As a Home Inspector I’m called in to give my opinion of a properties condition but there is also a need to educate buyers about safety upgrades that might be needed. One thing that is often over looked by home owners and home inspectors is the range anti-tip bracket.
If you haven’t heard about this you’re not alone. At one time Sears estimated that only about 5% of these brackets were being installed. The purpose of the bracket is to prevent your range from tipping over. Opening the oven door and placing a heavy Thanksgiving Turkey on it or a child trying to climb up on the door to get on the counter can tip the range.
The bracket is designed to grab one of the feet of the range. Every range sold after 1991 is required to be capable of accepting one of these brackets and should be capable of supporting 250 pounds on the door. The CPSC has a Safety Alert that can be printed here. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5007.pdf
While injuries and death are possible from a range tipping over they are not common but for a few dollars and a few screws you can prevent any injuries in your home. Check your range today and on your next inspection make sure the inspector looks for one.
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