Travel Rewards Credit Cards Cash Back Credit Cards 0% Balance Transfer Credit Cards Ain't it the truth that appliances have a funny way of breaking at the worst possible times? Your refrigerator stops running as soon as you fill it with a couple weeks' worth of groceries, or your central air conditioning bites the big one during a heat wave in July. All is not always lost, however. In many cases, the appliance can be fixed. For a couple hundred bucks you might be able to squeeze a few extra years out of it. Alas, nothing lasts forever – and knowing the life expectancy of home appliances gives you an idea of when you should start saving for a replacement. Let's break down a few of the big ones. See also: How to Save Money on Appliances Any Time of the Year Your refrigerator might be the most expensive appliance in your kitchen. You can spend under $1,000 for a refrigerator on the low end, or up to several thousands of dollars if you get a fancy model with all the bells and whistles.

See also: Make Your Fridge Last (Almost) Forever with These 8 Tips If you paid a pretty penny for your fridge, naturally you'll want to squeeze as much life out of this appliance as possible. Typically, refrigerators have a lifespan up to 15 years, according to Angie's List, a consumer rating service. Start looking for a replacement if your model is nearing (or already passed) the 15-year mark. This way, you avoid the refrigerator dying unexpectedly. And since refrigerators use a lot of energy, buying a more energy efficient model can save you money over time. See also: Best 5 Refrigerators To test the efficiency of your fridge, put a thermometer inside and close the door for about five minutes. If the temperature inside the fridge is higher than 45 degrees after five minutes, the fridge could be on its last leg. Don't wait until your stove burners or oven stops working to think about buying a new stove. On average, you can get between 10 and 15 years out of a range/oven.

Common problems with this appliance involve igniter failure and problems with the control board or bake element. If you have running sink water and dish soap, replacing your dishwasher might not be an urgent need. On the other hand, you probably can't imagine going a day without a dishwasher if you absolutely hate washing dishes by hand. (Like I do; totally makes me gag.) See also: Make Your Dishwasher Last (Almost) Forever With These 6 Tricksac repair new york city To avoid any surprises, expect to replace your dishwasher every eight to 10 years. average price of home ac unitThe good news, however, is that dishwashers are relatively inexpensive. water around outdoor ac unitYou can find models starting around $400. Start shopping around if you hear loud, banging noise coming from the dishwasher, or if the dishwasher no longer cleans your dishes despite maintenance.

Don't discount, though, that you may be able to fix some issues yourself — like I did when my dishwasher wouldn't spray water — when I looked up a DIY tutorial on YouTube. Huge time and money saver. (See also: Best 5 Dishwashers) With your packed schedule, you don't have time to plan weekly visits to the laundromat. It's time-consuming and inconvenient, and it's a good idea to replace your washer or dryer before it stops working. See also: Best 5 Washing Machines and 5 Best Dryers According to Angie's List, both appliances have an average lifespan of eight to 12 years. You can extend the life of your dryer by regularly cleaning your lint trap. Additionally, clean your washer and dryer hoses, heating element, and dryer ducts at least once a year. Properly maintaining your dryer not only extends its life, it also reduces the chance of a dryer fire. This can happen when lint accumulates on the heating element or in the ducts. You should be able to get about seven to 10 years out of a hot water heater.

To get the most use, drain about a quarter of water from the tank every three months. This little trick helps remove sediment from the tank, which forms from minerals in the water. Removing sediment allows water in the tank to heat up faster, making the tank more efficient. Your air-conditioning and heating system is responsible for maintaining a comfortable temperature inside your home. It uses a lot of energy and it might work around the clock depending on the season – so naturally, you shouldn't expect the system to last the lifetime of the home. On average, you should replace an HVAC system every 15 to 20 years. You can extend the lifespan of your system with preventive maintenance. Getting your unit professionally serviced at least once a year helps identify problems early and keeps the unit working at its best. To help reduce some of the cost with maintaining an HVAC system (and other appliances in your home), consider a home warranty. A warranty protects your pocket against unexpected repairs.