The following list may prove to be valuable in determining when various items in your home may require repair or replacement. The lack of maintenance will alter life expectancies. Normal maintenance is assumed in these estimations. This is to be used as a helpful guideline and there will be no liability assumed by either the inspection company or the inspector for its use. In the event that any specific components fail prematurely, warranties from the manufacturer and or builder may apply.
Coil 15 to 20
Compressor 5 to 15
Fan 15 to 20
Clothes Washer / Dryer 6 to 12
Dishwasher / Garbage Disposal 5 to 12
Oven / Range / Refrigerator 10 to 20
Service Entry Cable 20 to 40 (depends on exposure to sunlight)
Panel Box - Breaker and Fuse 20 to 50 (depends on the amount of moisture in the area of box and contacts)
Wiring - interior, copper
Armored Cable (BX) 75+
Cloth Sheath (Standard) 30 to 60
Knob and Tube 50 to 75
Plastic Sheath (Romex) 75+
Boiler
Cast Iron 30 to 50
Steel 30 to 40
Circulating Pump 10 to 15
Expansion Tank 5 to 10
Exposed Duct Work 20+
Fan 10 to 40 Gas
Furnace 15 to 25
Heat Exchanger 15 to 30
Heat Pump (electric) 20 to 25
Humidifier 5 to 10
Oil Furnace 20 to 30
Oil Tank (inside of home) 25 to 50
Pipe
Copper 60+
Steel 70 to 100
Zone Valves 5 to 10
Interior Service and Drain Lines
Cast Iron 30 to 50
Copper 10 to 50
Galvanized Steel 30 to 50
Lead 40 to 80
Plastic (PVC, ABS, PB) unknown
Asphalt Shingle
Regular 15 to 20
Multi-thickness 20 to 30
Interlocking 15 to 25
Built-Up (per ply) 2 to 4
Cement Asbestos 30 to 75
Clay Tile 20+
Metal 15 to 40 (tin-recoat every 5 years) 50 to 90
Roll 10
Slate (depends on grade) 30 to 100
Wood Shake/Shingle 10 to 40
Aluminum 20 to 30
Asbestos 20 to 75
Brick / Block / Stone 100+ (may need periodic pointing)
Hardboard/Composition 5 to 10
Stucco 70 to 100+
T1-11 Plywood with regular coating 10 to 20
Vinyl 30 to 50
Wood Shake / Shingle 5 to 15
No limit (depends on design, construction and human living conditions)
Electric 10 to 15
Gas 8 to 12
Oil 10 to 20
Home Inspections in Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, University Heights, Mayfield Heights, Beachwood, Solon, Moreland Hills, Gates Mills, Orange Village, Chagrin Falls, Bentleyville, South Russell, Pepper Pike, South Euclid, Lyndhurst, Cleveland, Northeast Ohio, Cuyahoga and Geauga County