How often should you replace an oven?

You should replace an oven every 13 to 17 years on average, which is the typical lifespan for electric and gas ovens with normal residential use. However, replacement timing depends on performance, safety, efficiency, and repair costs rather than age alone. Consider replacing your oven when you experience frequent failures such as inconsistent temperatures where food burns on one side, oven not reaching set temperature, long preheat times over 20 minutes, frequent need to replace igniters in gas models or heating elements in electric models, or control board failures costing over 300 dollars. If repair costs exceed 50 percent of replacement cost, which is 600 to 1,200 dollars for a basic range and 1,200 to 3,000 for a wall oven, replacement is more economical. Other signs it is time to replace include rust or cracks in interior, door not sealing properly causing heat loss, excessive smoke or gas smell indicating gas leak or insulation failure, or outdated safety features lacking automatic shutoff and cool-touch doors. Energy efficiency also matters: ovens older than 15 years use more energy and lack convection and air fry that save time. Many homeowners replace during kitchen remodels at 10 to 15 years to get smart features and better capacity. With proper maintenance like cleaning spills promptly, not using foil on bottom, and using surge protectors, you can extend life to 17 to 20 years.