-five years and a medium grade carpet five to 15 years. Most manufacturers say that carpet should last for 10 to 15 years with regular cleaning and maintenance. But even the highest grade of carpet will likely need replacing after 25 years. Generally, after 10 years, signs of wear will begin to show on the major walkways and the carpet fibers start losing their texture and tuft. A hallway with regular traffic may need to be replaced sooner than a bedroom that one person walks through fewer times a day. 

According to Home Advisor, to replace carpet involves the cost of the carpet itself plus padding and installation or typically between $1500 for a 500 square foot room, to upwards of $20,000 for 2,000 square feet. The most inexpensive carpet options at Home Depot run from $3-$6 per square foot for the carpet, padding and installation – without taking into account moving furniture or special cuts. If stairs need to be re-carpeted, that is considered a specialty installation and runs into added costs. 

Alternatively, to refinish hardwood floors can run between  $1100 and $1,900 per 200 square feet of flooring (moving furniture, sanding, staining and finishing). Wood floorings have a life expectancy of 100 years or more. Marble, slate and granite are also expected to last for 100 years. According to our friend Bob Vila, the average price per square foot to refinish hardwood floors is $3 to $8 (which goes up to $5-to-$8 for dustless refinishing).

Roofs, Siding and Paint

The life of a roof depends on weather conditions, material and construction quality, and maintenance, i.e., regular inspections. Slate, copper, and clay/concrete roofs have the longest life expectancy—over 50 years. Asphalt shingles last about 20 years while roofs made of fiber cement shingles have a life expectancy of about 25 years, and roofs made of wood shakes will likely last for about 30 years. The average cost to replace a roof on a 1500-square foot home or footprint) is $15,000.

Exterior materials like brick, vinyl, engineered wood, stone (both natural and manufactured), and fiber cement will last as long the house does. Gutters have a life expectancy of more than 50 years if made of copper and for 20 years if made of aluminum. Copper downspouts last 100 years or more, while aluminum ones will last 30 years.

And finally, exterior paints can last for 15 years or longer, but often homeowners choose to paint more frequently than the paint lasts. Interior paint, on the other hand, needs refreshing every five to 10 years, depending on wear. High-quality paint jobs can last for 15 years or longer in low-traffic areas. Regular cleaning and prompt touch-ups can extend the life of paint.

Brand New in Looking Glass

The brand new homes of Looking Glass offer pristine interiors with appliances that have never been used, carpets that have never been walked on, and faucets that have never been turned on – except to check for pressure and flow! The new homes in Parker Colorado come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, just like the buyers to whom they appeal. Check out the new construction designs from Dream Finders, Taylor Morrison, D.R. Horton and soon, Richmond American Homes, priced from the $600s.