If you’ve ever pulled a freestanding range away from the wall, you may have noticed a small metal bracket holding it against the wall. Or, more likely, noticed that there isn’t one.

Anti-tip brackets are simple safety devices designed to prevent a range or oven from tipping forward. The bracket is secured to the floor or wall behind the appliance and captures one of the rear leveling legs. If significant weight is placed on an open oven door, such as a child climbing or sitting on it, the bracket helps keep the appliance from tipping forward.

As home inspectors, we check for these brackets, but surprisingly, we find that they are almost never installed. This includes many newer homes where the appliances were recently installed.

I recently got an interesting glimpse into why this might be so common. My wife and I purchased a new oven, and after the delivery crew installed it, they specifically informed us that they had not installed the anti-tip bracket. We were asked to sign an acknowledgement stating that we understood the bracket had not been installed and that we understood the potential risks. Installation of the bracket was left to us.

The reason makes some sense from the installer’s perspective. Installing an anti-tip bracket typically requires fastening it to the floor or wall, which can mean drilling into framing, flooring, or other building materials. Some appliance delivery and installation companies limit what their technicians are permitted to drill into or modify to reduce liability. As a result, the appliance can be delivered, connected, leveled, and seemingly completely installed while this small safety component remains in the packaging.

That experience provided some useful context for something we see constantly during home inspections. A missing anti-tip bracket isn't necessarily evidence of careless construction or a poorly installed appliance. It may simply be the result of where one contractor's scope of work ends and the homeowner's or builder's responsibility begins.

Regardless of the reason, the bracket is there for a purpose and should be installed according to the appliance manufacturer's instructions. It is an inexpensive and relatively simple safety feature, particularly important in homes with children. If you're unsure whether your range has one, check the manufacturer's instructions or have a qualified person verify that the appliance is properly secured.

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