Are Your Home Appliances Quietly Counting Down in Your Home?
Most appliances don't fail without warning. They just reach an age nobody was keeping track of.
Appliances nearing the end of their life? Up your maintenance and keep them for longer. It's more economical and more environmentally friendly.
Quick question: how old is your geyser? Your fridge? The pool pump, the gate motor, the aircon in the main bedroom?
Most of us couldn't say. We know roughly when we moved in, and we vaguely remember the washing machine being "quite new" at some point. Then one day it stops, and we find out exactly how old it was.
Appliances don't last forever, and they rarely fail at a good time
Take the geyser. Geyser manufacturer Kwikot says "a well-maintained electric geyser lasts 8-12 years", while a neglected one often fails within five. It recommends having the anode checked every three to four years by a registered plumber.
And when geysers go, they tend to take something with them. iWYZE notes that water-related perils now dominate household insurance claims in South Africa, and that some insurers see geyser claims rise by roughly 30% or more in winter.
We're also keeping things longer. Writing for Defy in August 2026, Cagdas Fidan pointed to McKinsey research across five international markets: 82% of consumers are using products for longer before replacing them, and 69% are repairing products rather than throwing them away. As he put it, "The real cost of an appliance begins after it leaves the store."
Keeping appliances for longer makes sense. It's more economical and better for the environment. It just means knowing how old they are and whether they were well maintained matters more than ever.
The signs worth noticing
For a geyser, Kwikot lists warning signs such as:
- the overflow pipe dripping constantly
- discoloured or rusty hot water
- popping, banging or rumbling noises
- water temperature that keeps changing, even though the thermostat hasn't moved
- water stains on nearby ceilings or walls
- an unexplained jump in your electricity use
For other appliances, the signs are often simpler: the same fault keeps coming back, parts are getting harder to find, the warranty ended a while ago, and the repair bills are starting to add up.
Repair or replace?
There's no single rule, but a few questions make the decision much easier:
- How old is it, compared with how long that kind of appliance usually lasts?
- Is it still under warranty, or covered by a service plan?
- What have you already spent on repairs?
- Can you still get parts, and is there someone you trust to fix it?
- Does it still do what your household needs?
The trouble is that most of those answers live in someone's memory, an old email or a drawer full of slips. When the appliance stops, you're answering them in a rush.
Why the age matters to your insurer too
Insurance is meant for sudden, unexpected damage, not for things that simply wore out. When a geyser bursts, an insurer may want to know how old it was and whether it was looked after. Your policy wording decides what's covered, so it's worth knowing what yours says before you need it.
A record of when an appliance was installed, serviced and repaired won't change your policy, but it does mean you can answer the questions. We covered what insurers typically ask for in What You'd Actually Need to Prove After a Break-In or a Burst Geyser.
A 15-minute appliance check
Walk through the house with your phone and, for each of these, note what you can:
- The geyser (and any solar or heat-pump system)
- Fridge and freezer
- Washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher
- Stove, oven and hob
- Aircons
- Pool pump, borehole pump and gate motor
For each one: roughly when it was bought or installed, the brand, model and serial number (a photo of the label is enough), when the warranty ends, when it was last serviced, any repairs so far, and who services it. Anything that's well into its expected life goes on a "watch" list, so a replacement can be planned rather than rushed.
How Axario Home helps
- Every appliance on record. Save the purchase date and price, brand, model, serial number, room, photos and warranty end date, and attach the receipt and the manual.
- See what's nearing replacement. On the Household items page, the "Nearing replacement" card shows appliances that are 70% or more through their expected life. Axario Home uses a typical lifespan for each type of appliance (for example, 10 years for a geyser), or your own figure if you prefer. It just needs the purchase date.
- Warranties you can see coming. Warranty end dates appear on your calendar, and the dashboard shows how many warranties are ending soon.
- Service and repair history. Log each service or repair against the appliance, with the date, cost, provider and invoice, and download a service and repair history with the total spent.
- Care reminders that repeat. When you add an appliance, Axario Home suggests care tasks for that type of appliance, like a yearly geyser service. Tap to add them as repeating reminders.
- Manuals and support in one place. Save the manual or a link to it. For well-known brands, Axario Home also shows support links.
- Ready for your insurer. The home inventory PDF lists your items by room, with values, warranty status and photos.
- Service plans and extended warranties. Link them to the appliance as a running cost, so you know what you're paying and when it renews.
Know what's coming before it breaks. Start your free 14-day Axario Home trial.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a geyser last in South Africa? Geyser manufacturer Kwikot says a well-maintained electric geyser lasts 8 to 12 years, while a neglected one often fails within five. It recommends having the anode checked every three to four years by a registered plumber.
How do I know if an appliance is nearing the end of its life? Compare its age with how long that type of appliance usually lasts, and watch for repeat faults, parts that are hard to find and rising repair costs. For a geyser, warning signs include a constantly dripping overflow pipe, rusty water and banging noises.
Should I repair or replace an old appliance? Look at its age, whether it's still under warranty, what you've already spent on repairs, whether parts are available and whether it still meets your needs. Having those answers on record makes the decision much easier.
Does Axario Home tell me when an appliance is due for replacement? Yes. Once you've saved an appliance's purchase date, the Nearing replacement card on the Household items page shows it when it's 70% or more through its expected life, based on a typical lifespan for that type of appliance or your own figure.