Cooker Installation Guide

At some point most people will need to either install or replace their cooker. With this in mind it is a good idea to know what choices are available, how long a cooker installation will take and what the cooker installation cost may be.

With so many to choose from narrowing down your choices depending on size, price, design, and household needs is a good place to start.

Another decision when you decide to fit a new cooker is who will be doing your cooker installation. We will look at the questions you need to ask when looking for a cooker installation specialist and whether there is ever a situation where installing a cooker as a DIY task would be possible.

The pros and cons of different types of cookers such as freestanding cookers or built-in oven and hob installations will also be examined.

Types of Cooker

The type of fuel that supplies your home may dictate whether you have a gas cooker or an electric cooker but most other decisions regarding your new cooker will be down to personal choice. You can choose between gas, electric, dual fuel, and solid fuel.

Gas Cooker

Gas cookers and hobs are a popular choice as gas is a cheaper source of fuel than electricity. As most UK homes are connected to the natural gas grid it is not surprising that gas cookers are widespread and popular. Gas cookers heat pans by direct contact with a naked flame.

Pros

• ✔ It is a more immediate source of heat and most professional chefs prefer to cook with gas as they have more control over temperatures.
• ✔ Gas as a fuel is cheaper than electricity.
• ✔ Lots of types and designs to choose from.

Cons

• ✖ Cleaning is more difficult because of the raised burners.
• ✖ Gas ovens produce uneven heat between the top and bottom.
• ✖ Initial outlay for a gas cooker is higher than for an electric cooker.

Electric Cooker

Electric cookers and ovens have been around for almost a hundred years and have obviously come a long way since then. From basic coiled ring hobs to induction hobs and fan ovens an electric cooker offers a fast and clean way to cook.

Pros

• ✔ Typically, cheaper to purchase than a gas cooker.
• ✔ Electric ovens cook more evenly.
• ✔ Electric hobs are easier to keep clean.

Cons

• ✖ As a fuel electricity is more expensive than gas.
• ✖ Ceramic hobs are slow to heat up and cool down.
• ✖ Fan ovens can dry out food such as cakes.

Dual Fuel Cooker

These cookers use both gas and electricity with the hob being supplied with gas and the oven powered by electricity. By combining the advantages of both gas and electric appliances a dual fuel cooker offers the best of both fuels.

Pros

• ✔ The gas hob is more responsive and heats food quicker.
• ✔ The electric oven cooks evenly and is often fan assisted.
• ✔ Versatile and efficient appliance.

Cons

• ✖ Can be difficult to fit in older houses as the gas supply and electricity supply for the cooker have to be in the same location.
• ✖ More expensive than a gas or electric cooker.
• ✖ Many dual fuel cookers are larger than their alternatives.

Range Cooker

These cookers are freestanding but are typically bigger than an average cooker. They usually have two ovens and a larger hob with up to six burners in some cases. Range cookers can be electric, gas, or solid fuel and are designed to be reminiscent of old farmhouse cookers.

Pros

• ✔ Large cooking capacity so good for big families.
• ✔ Versatile in terms of which fuel can be used.
• ✔ Stylish and functional.

Cons

• ✖ Due to their size, they are not suitable for smaller kitchens.
• ✖ More expensive than most other alternatives.
• ✖ Unless you have a large family or do a lot of cooking it may be more than you need.

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Benefits of Cooker Installation

Unless you live entirely on salad or takeaway, you will need to have a functioning cooker in your home. With the possible exception of university students, it would be difficult to live without a means to cook but we will look at the benefits of installing a cooker.

• Immediately Available — The immediate availability of a method for cooking food is one of the main benefits of a cooker, giving you the convenience of a way to prepare cooked food.
• Precision Temperature Control — A cooker allows precision cooking and the ability to monitor the process closely, and most dishes require accurate and unfluctuating temperatures to be successfully cooked.
• Built-In Timing — Lots of modern cookers have built-in timers and automatic shut-off settings, which means you are able to set your cooker to stop at a specific time, and reduce the risk of accidentally overcooking your food.
• Cooking During Outages — In the event of a power cut, an electric cooker will not work, but you can still use a gas hob by lighting the burners with a match or lighter, if this is allowed by the manufacturer.
• Save on Space — Having an oven, hob, and grill, all in one place, means precious space in your kitchen isn't taken up by lots of separate cooking appliances. This gives you more room on your surfaces for preparing food and dishing up.

