Magnetic thermometer longevity

[trevarthan]

Howdy folks,

I've been burning since 2010. Every season I've had to buy a new magnetic thermometer for the stove top. They're fairly inexpensive at $20 each, but what gives? Shouldn't they last longer than that?

The first season I had the brand with the "exciting" faceplate. Last two seasons have been a Lowes Imperial brand thermometer. I always put it in the front left corner of my Jotul f500. They seem to always break during the summer, oddly enough. I always tell the kids not to touch them, but they inevitably forget and it seems all you have to do is pick one up to break it.

I plan to buy an IR thermometer this year too, but I really like having a mechanical unit around in case I lose my batteries or something.

Is there a magic brand with 5 or 10 year longevity?

 

[Winged Pig]

Not sure what brand mine is, but I bought it at a local hardware store. Nothing special. I don't keep it on a corner though, it stays on the center stone of my Hearthstone Heritage and works as good today (five years later) as it did when I bought it. Could it be where you are placing it?

Sorry I can't be more helpful...

 

[begreen]

A good one should last pretty long as it isn't run over-range. We still have our 1980 Sandhill thermometer that came with our VC Resolute. And it still checks out as accurate after 33 years.