How can do you extend the life of your tubes?

Jedinite24, tubes are similar to light bulbs in that in rush current is their main enemy. You will notice that most light bulbs blow out when turning on a light, that's in rush current.

Tubes will last longer if you avoid turning them on/off. Certainly some previous advice is solid. Do not leave tube amps on 24/7 unattended, and you can use stand by circuitry if your tube equipment employs it.

Preamp tubes last for years,as a matter of fact I have antique radios that are over seventy years old with the original tubes and they are fine. Power amp tubes are more apt to wear out so I would not keep them on. Don't worry about it just enjoy it.

I use all tube equipment, amp and pre. I listen to music on the weekends. So i put on pre-amp on Friday leave it on till Sunday night. The amp stays on only when listening, then off she goes.

+1 Jmcgrogan, Yogiboy & Ryriken.

A comment: Light bulbs... IF you run a light bulb off a dimmer, and never run the light bulb at 100%, rather always at 50% or so..(and ramp it up slowly from zero to that 50% 70% etc. it will last nearly forever.
I would bet tubes which are very lightly stressed, like in some preamp designs will last for many many years.
(Some preamp designs which used 6dj8 s used to burn out tubes maddenly fast!!)

So how the tube cicuit is implemented matters a great deal for tube life.