Hob lifespan: how long does it last?
Hob: 10 to 15 years on average, so around 12 years in normal household use. Regular maintenance routinely pushes past the top of that range.
A hob lasts 10 to 15 years on average. Induction hobs, electronically more complex, sit closer to 10 years, while gas hobs, mechanically very simple, often pass 15.
The main cause of failure on induction is heat: blocked ventilation makes the electronics overheat and causes the hob to cut out mid-cooking.
Signs it is reaching the end
- A zone stops heating or switches itself off during cooking
- The touch controls respond poorly or erratically
- Error codes appear regularly
- The glass is cracked (stop using it)
- On gas: the flame is uneven or yellow
The maintenance that extends its life
Clean the surface once cool (dedicated scraper for induction)
How often: after every use
Check that the ventilation beneath the hob isn't blocked
How often: every 6 months
On gas: clean the burner caps and the jets
How often: every 3 months
Use flat-bottomed pans matched to the zone diameter
How often: always
Repair or replace?
A cracked glass top means stopping immediately, and replacing it often costs as much as a new hob. For an electronic fault on an induction hob over 10 years old, replacing is generally more sensible. On gas, almost everything can be repaired cheaply.
Having an out-of-warranty hob repaired by a QualiRépar-certified repairer in France entitles you to 25€ taken straight off the invoice. No paperwork, nothing to pay up front: the repairer deducts it from the total.
How to claim the repair bonus →Common faults
Frequently asked questions
How long does an induction hob last?
Around 10 years, sometimes more. Induction hobs contain more electronics than gas or ceramic ones, which makes them slightly more fragile, particularly to overheating when the ventilation is blocked.
Why does my induction hob keep switching itself off?
It is very often a thermal cut-out: the electronics are overheating because the ventilation beneath the hob is blocked (an over-full drawer, dust). Check the airflow before assuming an electronic fault.