Every appliance has an expected useful life. This measure determines how long you can expect this appliance to safely work for you. For example, the expected useful life of a refrigerator is 12 years. A well-cared for refrigerator may last longer – up to 20 years – and a refrigerator that is subject to a lot of abuse may not last as long. The average useful life isn’t a hard limit, as much as it’s a measure of how long appliances typically last.
You may be thinking how can a refrigerator last only 12 years? We had the same refrigerator for my entire childhood and my parents still have it! But appliance lifespans have dropped significantly over time. This is because while older appliances were built to last, today’s appliances have more complex technology that makes it more cost-effective to replace, rather than repair, them. The environmental fallout from this switch is problematic, which is why so many people choose to have their appliances repaired whenever that is an option.
Case in point: the gas stove. Gas stoves have an expected useful life of 15 years. This useful life measure is impacted heavily by how much the stove is used. Here in NYC we see many homes where the stove just does not get that much use on a day to day basis. It’s not unusual to see gas stoves that have lasted longer than expected.
When is it time to replace a gas stove?
The signs that your gas stove may be at or near the end of its expected useful lifespan include things like the burners not lighting, the oven taking a very long time to heat up, the smell of gas, cracks in the surface, and other damage. After selecting your new stove, you’ll want the best local plumber for gas line installation. This is true even if the new stove is going in exactly where the old stove was. It’s essential to ensure the connection are safe and secure.