How Much Does It Cost to Install a New Cooker?

The cost of a new cooker will depend on the type you choose such as gas, electric, dual fuel, or a range cooker as well as the size, make, and fuel it uses.

Gas cookers and dual fuel cookers need to be fitted by a Gas Safe registered engineer to comply with gas cooker installation regulations, while electric cooker installation should be done by a qualified electrician, and many suppliers offer a supply and fit service with appropriately trained and qualified staff who may also remove the old appliance for you.

Fitting costs for a range cooker will depend on whether you buy a supply and fit appliance or hire someone separately to fit it for you.

Additional Jobs

Installing a cooker may not be the only cost that you need to consider. Jobs such as professional oven cleaning can prolong the life of your cooker and ensure that it works to maximum efficiency.

The cost of this service will vary depending on where you live and how much cleaning your oven requires.

You may also need a cooker hood installation if there is not one already in situ in your kitchen. In England, kitchens in new homes need ventilation that extracts air outside, so a recirculating hood on its own will not meet this requirement. If you are refitting an existing kitchen, you will not usually need to add extraction if there was none before, while any existing extractor fan or externally vented hood should be retained or replaced.

How to Install a Cooker

There are a number of things to consider when installing a new cooker and a lot of these need to be determined before purchase so it is worth taking your time. For example, if you want to replace your gas cooker with an electric cooker or vice versa, the process will differ.

Compatibility

Make sure that the cooker that you purchase is suitable and compatible with your supply. A newer or larger electric cooker may require a stronger electrical current than your old one and therefore it will be necessary to replace the cable with a thicker one.

Electric cookers are hardwired into a dedicated cooker circuit and for this you will need a qualified electrician. Most electric cookers are above 3kW and will need to be wired straight into a circuit. Only appliances below 3kW can be used with a plug and it is unlikely that you will buy a cooker below 3kW.

In your consumer unit there should be a dedicated circuit breaker for the cooker. In England, a new cooker circuit needs Building Regulations approval, while replacing a cooker on an existing circuit normally does not. An electrician registered with a competent person scheme can certify the new circuit as part of the job, or you can arrange approval through building control before work starts.

Anyone you hire to install a gas cooker must legally be Gas Safe registered and competent to carry out the work. Check their Gas Safe ID card before the job starts to make sure cooker work is included. An incorrect connection can cause gas leaks or carbon monoxide problems.

Size

When choosing a new cooker, you need to ensure that it will fit into its allocated space. In a new kitchen, a built-in oven and hob will be installed as part of the overall kitchen design plan so you know it will fit. However, if you intend to remove an old cooker and replace it then you should take accurate measurements to make sure that the replacement will fit in the space required as well as note the power requirements of the new cooker.

Process

The first stage in fitting a new cooker is the removal of the old appliance. For an electric cooker, this means disconnecting the cable from the electrical spur to fit the new cable.

With a gas cooker it means disconnecting the cooker from the gas supply and capping it until the new cooker is fitted. The new gas cooker is fixed to the gas supply by a flexible hose which is tightened and tested by the engineer to ensure there are no leaks.

A gas cooker connected by a flexible hose must also be secured with a stability chain or bracket to prevent it tipping forward.

Due to the dangerous nature of the work, it is important that a qualified electrician or gas heating engineer carries out this part of the process.

Is DIY Installation Possible?

Although it may be tempting to try and save money on a cooker installation cost it is not worth the risk to attempt a DIY installation. Only a qualified professional Gas Safe engineer or electrician should fit gas or electric cookers. This also applies to cooker hood installation, which, although it can be done DIY, is not recommended.

