A typical residential dryer lasts 10 to 13 years, per Consumer Reports reliability data. Gas dryers average marginally longer than electric because gas-burner ignition produces less component stress than the continuous high-current draw of an electric heating element.
The single biggest factor shortening dryer life in Sacramento is vent neglect. Per U.S. Fire Administration data, failure to clean the dryer is the leading factor in an estimated 15,970 residential dryer fires per year in the United States. Even without reaching fire risk, a restricted vent causes the heating element to cycle on and off constantly, the thermal fuse to blow repeatedly, and drum bearings to wear faster from longer run times. Annual vent cleaning adds measurable years to any dryer and is the single best maintenance investment you can make.
Electric dryers over 10 years old facing a heating-element failure or blower-motor failure are usually the point where replacement makes more sense than repair — especially if the venting hasn't been cleaned in that whole time. Gas dryers tend to have more repairable failures (igniter, gas valve, thermostat) and are often worth keeping past the 10-year mark.
Premium brands (Miele, Speed Queen) and commercial-grade residential units routinely last 20-plus years with proper vent maintenance. Mid-tier mainstream brands (Whirlpool, Maytag, LG, Samsung) land in the 10-to-13-year range.