It's good to know the life expectancy of your appliances so that when something goes wrong, you know whether or not to repair it or replace it, especially if the repair is going to be expensive. The life expectancy for dishwashers, microwaves and washing machines is around 10 years. Clothes dryers and full-size refrigerators should last about 13 years. Good maintenance, however, goes a long way in extending the life of these appliances. For example, cleaning the coils underneath the fridge and replacing the sealing on the doors can help. Keeping the food traps on your dishwasher clean is important. Regular cleaning of your clothes dryer vent line all the way to the exterior of your home is also very helpful. When it comes time to replace your appliance, choose an energy efficient model and find out how to recycle your old one. Many local appliance and home improvement stores have haul away and recycle programs available when you purchase a new appliance from them. 

Blog inspired by article written by Terri Bennett featured on RISMedia and can be seen here:  http://rismedia.com/2011-07-10/do-your-part-know-when-its-time-to-repair-or-replace/