Just brought home a 2013 Wolf 36 range, went through it before paying

I went through a similar search for a used Wolf range a few years back, and having that inspection done by someone who actually knows the lineup is probly the single best thing you coud do. I had a guy come over with a pressure gauge and checked the manifold pressure on the gas lines. It cost me about two hundred bucks for the service call, but it gave me peace of mind that the gas lines weren't leaking or fluctuating after sitting idle. The 2013 models are generally robust, but those early batches can have wierd temperature fluctuations if the internal flow dynamics aren't perfectly calibrated.

What I learned is that even with the excellent build quality, things like the drip trays and storage pullouts often show scratches much sooner than the cooking surfaces. When I was looking at a 30-inch version, the seller had clearly rushed the cleaning before the photos were taken. I found a seller who had kept thier unit in a climate controlled space, wich seemed to prevent the grease from hardening into a permanent layer on the grates. It made a huge difference in how easily I could maintain it myself.

It sounds like yours is going to be a strong performer once you get it installed. I hope the griddle life meets the hype because I spent way too much time debating wheather to go with the cast iron or the induction version when I was looking at upgrades. Enjoy the first meal on it.

When I bought my used units a couple of years ago, I actually spent more time on the physical measurements than on the initial checks. The 36 inch model looks fine, but if the counter gap is too tight, you might run into trouble later when it's fully seated. My installer noted that even though the burner deck itself measures around 26 inches, the overall width needs a specific clearance for the gas line connections to straighten out. If you tighten the counter too much, the gas line flexing can lead to vibration near the connections. I had to use a longer stub on my main gas line to get the proper angle for the inlet valve because my old gas line was too stiff. Once the unit is in the kitchen, paying attention to the venting path is also smart. Even if it's all gas, the infrared griddle creates a lot of localized heat and you want to make sure the hood system is drawing air effectively from that specific zone. My previous 36 inch model made the stovetop very hot, so ensuring the clearance around the back doesn's restrict proper airflow helped overall.

Hope the countertop installation goes smoothly for you and that the griddle performs well under heavy use.

Funny timing, I've been running a Wolf griddle for a few years now and the thing people don't tell you is how much heat it holds. Don't judge the sear on your first cook, it takes a few sessions to learn where the hot spots sit. I also seasoned mine before the first real use and it's been way easier to clean since. Let it fully preheat on medium before you drop anything on it, cranking it to max just burns everythign anyway. Curious how that fan fix goes, mine's been quiet so far but I figure it's a someday repair.

Following this because I keep seeing these pop up used around me too. I didn't even know the griddle part heated with somthing called infrared untill reading this thread, I just thought it was a flat metal plate like on a diner stove. Question though, does the whole thing just plug into a normal wall outlet, or do those big burners need some kind of special hookup? My kitchen outlet looks pretty regular and I'm wondering if that matters before I start shopping around myself.

Agree with the point about not judging the sear on the first few cooks. Mine took maybe five sessions before I stopped fighting it. One thing I didn't expect was how the seasoning wears off faster near the back edge since that's where grease pools and gets wiped more. A year in I had a couple of rust freckles show up back there and a quick scrub with oil brought it right back. Also keep an eye on the little drain channel at the front of the griddle, mine clogged with hardened grease once and made a smoky mess until I cleared it.