<p>H and I have been doing a lot of elder care lately. In the process of going through our respective childhood homes and in the course of parents dying we’ve come across/inherited some stuff that just seems to last and last.</p>
<p>Several items stand out…</p>
<p>Both moms’ have 35+ year old Electrolux vacuums. They are the canister style, the ones that look like a metal oxygen tank has been strapped to wheels. They have been in constant use all these years. And, other than a belt replacement for one of them…they haven’t been serviced, they haven’t babied…they’ve simply been used. And they work. H and I, on the other hand have gone through, 5 vacuums in the past 15 years. </p>
<p>When we purchased a cabin it still had the original 1970 Gaffers and Sattler electric range. It worked. But I wanted something ‘better’ and with convection capability. In comes the brand spanking new stove and an over the range microwave. They are now 7 years old and get used MAYBE 45 days a year. The stove has had 3 different recalls (big problem because nobody services the remote area) and the last time we used it, the handle came off the microwave.</p>
<p>We finally convinced my MIL to replace her 35 year old GE dishwasher. It had a problem with the soap dispenser so that she needed to listen for a certain cycle sound and then put in the detergent. Well, the new dishwasher has already had several service calls. </p>
<p>But my favorite example of longevity is the watch I’ve inherited from my father. It is 57 years old. About 25 years ago it stopped and a little no-name watch shop in Zurich fixed within an hour. It has run the last 32 years with absolutely no assistance. I had it looked at, and other than a cleaning and oiling…nothing is wrong with it!</p>
<p>We have a 13 year old Meile Dishwasher and a 13 year old Kitchen Aide side-by-side fridge. They have been problem free. Wonder if they will make it to 20.</p>
<p>Oh…and I almost forgot. The gravity feed heater in my parents house is 75 years old…it’s big, clunky and had the asbestos duct work wrapped…but it works like a charm.</p>
<p>So…just curious what other people have experienced, both in longevity and in ‘wow this is just crapage’ </p>
<p>:D I had that same Electrolux canister vacuum that belonged to my great grandmother! (kind of light blue-green) It finally died just this past year but it was at least 60 years old. I miss it.</p>
<p>We have a Maytag washer and dryer that are as old as our D, 25 and only needed one service call because the tenants let a rat into the house that ate thru the bleach hose, so bleach would end up on a part it wasn’t supposed to instead of in the bin. Still works like a champ otherwise!</p>
<p>We have windowes that came with the house that are stainless steel louvers and of all the windows in the house, only two of these original 60-70 year old windows have anything wrong and it’s very minor. Sadly, we replaced 9 windows about 10 years ago and have had nothing but problems with the replacements. H has had to research and replace many parts as they corrode and fail after a very short time period, even they were sold as “lifetime” warranted. They’ve decided that doesn’t apply to HI. :(</p>
<p>Two weeks ago we finally had to replace our Whirlpool refrigerator which we purchased in 1985…I don’t recall ever having a service call for it. For our new fridge, we got an extended warranty which runs the warranty period out for 5 years. I’m betting that we have to use it…</p>
<p>Oh,don’t even get me started. It’s a conspiracy. I have no doubt of it. I am never going to buy another near the top of the line appliance again.</p>
<p>Two weeks ago we finally had to replace our Whirlpool refrigerator which we purchased in 1985…I don’t recall ever having a service call for it. For our new fridge, we got an extended warranty which runs the warranty period out for 5 years. I’m betting that we have to use it…>>>>>>>>>>></p>
<p>::::::nodding::::::::rest assured you will.</p>
<p>Dietz–agree with you that they don’t make them like they used to! Repair people will tell you that your kitchen appliances are reaching the end of their lives, but mine are pushing eighteen years and still hanging on. I am not one to repair appliances once they hit a certain age. The initial service call and then the ‘return with parts’ service call quickly hit $400 to $500 and not worth spending on old appliance, IMHO.</p>
<p>We bought a used washer as a temporary/through construction washer. Ended up installing it as second washer in the basement. Used constantly and has never been serviced in the eighteen years we have owned it. </p>
<p>Miele vacuum of more than fifteen years. Has required a couple of services, but nothing major and still going strong. Kitchen appliances are almost eighteen years old and will probably all give out simultaneously. GE built-in ice maker required a few services but has now been going strong again for several years. Jenn-Air double ovens and cooktop have never been touched (and barely cleaned!)</p>
<p>Best car purchase: 14 year old Land Cruiser has needed $1500 of unscheduled work over its life. I am not including batteries, tires & brakes in that total, but just unanticipated expenses.</p>
<p>I do not know what a gravity feed heater is, but I have never lived in a house that age.</p>
<p>We built our home 22 years ago, and our JennAir has never needed work.</p>
<p>We have a very old GE two cycle dryer (mid-low end) - one of the heat coils gave out and DH fixed it. I have a front load washer that has to have the door a little open to keep from getting mold on rubber liner; it accidentally got slammed and broke the pin that is the door locking device - they had to replace a large part that holds the pin (should have designed for less costly replacement). Very happy with washer performance.</p>
