That is a difficult question to answer, as the longevity of a kiln is based much more on how it is being used and maintained, rather than how old it is. Answer these questions for a better idea of the variables at hand and what to expect.
- What cone(s) do you fire up to?
- How many times a week do you fire?
- How many shelves do you use in a typical firing?
- Do you ever load ware past the edge of the shelf?
- Do you use a downdraft venting system with the kiln?
- How often is the kiln vacuumed out?
- How often are the stainless steel case tighteners tightened on the kiln rings and lid?
- Do you fire fast programs or slow programs?
- Do you hold or soak the kiln at the highest temps?
- What specifically is put in the kiln?
- Do you add organics to the clay or kiln?
- Do you use a lot of wax resist? Does it get hot in the kiln room ever?
- If so how hot? Is the air in the kiln room exhausted while the kiln fires?
- Is the kiln located near a large body of salt water?
- If you just need to put down a number of years and cannot find out all this stuff, a nice safe middle number is about 10 years.
