How Long Things Last

Know When You Need to Replace It

Want to know when your old furnace or washing machine is going to give out? Or when those old cabinets just can't be saved? The National Association of Home Builders' "Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components" gives a decent guesttimate by compiling life-cycle data from scores of product manufacturers and testing labs. Following is a summary to guide you in planning your next big home improvement.

• Gallery: Home Inspection Nightmares XIII

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