As it is a big kitchen appliance, a stove is usually expected to last you a good few years, especially since they can be pretty expensive and can be troublesome to install.
On average, a stove will have a lifespan of around 13 to 15 years. It can vary from model to model, depending on the design and durability of the stove, and it can also depend on whether it’s an electric stove or a gas stove.
And of course, it will also depend on the amount of care and maintenance that you give it, and how it is used throughout the years. The better care, the longer the lifespan, as simple as that.
If you compare an electric stove to a gas stove, as a general rule, the gas stove will have a slightly longer lifespan, with a difference of a couple of years.
What is the lifespan of an electric stove?
An electric stove, on average, will have a lifespan of around 13 years (give or take). Therefore, it has a slightly shorter lifespan than gas stoves. It is also slightly more expensive to operate overall.
But it’s not bad news, Let’s look at some of the overall pros and cons of using an electric stove:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The heating is very easy to control, for more consistent cooking. | They cook food a lot slower than their counterpart. |
| The heating system is very efficient, so the kitchen around you won’t heat up with it. | If there’s a power outage, the electric stove will stop working. |
| Electric stoves are a lot easier to use. | More expensive, with a shorter overall lifespan. |
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What is the average life of a gas stove?
A gas stove, on average, will have a lifespan of around 15 years (give or take). Therefore, it has a slightly longer lifespan than electric stoves.
It also has overall cheaper running costs, making it more inexpensive than the electric stove, which is why some people prefer to remain with the gas option.
However, nowadays, electric stoves have become more of a norm. So let’s look at the pros and cons of still using the gas stove:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Gas stoves are a lot more reliable, and they’ll still work even if there’s a power outage in your house. | Using a gas stove will usually lead to your kitchen also heating up. Which is perfect during winter, but less so during the warmer months. |
| As the gas stove uses actual fire, the food cooks a lot faster and a lot more evenly, so the results tend to be better. | It requires more cleaning. |
| A lower operation cost, and a longer overall lifespan. | The gas stove is more dangerous, and can also be a big fire risk. |
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How to increase the lifespan of your stove:
Whether you have an electric stove or a gas stove, the lifespan can be hugely affected by the kind of use you give it, and how you treat it throughout the years.
The better care you take of the stove, the longer it will last, as a little bit of regular maintenance can go a long way, and can help keep it running smoothly for a few extra years.
Here are a few tips and tricks to help increase the overall lifespan of your stove, regardless of it being electric or powered by gas:
Regular cleaning
This is by far one of the most important parts of stove maintenance, and it can seriously increase or decrease the overall lifespan of the appliance in the long run.
Basically, you should be cleaning your stove after every use. That way, you are stopping the build-up of dirt and grime, which over time can block the functionality of the stove, causing it to strain, and deteriorate faster than usual.
Cleaning is especially important when it comes to gas stoves, as the burners can very easily become blocked by dirt, in which case the stove will be inefficient, and improper use will lead to a shorter lifespan.
It is also highly recommended to do a deeper more thorough cleaning of the stove, maybe twice a year or so, apart from continuing the regular clean after each use.
Checking up on the burners, and all the power sources
The burners, and the electrical power source, are usually the first to become worn down. So regular check-ups of these are important.
Appropriate use of the stove
Mishandling the stove, or using it badly, will definitely lead to it breaking down or becoming unusable a lot faster. Stoves aren’t very complicated to use, but make sure you’re doing it right.
Early repairs
Sometimes, a quick small repair at the start can save you a bigger and more expensive repair down the line.
But of course, you always need to value whether it’s worth repairing, or whether it would be cheaper to replace the whole stove.
