Water damage is one of the most challenging things a homeowner can face. Cleaning it up is labor intensive and extremely time sensitive. The stakes are very high because the longer your home remains damp, the more likely it is that you’ll need to rip out the drywall, carpeting, and flooring for replacement.
Some sources of water damage are hard to prevent, like weather-related flooding. But did you know that the most common reason for water damage is a failed appliance? Knowing the age of your household equipment can help you maintain it appropriately and reduce the chance of a disaster that will have you calling an expert for water damage repair.
Following is a crash course in the average lifespan of household appliances and the pipes that feed them.
Dishwasher
A shiny new dishwasher will offer somewhere between 7 and 12 years of useful life, with the average resting around 10 years. There are plenty of factors that play into how long you can expect yours to last, including frequency of use, quality, brand, and whether or not you perform regular maintenance.
But when a dishwasher fails, it very often leaks water under your sink and into the floorboards and walls nearby. This kind of damage can remain undiscovered for weeks or months until a moldy smell alerts you to the problem. Not only are the supply hoses positioned where you can’t see them, but they can be leaking even when it seems like the dishwasher is working properly.
Washing machine
When it comes to washing machines, you can safely expect to get 11 good years of service. However, unless yours is really high end, Consumer Reports encourages consumers to replace washing machines closer to the 8-year mark. That’s because newer machines offer vastly superior energy efficiency and use way less water.
Like dishwashers, you may not know immediately when your washing machine is failing, but pooling water underneath it is always a danger sign. The good news is that over 50% of washing machine leaks can be attributed to a failure of the supply hose, which is relatively inexpensive to fix.
Water heater
You really need to watch your water heater, because when it fails, the flooding is major. Several issues contribute to water heater failure. Sediment build-up, too much internal pressure, and rust corrosion have all been known to cause an explosion.
The average lifespan of a water heater is 8-12 years, but most experts recommend replacement at 10 years to reduce the chances of a catastrophe. Regular maintenance can extend the life of your water heater, but it’s crucial to stay on top of it if yours is pushing that 10-year mark.
Air conditioning
Air conditioners are known to last between 10-30 years, but the average is 15-20 years. That’s still a good long life of service, but you may consider replacing yours early if you find that compatible repair parts are hard to come by or the use of some component, like refrigerant, has become obsolete.
However, keep in mind that some leaking or dripping is to be expected with air conditioners because they work by extracting moisture from the air. The hotter it is outside, the more likely it is that you’ll see condensation on the unit. Excessive leaking is usually caused by a clogged condensate drain, leaky pipes, or frozen coils. Window box air conditioners, even in good working order, often leak water into the window sill and set off a chain reaction of spreading mold.
Pipes
A burst pipe is always going to cause damage, so it’s important to have yours checked every so often. That said, pipes typically work for a long time before they need to be replaced. Drainage pipes tend to last a lot longer than supply pipes, which bear constant water pressure.
If your supply pipes are brass, you’ll get 40-70 years out of them. Copper pipes are good for about 50 years, and galvanized steel pipes last for somewhere between 20-50 years. When it comes to drain lines, cast iron lasts for an entire human lifespan, 75-100 years. PVC drain pipes can be used indefinitely.
One thing to note is that homes built in the mid-Atlantic region between 1970-2000 could contain gray plastic polybutylene piping. This type of pipe is prone to cracking from the inside out and should be replaced if you discover it.
With these average lifespans in mind, you can extend the use of your household appliances by referring to the user manual for recommended service intervals. Regular maintenance can often save you the cost of repairs. But if you do find that repairs become costly, consider purchasing a newer model. These almost always offer reduced water usage and increased energy efficiency, along with quieter operation and improved design. No one likes to shell out for a new appliance, but it could save you money in the long run.
And if the worst happens, rest assured that there are qualified professionals in your area that can help manage water damage repairs. They’ll make sure that everything is done right so that your house remains a healthy home.