Dishwasher lifespan: how long does it last?
Dishwasher: 8 to 12 years on average, so around 10 years in normal household use. Regular maintenance routinely pushes past the top of that range.
A dishwasher lasts 8 to 12 years on average, with most failing around the 10-year mark. Three things decide where yours lands: how hard your water is, how many cycles you run each week, and how consistently you maintain it.
In a hard-water area with daily use, a budget machine can give up after 7 years. Descaled properly and with the filter cleaned monthly, the same class of machine regularly passes 12.
Signs it is reaching the end
- Dishes come out still dirty or cloudy despite correct detergent and salt levels
- Water sits in the bottom of the tub at the end of the cycle (tired drain pump)
- Leaks appear under the machine or around the door (hardened seal)
- Cycles run unusually long or stop with an error code
- A rumbling or grinding noise develops during the wash
The maintenance that extends its life
Clean the filter in the bottom of the tub
How often: every 2 to 4 weeks
Run an empty cycle with a descaling product
How often: every 2 to 3 months
Check the rinse salt level and set it to your water hardness
How often: monthly
Wipe the door seal and clear the spray arm holes
How often: every 2 months
Repair or replace?
As a rule, repairing is worth it as long as it costs less than 50% of an equivalent new machine and the dishwasher is under 8 years old. Past 10 years, a quote above £/€200 rarely pays off: current models use markedly less water and electricity, which offsets part of the purchase price.
Having an out-of-warranty dishwasher repaired by a QualiRépar-certified repairer in France entitles you to 50€ taken straight off the invoice. No paperwork, nothing to pay up front: the repairer deducts it from the total.
How to claim the repair bonus →Common faults
Frequently asked questions
How long does a dishwasher last on average?
Around 10 years, within a range of 8 to 12. Regular maintenance (filter, descaling, rinse salt) routinely takes it past 12 years, while hard water with no descaling can cut it to 7.
How do you make a dishwasher last longer?
Clean the filter every 2 to 4 weeks, run a descaling cycle every 2 to 3 months, set the salt level to your actual water hardness, and scrape off large food scraps instead of pre-rinsing in hot water. Avoid overloading the baskets, which strains the spray arms.
Repair or replace a 10-year-old dishwasher?
If the repair costs more than 40 to 50% of a new machine, replacing is usually the better deal at that age. Below that threshold, and if nothing else is wrong with it, repairing stays both cheaper and greener.