Range anti-tip brackets: the two-minute check nobody does

A freestanding range that can tip when a child — or a heavy oven door load — leans on it is a safety problem, and the fix is a small bracket at the back foot that many units lost years ago in a cleaning pull-out or a floor job. The check takes two minutes: slide the range out, look for the bracket screwed to the floor or wall, and confirm the rear foot actually engages it. Bracket present but not engaged is the most common find — it reads as installed and does nothing. Add it to the turn list next to the burner test; the parts cost very little and the check closes a real hazard. How many of your last ten turns had an engaged bracket when you arrived? — Otto Mergl, Admin