Gas in particular is a dangerous utility for an unqualified person to attempt to work with. Gas leaks can cause explosions and fires and a badly fitted appliance can leak deadly carbon monoxide into a property.

The cost to install a cooker is not that high and is worth it for the peace of mind and safety that having a professional installation carried out means.

How Long Does It Take to Install a Cooker?

As previously stated it is important to have a trained and qualified professional carry out your cooker or oven installation. For the tradespeople who do this work on a regular basis the timeframe to install a cooker will typically only take a couple of hours. Of course, there are always exceptions.

If you are replacing a gas cooker with an electric hob and built-in oven then this will obviously take more than a few hours. This kind of job would involve moving services and capping off others which will need to be planned in advance and may take days or weeks to plan and organise.

All installations need to comply with electric cooker installation regulations or gas cooker installation regulations.

Hobs

Electric hobs such as induction hobs and ceramic hobs are fitted into a worktop as part of a built-in design for your kitchen. If it is a new installation the dimensions of the hob should be carefully noted to ensure it is a proper fit into the worktop.

If you are replacing an old hob with a new ceramic or induction hob then it is important to check that it will fit and that the power supply will be adequate. Typically to fix a new electric hob in place will take no more than a couple of hours.

Gas hobs must be fitted by a Gas Safe engineer to ensure safety and proper function. Providing there is an existing gas supply at the location of the hob installation it should take no more than an hour or two. If it is necessary to lay a new gas pipe to service the hob then this could take much longer depending on the complexity of the job and the location of existing gas services.

Ovens

Built-in oven installations may take an hour or so to complete if it is a brand new installation. This will include checking that the location of the new oven is the correct size with the required gap around the sides, top, and back. Following installation, your fitter should check that the oven is functioning properly.

Freestanding Cookers

Installing a freestanding cooker is quite straightforward in most cases and should take no more than an hour to fit. This is assuming that the correct power supply or gas main is already in place and nothing needs to be moved.

If it is necessary to lay a gas pipe to supply the cooker then this may take some time to arrange, survey and complete so allow a few weeks for this process if it is necessary.

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Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Cooker Installations

When carrying out any improvement work or new installations that may affect the Building Regulations you should ensure that you understand and comply with everything that is relevant to your work.

Building Regulations

Electric cooker installation regulations refer to Part P of the Building Regulations regarding the addition or alteration of electrical installations. This could be the fitting of a brand new circuit for an electric oven installation or new hob.

For an electric hob or oven installation, choose an electrician registered with a competent person scheme, such as NICEIC or NAPIT.

Gas cookers or hobs are flueless appliances and as such are not notifiable under Building Regulations, but the engineer must check the appliance immediately after installation to make sure it operates safely and report any faults they find.

In rented properties, a gas safety certificate records the yearly checks that landlords must arrange for the gas appliances they provide.

Planning Permission

It is not necessary to apply for planning permission to install a new cooker, but if you live in a listed building you may need consent for any internal alterations. You can contact your local authority for information and advice including any fees that may be payable.

How to Clean and Maintain a Cooker

The best way to clean and maintain your cooker will depend on the type of cooker that you have and how much you use it.

Cleaning

The best way to clean your cooker, oven, or hob is to only ever use the type of cleaning agents and techniques recommended by the manufacturer. Using any other type of cleaning solutions may damage your cooker and invalidate any guarantee or warranty.

A cooker, oven, or hob should only ever be cleaned when it is cold or cool to the touch, never when it is hot as there is a danger of injury.

Hob Cleaning

Your hob can normally be wiped down with a soft cloth or sponge using a mild detergent solution to remove grease, burnt food, or spills. Any stubborn residue should be softened with a moist cloth or sponge and gradually removed. Abrasive materials will scratch most hob surfaces so avoid these.

Ceramic hobs can be cleaned with a specialist scraper if food is burnt on. If left this can cause staining to the ceramic hob.

Gas hobs can be more time consuming to clean due to the gas burners and pot stands. You will need to remove the pot supports, rings, and burners to access the hob surface to clean it.

