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If you're thinking about replacing an old major appliance with a new one, you'll probably end up spending several hundred dollars to buy it and several hundred dollars to pay for the energy you'll need to run it throughout its useful life. Generally these two costs combined are called the life cycle cost for the appliance. Life cycle cost, as defined here, does not include the cost to maintain and repair the appliance, so you'll need to also consider the machine's reliability if you want a more precise estimate of the total financial cost over the life of your appliance.
It's often the case that more energy efficient appliances cost more to buy but their life cycle costs are much lower because they use so much less energy to run. For example, an energy efficient refrigerator could consume 500 kWh less each year than the inefficient alternate choice. You'd spend about $25 less a year for electricity if you bought the efficient unit. Over the 17 year average life span of a refrigerator you'd save more than $400 in energy costs at current Seattle electric rates.
The table below shows the average life span for major appliances. If you've owned your appliance for longer than the average shown, you shouldn't automatically assume it's time to replace it. Replacement for replacement sake is never a good idea. However, replacing a relatively old machine with a new one might make sense if you face a choice between repairing the old one or buying a new one. New appliances will almost always provide better performance and greater energy efficiency than the old ones they replace.
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| Appliance |
Life Expectancy |
| Clothes Dryer |
14 years |
| Clothes Washer |
13 years |
| Dishwasher |
10 years |
| Freezer |
16 years |
| Refrigerator |
17 years |
| Stove |
17 years |
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Water Heater | 14 years |
| Room Air Conditioner | 15 years |
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