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 free standing cookers or built in oven and hob installations will also be examined.

What is a Cooker?

A cooker is an appliance that is used for cooking food and typically comprises a hob, oven, and grill either in one appliance or as separate built in elements of a kitchen. Whereas before modern cookers were invented people had to cook on open fires and in clay ovens these days there are many different variations of cooker to choose from.

It is a vital piece of kitchen equipment and unless you eat out for every single meal you will need a cooker for your home.

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 duel fuel cookers are larger than their alternatives

Range Cooker 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

What Are the Pros and Cons of a Cooker?

Unless you live entirely on salad or take out then 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 advantages and disadvantages of cookers.

Pros of a Cooker

The immediate availability of a method for cooking food is one we probably take for granted these days. Although some people may experience cooking on an open fire while camping most of us have never had to struggle with this method of cooking. It is not for the faint hearted. So, one of the main benefits of a cooker is the immediacy and convenience of a way to prepare cooked food.

As well as being available all the time a cooker allows precision cooking and the ability to monitor the process closely. Most dishes require accurate and unfluctuating temperatures in order to be successfully cooked.

In the event of a power outage an electric cooker will not work but you will still be able to use a gas hob. Although the ignition switch on a gas hob is electric and will not work in a power cut you can still light the burners with a match or lighter. It is not possible for safety reasons to light a gas oven in this way.

Cons of a Cooker

The most obvious disadvantage of fitting a cooker is the cost. Installing a cooker is something that needs to be done by a professional tradesperson and needs to conform to gas or electric cooker installation regulations depending on fuel type. Therefore, the cost to install a cooker will need to be taken into account on top of the price of the cooker.

Induction or ceramic hobs while easy to clean are similarly relatively easy to damage. Dropping anything heavy on them may cause them to crack and the hob would have to be removed and replaced.

Different fuels are not equally suitable for all types of cooking. For example, a gas oven doesn’t provide the even distribution of heat necessary for successful cake baking, a fan assisted electric oven is much better for this task.

Cleaning the oven or stove top is a chore that most of us dread and tend to put off. Gas hobs are trickier to clean as you need to disassemble the pot rest and burners to clean effectively and removing carbonated food remnants and grease is not a nice job. Some ovens have a self-clean facility and this can be very helpful if used regularly.

How Much Does It Cost to Install a New Cooker?

The cost to install a cooker will depend on many factors including the type, size, and fuel of the cooker, where in the UK you live and whether you are swapping like for like.

Gas Cooker

In general, the cost of installing a new gas cooker will be around £500-£1,000 depending on the size, make and your location. Of course, you can spend quite a lot on a cooker, it will depend on whether you are mainly looking for something functional or are concerned with how it looks.

The other cost to consider is paying someone to fit the gas cooker for you. This needs to be a Gas Safe certified engineer as you need to comply with gas cooker installation regulations and depending on where in the country you live this can cost you between £50-£125 per hour.

Electric Cooker

The cost to install an electric cooker will vary as there are so many styles, makes and models. It will also rest on whether you are having a freestanding cooker or a built in model as part of your kitchen design.

The average cost of a 60cm wide electric cooker is approximately £350-£900 depending on make, model, what functions the appliance offers and your budget.

A qualified electrician will charge approximately £30-£60 per hour depending on where in the country you live.

Dual Fuel Cooker

A dual fuel cooker has a gas hob and an electric oven. A lot of suppliers of offer an installation service with appropriately trained and qualified staff. Cooker installation costs for a supply and fit will vary across suppliers but they may also remove the old appliance for you.

The cost to purchase a dual fuel cooker yourself will depend on the brand, size and functions of the appliance and you can spend between £300-£1,200. You will need a Gas Safe engineer to install the cooker as it will need to comply with gas cooker installation regulations and this may cost anywhere between £40-£150 per hour according to your location.

Range Cooker

How much a range cooker costs will depend on what fuel it uses e.g., gas, electricity, or solid fuel. Electric range cooker costs vary between £400-£2,000, gas range cookers can cost between £600-£2,000 and solid fuel versions may cost between £900-£4,500. Fitting costs will depend on whether you buy a supply and fit appliance or hire someone 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 they work to maximum efficiency.

The cost of this service will vary depending on where you live and how much cleaning your oven requires but should cost in the region of £75 and take a couple of hours.

You may also need a cooker hood installation if there is not one already in situ in your kitchen. As Part F of the Building Regulations state that a cooker hood should be provided to extract stale air and provide ventilation. This should cost between £150-£200 to supply and fit.

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 prior to 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 an electric spur 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. This will typically be 40-45 amp and allows for a large capacity cooker to be fitted. If a new circuit is required then this must be done by a registered electrician as it is notifiable work and requires a Part P certificate under Building Regulations.

Gas cookers must be fitted by a Gas Safe heating engineer and cannot be completed as a DIY task. Only a qualified gas heating professional is legally permitted to work on gas appliances due to the dangerous nature of the work and the potential for serious issues to occur if an appliance is incorrectly fitted.

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 in order 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.

The gas cooker is also fitted with a safety chain to make sure that in the event the cooker topples over the flexible gas pipe does not become disconnected and release gas into the property.

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 can be installed DIY it 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 countertop.

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.

Building Regulations or Planning Permission Approval 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.

This is why electric hobs or ovens should be installed by a qualified electrician preferably one who is NICEIC registered.

Gas cookers or hobs are flueless appliances and as such are not notifiable under Building Regulations but it is possible for an installer to issue a Declaration of Safety Certificate for your peace of mind.

A gas safety certificate is normally issued after the installation of a gas boiler or following the servicing of gas appliances and is not typically issued after a gas hob or cooker installation.

Planning Permission

It is not necessary to apply for planning permission to install a new cooker unless you live in a listed building and the work involves installation or alteration of pipework or wiring in the property.

Information can be found on the Planning Portal or 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 in order 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 come 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-£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 are around £15-£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-£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-£1,800.

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

Questions to Ask When Hiring a Cooker Installation Specialist

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

Qualifications

Asking what qualifications a contractor has is important especially when dealing with electricity or gas as you will be with a cooker installation. Gas Safe engineers should always have their Gas Safe ID card with them to show to customers.

One of the benefits of hiring these trades is that you can check the Gas Safe register for gas heating engineers or the NICEIC for a registered electrician.

Experience

You will want to know that the person you are hiring to install your cooker has a lot of experience in similar work. Hiring someone with an established business is a good indicator that you will receive a professional service while recommendations from family, friends, neighbours, or work colleagues can mean that you get first-hand accounts of someone’s work.

References

Hiring a contractor with a good reputation is advisable and obtaining references is even better. Most reputable tradespeople will be willing to supply references.

Insurance

All tradespeople working in your home should have public liability insurance to protect you and them in the event of injury or damage as a result of works carried out in your home.

FAQs

Sources

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/product-reviews/electricals/a656811/how-to-buy-the-best-ovens-and-cookers/
https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/techtalk/the-difference-between-gas-and-electric-ovens/
https://www.appliancecity.co.uk/cooking/range-cookers/
https://www.leisurecooker.co.uk/inspiration/lifestyle/range-cookers-vs-built-in-ovens
https://www.johnlewis.com/buying-guides/cooking-appliances-buying-guide
https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/find-an-electrician/building-regulations/england/
https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/help-and-advice/gas-safety-certificates-records/building-regulations-certificate/
https://www.niceic.com/