We all know that appliances don’t last forever, but there are lots of things you can do to help them last longer. The average life span of your oven/stove is 17 years for gas, and 15 years for electric. Below are a few tips courtesy of Jefferson Livingston at Pillar to Post Construction to help your oven/stove last longer.

Protect the control panel. Most stoves made in the last 15 years break down too soon due to the control panel. Why? Because the panel is behind the back burners which causes it to overheat. To nix this problem heat large pots on the front burners only. Extend stove life: 3 years

Prevent cracks. If your stove has radiant or halogen burners, always place a pot on the burner before you turn it on. A cold pot coming in contact with a hot burner can crack the stove top, requiring a costly repair.

Wipe up spills fast. Leaving splattered food or grease inside an oven significantly boosts the heat level, adding extra stress to the unit’s mechanical and electronic components, which shortens its life span. Extend stove life: 3 -5 years.