Definition

Equipment Lifespan

Equipment lifespan is the expected useful life of a piece of commercial kitchen equipment, measured in years of typical service. Lifespans vary widely by category — commercial fryers average 7-10 years, walk-in coolers 15-30 years, ovens 10-15 years — and are heavily extended by consistent preventive maintenance.

Manufacturer-stated lifespans assume their recommended maintenance cadence. Skipping PM cuts effective lifespan 30-50% on most refrigeration and fryer categories. The dollar impact is significant: a $12,000 fryer replaced at year 5 instead of year 10 adds $1,200/year to TCO.

Track actual lifespan on your own assets, not category averages. Your kitchen's environment (humidity, hours of use, water hardness) drives more variance than equipment brand does.

Related terms

Last updated