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Appliance Age Finder

How long do dishwashers last?

Around 9 to 12 years, which is shorter than most kitchen appliances — and water hardness explains much of the variation.

The typical range

Dishwashers commonly remain in service for roughly 9 to 12 years. That is shorter than refrigerators, ranges or freezers, and the reason is straightforward: everything inside a dishwasher lives wet and hot, on every cycle, for its whole life.

What shortens it

Four factors account for most of the spread.

  • Water hardness. Scale builds on the heating element and blocks spray-arm jets. In hard-water areas, this is the single largest factor.
  • Filter maintenance. A filter that is never cleaned puts the drain pump under constant strain and leaves debris circulating.
  • Loading volume. A machine running daily wears roughly twice as fast as one running every other day.
  • Detergent choice and dosing. Overdosing leaves residue; underdosing leaves soil in the sump.

Repair or replace

Dishwashers are among the cheaper major appliances to replace, which shifts the balance towards replacement earlier than for a range or a refrigerator. Door seals, spray arms, drain pumps and filters are all worth fixing at almost any age. Control boards, circulation pumps and any leak from the tub itself usually are not, once the machine is near ten years.

Built-in models carry an extra consideration: replacement involves disconnecting plumbing and electrics and refitting a cabinet panel. That installation cost is part of the comparison, and it pushes marginal cases slightly towards repair.

Getting more life out of one

Clean the filter monthly, run a hot cycle with a dishwasher cleaner every few months in hard-water areas, check the spray-arm jets for blockages, and do not overload. None of this is dramatic, but it is the difference between the bottom and the top of the 9-to-12 range.

Last reviewed 29 July 2026.

Common questions

Why does my dishwasher not dry properly any more?
Usually rinse aid, a blocked vent, or a failing heating element. Check the rinse-aid reservoir first — it is the most common cause and costs nothing to rule out.
Is a 10-year-old dishwasher worth repairing?
For a seal, spray arm or drain pump, yes. For a control board or circulation pump, the repair often approaches half the cost of a replacement, at which point a new machine with a warranty usually makes more sense.

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