The removed components can be soaked in hot soapy water and cleaned individually. For the hard-to-reach parts around the ignition you can use an old soft toothbrush to remove grease and debris.

Oven Cleaning

Some ovens have a self-cleaning mode which is very useful and effective if used regularly. However, the self-cleaning mode does not clean the oven shelves or base of the oven. The shelves can be removed and cleaned with oven cleaner and the base of the oven can be cleaned with a mild detergent solution and a soft cloth or sponge.

Many oven doors can be removed completely or the glass panel can be taken out for cleaning. Care should be taken when handling the glass and it is a good idea to use some old towels to rest it on while cleaning to prevent damage.

Protect your floor and kitchen cabinets when cleaning your oven as dirty, greasy water can stain or damage some surfaces.

Cooker Hood

The cooker hood is one of those parts of a working kitchen that is taken for granted, used almost daily but regularly forgotten when it comes to cleaning and maintenance.

Regular cleaning of the filters in the cooker hood with hot, soapy water and some bicarbonate of soda will ensure that the cooker hood continues to fulfil its function. The cover too will need to be wiped down regularly to keep it clean.

Maintenance

The maintenance of your cooker will prolong its life and protect your investment. Carrying out regular cleaning and maintenance will reduce the chance of a major problem occurring which could be expensive to fix.

The maintenance of the cooker hood is a good example of an appliance that is used frequently. However, it can become less effective due to poor or no maintenance. A cooker hood installation is done as part of a built-in kitchen and plays an important part in removing steam and smells from the kitchen.

However, in the process it accumulates grease and dust and becomes less effective at drawing impurities from the kitchen when these build up. Regular cleaning and maintenance will ensure that it continues to do the job it is designed for.

Cooker Repairs

Even with regular maintenance there is always the chance that at some time your cooker will need to be repaired. As cookers are used daily and sometimes multiple times during the day the potential for a fault or damage to your cooker is high. Replacement parts can be ordered online if you know the make and model number of your appliance.

Common Cooker Repairs

One of the most obvious faults is the cooker failing to heat up. For electric cookers, this may mean that there is a problem with the element or a wiring problem. Checking the main switch is on and that the mini circuit breaker hasn't tripped will be the first course of action.

If it is neither of these you will need to call an electrician or qualified cooker repair person. A qualified electrician will charge between £30 and £60 per hour depending on where you live. They may also charge a call-out fee so you should check before booking.

Sometimes the overuse or rough handling of the oven door can cause damage and make it difficult to close the door properly. This may require replacement hinges for the door or a new seal on the door may be needed.

Prices for replacement parts will depend on the brand of the oven, the age and availability of the part, and any shipping costs. The average cost of oven door hinges is around £15 to £40 depending on the make and model of the oven.

Broken knobs can typically be replaced by the manufacturer or a reputable cooker spares retailer. Again, the cost will depend on the make and model of the cooker and the availability of the spare parts as well as any shipping costs.

The average cost for a replacement cooker knob is between £5 and £35 according to the brand and model of the appliance.

Hob damage is something that may be irreparable and you may need to replace the entire hob. This may be the case in relation to ceramic and induction hobs which can cost from £130 to £1,800.

Repairs to gas hobs may be achievable depending on the fault with burner rings and caps available for around £10 to £40 depending on make and model.

Checklist: Hiring a Cooker Installation Specialist

With MyJobQuote, you can receive multiple quotes from local electric cooker installers and gas cooker installers. It's free, fast, and there's no-obligation to go ahead.

Before you hire someone to install your new cooker, here are some considerations that you should take into account and questions that you should ask:

• Are they qualified? Gas engineers should always have their Gas Safe ID card. For electric cooker installations, look for NICEIC or NAPIT.
• Do they have experience? Ensure you hire someone with plenty of cooker installation experience, and that they have evidence of their work.
• Are they insured? Look for public liability insurance. Check what their cover includes.
• Do you have an itemised quote? Ask for a breakdown of your quote so that you know what's included, and if there are any additional costs.
• Do they have positive reviews? Check their MyJobQuote profile to see what other homeowners are saying about their work.

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