Anti-tip Bracket
Often Missing. Rarely Noticed. Always Worth Checking.
We should all be checking for this critical safety device
Term: Anti-tip bracket
Definition:
A small, often-overlooked metal bracket installed at the wall or floor behind a freestanding kitchen range. Its purpose is simple but critical: to prevent the range from tipping forward if someone puts weight on the open oven door — whether that’s a heavy pan, or a child climbing up for a better view.
Why it matters:
If the anti-tip bracket isn’t installed — or isn’t properly engaged — the range can tip forward unexpectedly, causing serious injury. Although this bracket has been required by manufacturers since the early 1990s, many ranges in homes today are missing it entirely.
What inspectors should know:
You can test for it during an inspection by gently applying forward pressure at the rear of the range as if you were trying to pull the top of the range away from the wall.
If it tilts forward easily, report that the anti-tip bracket may be missing or not engaged.
This is a life-safety issue, not a minor hardware note.
You’re not diagnosing the oven — you’re reporting a visible safety omission.
What clients should know:
If you're buying a home, ask the seller to confirm that this device is in place. If you're already living in your own home or a rental home or apartment, check your range today. It’s a $10 to $15 part that can prevent a tragedy.
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