| HEATING SYSTEMS |
YEARS |
| Boilers |
| Cast iron |
30 to 60 |
| Steel |
20 to 35 |
| Heating
Exchangers (steel) |
| Gas-fired |
15 to 20 |
| Oil-fired |
20 to 35 |
| Heat Pump Compressor |
14 |
| Heating Pipes |
| Steel |
80 to 120 |
| Copper |
60 to ? |
| Burners |
| Oil |
20 to 30 |
| Gas |
30 to 40 |
| Misc. Heating
Components |
| Circulators |
20 to 30 |
| Fans |
12 to 40 |
| Oil Tanks (inside) |
25 to 50 |
| Expansion Tanks |
35 to 50 |
| Zone Valves |
7 to 10 |
| Note: Heaters need complete
replacement when the boiler (water) or heat exchanger (air) fails. |
| |
| AIR CONDITIONING |
YEARS |
| (Electric) |
| Compressors |
15 |
| Coils |
20 to 30 |
| Fans |
12 to 40 |
| |
| PLUMBING SYSTEMS |
YEARS |
| Water Service (Public) |
| Lead |
50 to 90 |
| Steel |
40 to 75 |
| Copper |
70 to ? |
| Plastic (Should be
dependable) Unknown Interior Water Pipe |
| Steel 1/2" |
40 to 60 |
| Copper 1/2" |
70 to 100 |
| Plastic (Should be
dependable) Unknown Drainage Lines |
| Galvanized Steel |
40 to 60 |
| Copper |
60 to 100 |
| Cast Iron |
50 to 90 |
| Plastic (P.V.C.) |
35 to ? |
| Lead |
50 to 90 |
| Well Equipment |
| (On-site Water Supply) |
| Pump-Submersible |
15 to 22 |
| Pump-Above Ground |
13 to 20 |
| Pressure Tank-Steel |
15 to 25 |
| Pressure Tank - Fiberglass |
25 to 50 |
| Septic System |
| (On-Site Drainage System) |
| Steel Tank |
15 to 30 |
| Concrete Tank |
25 to 40 |
| NOTE: Life expectancy of
leaching fields is determined by porosity of soil and maintenance
(10 to 60 years) |
| Miscellaneous Plumbing
Items |
| Water Heater |
| Gas |
8 to 14 |
| Electric |
12 to 18 |
| Oil Burner |
20 to 40 |
| Fixtures |
| Builders line faucets, etc. |
20 to 35 |
| Builders line tub, toilets & sinks |
40 to 60 |
| Better quality faucets, etc. |
30 to 60 |
| Better quality tubs, toilets & sinks |
50 to 90 |
| |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS |
YEARS |
| Service cables (depends on exposure to sun) |
20 to 40 |
| Wiring (interior) |
| Knob & tube (cloth insulation, copper conductor) |
60 to 90 |
| Armored Cable (copper conductor-BX) |
50 to 80 |
| Plastic sheathed (copper conductor-Romex) |
70 to Unknown
(It should be 80+.) |
| Panel Boxes
|
| Fuses or Circuit Breakers |
20 to 50 |
| Note: Life expectancy is
directly related to moisture in the area of the box (rust &
oxidation of contacts). |
| |
| EXTERIOR COMPONENTS |
YEARS |
| Roof Covering |
| Fiberglass Reinforced Asphalt Shingles |
18 to 25 |
| Note: Roofs wear out sooner on
the south side of the house. |
| Built-Up Roofing, 3- or 4-ply |
10 to 15 |
| Note: Installation procedures
and regular recoating can extend the life of these roofs 2, 3 or
more times. |
| Slate (depends on the quarry from which it came) |
35 to 200
(Maintenance is required.) |
| Metal Standing or Welded Seams |
50 to 90 |
| Note: Metal roofs are mostly
tin and will remain functional as long as you keep them from
rusting -- recoat every 4 to 5 years. |
| Cedar (depends on quality of wood, workmanship, and
maintenance) |
20 to 40 |
| Gutters and Downspouts |
| Note: Life expectancies of
gutters and spouts depend to some extent on the slope of the
gutters and how clean they are. |
| Aluminum (gauge of metal is important) |
18 to 20 |
| Galvanized (the new painted steel should last longer) |
15 to 22 |
| Copper (do not use steel brackets) |
35 to 50 |
| Plastic (P.V.C.) |
25 to ? |
| Sidings and Veneers |
| Aluminum (you may repaint aluminum siding at about 20-23 years
to extend life) |
18-25 |
| Vinyl |
25 to ? |
| Aluminum with Tedlar coating |
35 to 50 |
| Hardboard or composition (depends on finish, exposure to sun
and maintenance) |
20 to 40 |
| T1-11 Plywood Siding (must receive regular coatings or will
not last more than 8 years) |
20 to 40 |
| Stucco (70 years without paint, 200+ years with regular
painting) |
70 to 200+ |
| Asbestos (needs normal maintenance, recommended painting) |
40 to 100 |
| Brick. Veneers or complete masonry units. As long as the brick
is an exterior brick, it will only need periodic pointing. |
100+ |
| Masonry Walls |
| Concrete. Brick |
(see sidings above)
block and stone |
| Note: Masonry walls are very
durable and as long as they are designed properly and receive
periodic maintenance, they should last 100+ years. Exceptions
would be salmon brick, cinder block (instead of concrete block)
and Serpentine stone. |
| Windows |
| Wood. Usually very dependable and have long life expectancies
with regular painting and storm windows to help protect them. |
35 to 100 |
| Aluminum. Usually are marginal in design and functionability.
An advantage is their low cost. |
10 to 25 |
| Vinyl. Reasonable window, moderate cost, not enough history to
project life expectancy. |
15 to ? |
| Aluminum storm windows |
30 to 40 |
| |
| INTERIORS |
YEARS |
| Ceramic Tile (in tub or
shower wall areas) |
| Wed Bed (cement) or Wonder Board Backing |
40 to 90 |
| Mastic System (adhesive) |
14 to 20 |
| Plaster |
| Walls |
70 to 120 |
| Ceilings |
60 to 90 |
| Note: Life expectancy of
plaster is altered by the carpentry framing and the type of
plaster lath used. |
| Drywall (also called
sheetrock) |
| Walls |
50 to ? |
| Ceilings |
30 to ? |
| Note: Not enough history to
project the life expectancies. |
| |
| APPLIANCES |
YEARS |
| Refrigerators |
10 to 20 |
| Dishwashers |
13 to 18 |
| Gas Ranges |
20 to 35 |
| Electric Ranges |
15 to 25 |
| Garbage Disposal |
10 to 15 |
| Humidifiers (Note: 2 years without maintenance.) |
5 to 20 |
| Dehumidifiers |
8 to 12 |
| Washers |
10 to 20 |
| Dryers |
10 to 20 |
