Buyer guide
Typical lifespans for a home's heating and air, water heater, roof, plumbing, electrical and appliances, so you know what you may be replacing in the next few years and what to budget for.
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Typical lifespans
These are typical ranges with normal care. Georgia's long, hot, humid summers work air conditioners and heat pumps hard, so they often land toward the shorter end. An older system isn't a dealbreaker; it's a line in your budget, and something to bring up when you negotiate.
| Heating & air | |
|---|---|
| Central A/C (outside unit) | 10 to 15 years |
| Heat pump | 10 to 15 years |
| Gas furnace | 15 to 20 years |
| Air handler (inside unit) | 15 to 20 years |
| Ductwork | 25 years or more |
| Water | |
|---|---|
| Gas tank water heater | 8 to 12 years |
| Electric tank water heater | 10 to 15 years |
| Tankless water heater | 20 years or more |
| Well pump | 8 to 15 years |
| Septic tank | 20 to 40 years |
| Septic drain field | 20 to 30 years |
| Roof & exterior | |
|---|---|
| 3-tab shingles | 15 to 20 years |
| Architectural shingles | 25 to 30 years |
| Metal roof | 40 to 70 years |
| Plumbing vent boots | 8 to 12 years |
| Wood deck | 10 to 20 years |
| Exterior paint | 5 to 10 years |
| Garage door opener | 10 to 15 years |
| Plumbing & electrical | |
|---|---|
| Copper pipes | 50 years or more |
| PEX pipes | 40 to 50 years or more |
| Galvanized steel pipes | 40 to 50 years |
| Polybutylene (gray, 1978 to 1995) | Prone to failure; plan to replace |
| Electrical panel | 25 to 40 years |
| Smoke alarms | Replace every 10 years |
| Carbon monoxide alarms | Replace every 5 to 7 years |
| Appliances | |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 10 to 15 years |
| Range or oven | 13 to 15 years |
| Dishwasher | 9 to 10 years |
| Microwave | About 9 years |
| Washer | About 10 years |
| Dryer | About 13 years |
| Garbage disposal | 10 to 12 years |
Good to know: these are typical ranges drawn from the National Association of Home Builders' study of home component life expectancy, InterNACHI's life expectancy chart, the National Fire Protection Association (alarms) and the EPA (septic). Actual life depends on installation, maintenance and use. Serial number formats vary by model and year; confirm with the manufacturer or a licensed professional.
Next step
Not sure how old the systems are in the home you're looking at? The seller's disclosure, the labels and the serial numbers can usually tell you.