"It's not just your imagination; the lifespan of most appliances has indeed shortened. Decades ago, appliances were made with future repairs in mind. When something malfunctioned, a handyman came to the house and promptly fixed it. Nowadays, a broken appliance almost always spells replacement. Some suspect that companies are designing appliances with a shorter lifespan on purpose, but the real reasons are a bit more layered."
"Back in the day, most machines were built with metal parts, which made them easy to repair but also quicker to malfunction due to rust. So, while your parents' fridge may have functioned for 25 years, it likely experienced several issues during its tenure and needed to be repaired a few times over the years. Today's appliances, in contrast, largely rely on more modular plastic parts, which makes them less likely to malfunction - but once they finally do, they have to be replaced entirely."
Appliance lifespans have shortened due to changes in materials, design, and technology. Older appliances used metal parts that were repairable by general handymen despite rust-prone failures, leading to long overall service lives with repeated repairs. Modern appliances use modular plastic components that resist frequent failures but often require full replacement when a critical part fails. Computerized controls and brand-specific electronics demand specialized technicians and raise repair costs while accelerating obsolescence. Consumers now prioritize efficiency, functionality, and modern features over decades-long durability, and replacing appliances often proves more convenient and cost-effective than complex, expensive repairs.
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