<p>Our built in double oven did disappoint us; we finally found another unit that would fit without refitting cabinet, and DH installed.</p>
<p>Our two Trane A/C and heat units had unusual early lots of repair - however with everything major having been replaced, continuing scheduled twice a year preventive maintenance and running great. One small part repair last year. We had some out of warranty labor to pay, but with our extensive replacement parts history, Trane gave us the parts on almost everything. I kept a good file of documentation and could write a good letter. We were always nice about it; Trane has a good reputation and somehow we got rare lemons. Our maintenance agreement gives us priority on service call and a discount on service needs. Even with two units, it is nice on really hot or really cold days not to be without.</p>
<p>I wonder how well Dyson vacs will hold up? I do not have yet, but plan to.</p>
<p>I have never heard of a gravity feed heater either…</p>
<p>We have two Peach Tree windows that had water run in and damage so cannot open these casement windows (one is upstairs and one is downstairs the same part of the house - like the wind ran water a weird way to damage). We can get free replacement parts and need to line up DH or service guy to fix.</p>
<p>Two of my vacuum failures were early model Dyson’s. Different parts broke on each of the units. After that experience I’ve started buying cheap but well rated (by consumer reports) vacuums at Costco. </p>
<p>Our Milgard windows were put in during a major remodel and thank goodness they are under life time warranty. Every year I have to have several panes replaced because the seal has broken. </p>
<p>About 4 years ago I stared a thread with an identical title. I was laughed at… yup, those oxygen tank vacuums were bomb proof! My dad got one when he and my mom brought me home from the hospital, and as of last year, that thing still worked. My beloved 6 yr old Dyson died a premature death when I dropped it on the concrete floor in the garage (don’t ask ), so Mr B got me a fancy Miele that is supposed to have a 10 yr manufacturers warranty. My fridge is 14 years old and I can’t wait for it to croak. I even thought about committing a fridgicide so I can get a new one at the annual Albert Lee “garage sale”. Maybe I should do it this weekend! B-) </p>
<p>My house was built in 1962. The original wall oven still works! Sometimes, the light inside even works, but forget about the automatic timer - it probably died in 1963. </p>
<p>My H still drives his 1964 truck to work everyday.
We went to the Albert Lee warehouse sale last year but all the refrigerators that we liked the style of, were bigger than we needed. We ended up with a Maytag from Home Depot.
I should send H over there, we could use a new washer, & thats what we hang on to the truck for, to move stuff.</p>
<p>My experience wasn’t so stellar. We inherited appliances from 1960-70’s when we moved into the house. Both the dishwasher and the range occasionally set fire. The fridge was working fine but didn’t have door shelves. Finding milk every morning was not easy.</p>
<p>My mother had the canister Electrolux. I’d love to know what happened to it! Apparently I’ve started more than one thread asking what the best vacuum is – 'cause I’ve certainly never found it.</p>
<p>I am very alone, in my high income part of the world, in deliberately choosing middle of the road but highly rated by CR appliances, cars, and household stuff.</p>
<p>But even so, the (motherboard?) control panel of my stove just went black one day when it was a year old. A wire wasn’t properly attached.</p>
<p>My icemaker had to be taken apart to replace a big toothed cog that turns the ice tray to dump ice cubes into the holder because the cog was <strong><em>made of plastic!</em></strong>. Why? Why would it be made of plastic? So bit by bit the little plastic teeth snapped off until the cog couldn’t turn enough to dump the ice. Sheesh!</p>
<p>When we finally sold my parents’ home in 2009, all of the kitchen appliances were harvest gold and working beautifully. Kitchen remodel upgrade from the original 1940 appliances had been done in 1970.</p>
<p>I have a 40 year old canister Hoover that still has better suction than my new vacuums.
My refrigerator repairman (stupid ice machine) said to keep my frig as long as possible–it’ll be more repair free than anything now on the market.
My washer/dryer are 35 year old May Tags that (knock on wood) have had very little wrong (one heating element which we replaced ourselves)
My parents dishwasher is probably 45 years old and keeps on going.
The AC guy fortunately has old parts for old machines. He said the “high efficiency” is only high priced–keep the old one til it dies.
My parents furniture was built to last too without costing a small fortune. </p>
yup, those oxygen tank vacuums were bomb proof! My dad got one when he and my mom brought me home from the hospital, and as of last year, that thing still worked. My beloved 6 yr old Dyson died a premature death when I dropped it on the concrete floor in the garage (don’t ask 
), so Mr B got me a fancy Miele that is supposed to have a 10 yr manufacturers warranty. My fridge is 14 years old and I can’t wait for it to croak. I even thought about committing a fridgicide so I can get a new one at the annual Albert Lee “garage sale”. Maybe I should do it this weekend! B-) </p>