Nearly Half of Homeowners Worried About Appliance Failure

Nearly 1 in 2 homeowners are worried about their appliances failing, and 23% admit to not maintaining them, according to a survey of over 1,000 homeowners by American Home Shield.  

Further, 76% said they wait until an appliance breaks to replace it, and 50% reported having an appliance that only partially works (with 1 in 5 saying that they keep it because they can’t afford to replace it). 

These findings indicate that for many homeowners, appliance maintenance and upkeep are on the back burner. Other findings included: 

• 84% have an appliance past its warranty 
• 32% don’t have money saved for appliance failure 
• 62% have the same appliances that came with their home when they bought it 

Additionally, 15% said they didn’t know the age of their appliances, with over 1 in 10 reporting having an appliance over 20 years old. So, what was the oldest appliance for most homeowners? The fridge, according to 1 in 3. 

In 2025, over 4 in 5 (81%) homeowners said they were planning on replacing at least one appliance, putting aside an average budget of $4,317. The top appliances on their wish lists were: 

1. Refrigerator (38%) 
2. Microwave (30%) 
3. Small kitchen appliances, like a coffee pot (26%) 
4. Dishwasher (24%) 
5. Washing machine (22%) 

For 57%, a smart appliance was on this year’s wish list. 

In 2024, 55% of homeowners reported putting off appliance purchases due to the cost of living. Of those, 44% experienced a home emergency, with the top emergencies being: 

1. Food spoilage 
2. Loss of heating/cooling 
3. Flooding 

Overall, knowing the ages of appliances and saving money for replacements can be beneficial for homeowners and prevent surprise expenses and emergencies. In 2024, respondents reported an average damage of $1,330 from failed appliances.