With a four-year period between 2010 and 2014, U.S. firefighters battled 166,100 annual home fires that started with cooking equipment. These fires resulted in 480 deaths, 5,540 injuries, and more than $1 billion in property damage. For those consider kitchen renovations, that old stove may be a great place to start. Homeowners may also want to look into new faucets and other updates that can make their homes safer and more efficient.
Reasons To Replace that Old Stove
Here are some compelling reasons to replace an old stove to make sure meals are the only thing to feel the heat.
- Two-thirds of cooking fires begin with food or cooking materials.
- Clothing was the first thing that caught fire in just 1 percent of these fires, but this accounted for 18 percent of related fire deaths.
- Ranges resulted in the highest share (62%) of cooking fire incidents, ovens caused another16 percent.
Choosing a Stove
Many of the best-known brands in stoves, ranges and ovens stretch back to the time of wood and coal-fired stove. In fact, the first gas stove for the mass market came out at the turn of the 20th century and electric stoves didn’t become widely popular until the 1930s. In each case, one model succeeded another, but today, gas and electric continue to gain footholds in different markets. Both have their own safety concerns.
Modern consumers choose a range, oven or stove from a long list of complicated choices, each with unique selling points. Besides gas or electric, modern models have complex configurations, all of which impact safety and efficiency.
Surprisingly, some of the most popular brands received a thumb’s down from Consumer Affairs. For example, the popular Stove-Oven-Range received low safety marks. Meanwhile, these brands are deemed the safest in the industry:
- Viking Ranges
- Hotpoint Ranges
- Gaggenau Ovens
Best Kitchen Faucets
Getting a new kitchen faucet is another great upgrade that may not contribute as much to safety as it does to savings in the water bill. A few brands stand out for their mix of style and reliability. Here’s an objective review of the best kitchen faucets.
