In this study we list the estimated low, high, and average years of an appliance’s original life cycle. This life expectancy is based on first-owner use of the product and does not necessarily mean the appliance has stopped functioning. When a replacement is purchased, the old unit is traded in, relegated to use elsewhere, given away, or discarded, thereby ending the original life cycle. The estimates contained in the listing represent the expert judgment of APPLIANCE magazine staff based on input obtained from many sources. We have indicated not only life cycle expectancy for each appliance category, but have estimated the number of units that will be eligible for replacement in 2008 and 2009. These appliances may be replaced with the same type of product, be replaced with an appliance of a different type, or may not be replaced at all. We ascertained the average life expectancy in years of each appliance. That number was subtracted from the replacement year (2008 or 2009). The number of units produced in that year became the number of units eligible for replacement. Unit shipments are taken from APPLIANCE magazine’s Statistical Review, published annually for more than 50 years. The replacement numbers do not take into account changes in life expectancy over the years.