Home Inspector in Clarksville TN

Household Component Life Spans

 

  • Houses are built to last a lifetime, but certain components wear out periodically and will need to be replaced on a fairly regular time cycle.

  • The following life cycles are not personal opinions, but are based upon the individual manufacturers suggested service-life of these components. The life-expectancy of some components may vary with the severity of the local weather, the design, the type and quality of the original components, the quality of the installation, and the level of maintenance that the component has received.

  • Also, please remember that these components and systems are like people: some fail early in life and some last much longer than we ever thought possible.

 

 Air
Conditioning
Years

1.

 Compressors 6-12

2.

 Blowers /
Fans		 10-15

3.

 Heat Pump /
Condenser (the outside unit)		 8-15

 

 
Heating
Years

4.

 Forced-Air,
Gas Furnace		 15-20

5.

Electric Furnaces

(Heating Elements may need periodic
replacement)

 20-25

6.

 Electric
Baseboard Heaters		 10-15

7.

 Gas Boilers
(Cast Iron)		 30-60

8.

 Gas Boilers
(Steel)		 20-35

9.

 Radiators /
Expansion Tanks		 30-45

 

 
Plumbing Systems
Years

10.

 Hot Water
Heaters 		10-15

11.

Galvanized Water
Supply Lines

(With spot replacement of some sections)

 35-65

12.

 Copper
Water Supply Lines		 60-100

13.

 Plastic
Supply Lines (PVC, CPVC, ABS, PEX) 		?

14.

 Cast Iron
Drain Lines		 45-90

15.

 Copper
Drain Lines		 50-100

16.

 Plastic
Drain Lines (PVC, ABS)		 ?

17.

 Builders
Grade Faucets, etc.		 20-30

18.

 Builders
Grade Tubs, Toilets, Sinks, etc.		 35-50

 

 
Appliances
Years

19.

 Garbage
Disposal		 5-10

20.

 Dishwasher
 10-15

21.

 Gas Ranges,
Ovens & Cook-Tops		 20-35

22.

 Electric
Ranges, Ovens & Cook-Tops		 15-25

23.

 Built-In
Microwave		 5-10

24.

 Trash
Compactor		 6-12

25.
Refrigerator		 10-20

26.

 Humidifiers
(with regular maintenance)		 5-10

27.

 Laundry
Equipment (Washers/Dryers)		 10-20

 

 
Roofing / Guttering
Years

28.

Aluminum / Galvanized Gutters (if well
maintained)

 15-25

29.

Composition Shingle Roof (1st layer of
roofing)

 16-20

30.

 Composition
Shingle Roof (2nd roof on top of existing shingles)		 12-16

31.

 Roll
Roofing (composition)		 6-10

32.

 Wood Shake
Roofing		 15-20

33.

 Wood
Shingle Roofing		 14-18

34.

Slate Roofing

(depends on type of slate and quarry
they came from)

 45-150

35.
Clay/Tile/Concrete Roofing		 30-50

36.

Metal Roofing

(as long as kept from rusting)

 35-70

 

 
Interior
Years

37.

 Paint
(Wall, Ceiling, Trim)		 5-10

38.

 Drywall
(Walls & Ceilings)		 50-?

39.

 Plaster
(Walls & Ceilings)		 60-90

40.

Ceramic Tile:

Wet Bead

Mastic Bead

-

45-80

15-20

41.

 Carpeting 10-12

 

 
Exterior
Years

42.

 Exterior
Paint		 5-10

43.

 Wood Decks 12-16

44.

 Aluminum
Siding		 25-40

45.

 Vinyl
Siding		 30-45

46.

Hardboard / Composition Siding

(depends on moisture entry)

 15-40

47.

 T-111, Wood
or Plywood		 20-40

48.

 Stucco (Hardcoat
Conventional)		 60+

 

 

 Wells
& Septic Systems
Years

49.

 Well Pumps,
Tanks, Sumps		 15-25

50.

Septic Leaching Fields

(depends on factors such as regular
maintenance)

 10-50

51.

 Concrete
Septic Tank		 20-40

52.

 Steel
Septic Tank		 15-30