Research carried out by Triton Showers has revealed the average lifespan of household appliances.
The survey of 2,000 adults found that in the bathroom, homeowners expect a shower to work for eight and a half years, running twice a day – and a toilet for six and a half years.
They believe a new set of bathroom taps should operate for almost a decade – even though 11% claim to replace appliances at the first sign of wear. Meanwhile, the average washing machine will keep going for seven years and two months before breaking down, and will get through a staggering 1,417 loads of washing. Similarly, dishwashers should function for six years and eight months, but only get used for four cycles per week, or a total of 1,505 over their lifespan.
Tina Simpson, spokesperson for Triton Showers, said: “Bathroom products are expected to last a little longer, on average, than anything else in the home. But these items – the shower, taps and toilet – are often used by the whole family multiple times per day, meaning they get more usage than items such as the washing machine.
“It is important consumers feel like they’re getting something for the bathroom which will stand the test of time. They also need to know that when a product or appliance does break, spare parts can easily be found to fix it. When it comes to the end of use, being aware that the unit can be disposed of responsibly is also key.”
According to the OnePoll figures, more than three quarters of adults will use an appliance until it’s beyond repair before replacing it.
Tina added: “It was reassuring to see that the majority of households would try to fix an appliance before substituting it, which is really important in order to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill unnecessarily.
“When choosing an item for the home, I’d always recommend checking that it is covered by a guarantee and ensuring that the manufacturer recycles old parts, where possible. There are also steps that can be taken to make appliances perform longer. For example, those living in a hard water area can install a water softener or scale reducer can help extend the life of showers, washing machines and dishwashers.”
Expected lifespan of British appliances
- Shower – eight years six months
- Oven – eight years three months
- Fridge freezer – seven years 11 months, being totally full 13 days a month
- TV – seven years 10 months, used 5.4 hours a day
- Washing machine – seven years two months, cycling through 1,417 wash loads
- Microwave – six years nine months, heating meals up 1,416 times
- Dishwasher – six years eight months, 1,505 uses
- Vacuum cleaner – six years eight months, 1,145 total uses
- Toaster – six years, heating up 3,057 slices of bread.
- Laptop – five years nine months, used four hours daily
