Electric Cooker Installation Near Me
There are some household jobs you can’t afford to simply DIY and hope for the best - and installing an electric cooker is one of those jobs. This is not just about ensuring the electric cooker turns on and off and heats up as it should - it’s also about electrical safety and compliance with local regulations.
In this article, we’ll be walking you through the necessary steps to find reputable electrical installation services and how using MyJobQuote’s online directories can help streamline your hunt for the perfect specialists.
Let’s begin.
Table of Contents
Understanding Your Installation Requirements
Before you start your electric cooker fitters near me search, it’s important to understand your installation requirements so you can reach out to contractors with authority.
To get a better understanding of your needs, you should consider these points:
- What are your electrical requirements?
The scope of your electric oven installation project will depend on the electrical infrastructure that’s already in your kitchen. It’s a good idea to share what electric oven you already have with your potential contractor so they can advise you on what will work best as a replacement - and if you’re having an electric oven fitted for the first time, your service provider can also advise on the installation of the dedicated electrical circuit you’ll need to run it - Do you need your existing gas oven removed?
If you have a gas oven and want to swap it for an electric model, you’ll need the assistance of a Gas Safe Engineer to cap off your gas supply. You must outline this in your initial enquiry as it can add extra time to your project if it’s something that your installer finds out on the day, instead of in advance of their visit - What type of electric cooker do you want installed?
Once you’ve understood your electrical requirements, you can look at the type of electric cooker you want. Consider what capacity oven is best for you - if you regularly cook for large crowds, or is it mostly for solo meals? Consider how many racks you want. Do you want a combi oven/microwave or a model with self-cleaning functionalities? Make sure you choose a model that fits both your electrical and your culinary requirements - Do you want to change your kitchen’s layout?
If you’re renovating your home, you don’t necessarily need to keep your kitchen layout exactly how it was before. It’s a good idea to move appliances/sockets around at this stage so that you can build new cabinetry with these features in mind - it’s a lot easier this way around than it is to retrofit without damaging new worktops! - Is there any additional work to carry out (re-wiring or socket changes)?
If you’re having an electric oven installed for the first time, you’ll need a dedicated circuit installed to run it. This is a safety requirement and shouldn’t be skipped. If you are in any doubt about what you need, be sure to ask your contractor for professional advice before your project starts.
Electric ovens need to be appropriately installed and with the right electrical infrastructure in place to ensure the safety of the unit and the user. Failure to have an electrical appliance correctly installed can lead to fire and electrocution risks, which is why it is so important that you find a reputable, trusted supplier for your project.
So - let’s now take a look at the best ways of finding those local experts.
Finding a Tradesperson Through MyJobQuote's Online Directories
As we have already stressed, finding reliable electric cooker fitting experts is one of the most important tasks when installing a new appliance in your home.
If, in the past, you’ve spent hours scouring search results looking for ‘electric cooker fitters near me’ just to find yourself stuck down deadends with great contractors located miles away from you, you could likely benefit from a tool to streamline your search. MyJobQuote’s online directories can do just that.
From one search, you can input over 8 points of information - from your exact location to your budget requirements and timeframe for completion - giving you tailored search results from just one click.
Instead of switching from web page to web page, MyJobQuote’s online directory lets you quickly and easily compare companies with one another. You can consider their reviews and customer ratings, as well as any photographs of their completed installations, to assess the quality and reliability of the contractor’s work.
This helps to give you control in your search and cuts down your time spent behind a computer scrolling through pages of results, putting an end to the ‘electric cooker installer near me’ searches.
Verifying the Tradesperson's Qualifications
Some jobs can be attempted as DIY projects. Electric cooker installations are not one of those projects.
To ensure the safety of yourself, your home, and your appliance, you need to check your contractor’s qualifications to make sure they are capable of safely and effectively handling electric cooker installations.
You need a qualified electrician to fit your electric cooker, and you’ll want to look for specialists with extensive experience and a strong track record of working with electrical appliances.
Electrical professionals can be part of different trade associations, such as the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) and the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA). Having an association with these bodies is a mark of the contractor’s commitment to correct working practices and can help to verify their abilities as an electrical professional.
If you come across a trader with little to no experience, no qualifications, and no customer reviews - but they’re offering you a dirt cheap price and instant availability - then you’re best to continue your search as an electric installation isn’t something you want to compromise on.
Communication is Key
While you may think the price, availability, and a trader’s experience level are the most important factors when shopping around for a contractor, you will also want to take note of something less clear-cut: how they talk to you.
You must have and maintain an open line of communication with your chosen tradesperson that lasts from the project’s start to its finish. Failure to have this in place can leave you susceptible to a whole raft of issues, from hiked prices to miscommunications that can lead to delays in your project.
When scouting for your specialist, make sure you have absolute clarity on what the electric cooker installation process looks like, including any required preparation. This is especially true for homeowners wanting to swap their gas oven for an electric model, as extra work will be needed to safely seal off the gas supply and fit in a new electrical circuit.
It’s a good idea to have a plan in place for any unexpected issues that may arise - such as the discovery of old or worn wiring or sizing issues - and have a way of mitigating these problems mapped out between you and the contractor.
With this in mind, discussing your project’s timeline is an important step, but you should be aware that it could change if anything unexpected crops up. However, you should feel satisfied that your contractor will be able to navigate these issues and safely deliver your finished project, not cutting corners to keep to the original timeline or to make the task easier.
Leveraging MyJobQuote's Quote Form
The easiest way to find a qualified, trusted electrical specialist in your area is to make use of MyJobQuote’s quote form.
The steps are simple:
- Choose your job category - electric cooker fitting falls under ‘Electrics’
- Refine your search by selecting ‘Electrical Fittings and Appliances’ from the next list
- Click ‘Kitchen appliances’ on the next screen to indicate that you need an electric cooker installation
- Use the text box to explain your job in more detail - be sure to mention if you have an existing gas or electric cooker, as the installation styles will differ and if you need any additional work at the same time, such as new sockets, switches or any other wiring
- Add in photos of your existing kitchen or cooker unit to give the trader an idea of the space they’ll be working in and to help them understand any spatial requirements/limitations
- Enter your postcode
- Pick your budget from the options
- Choose your project’s timeframe, from ASAP to flexible timing
- Enter your email to get quotes in your inbox!
The quote form is structured so that you can add as much detail as possible in one request. This helps to save time for both you and the trader, as there is far less back-and-forth asking questions and sending back answers for queries that could be ticked off in the first communication.
Selecting your budget and your geographical area helps to refine your search results - there’s no point being met with hundreds of results if all your traders are on the other side of the country or vastly out of budget. MyJobQuote’s search function focuses on quality leads, letting you pick the best fit for your needs, level of expertise, and budget.
Seeking Personal Recommendations
Perhaps you know a friend, family member or neighbour who has recently had their kitchen remodelled. It’s a great opportunity to ask them about their experience and whether or not they’d recommend their service provider to you.
While it can seem frustrating to be met with a negative response about an installer, it’s a blessing in disguise. It will save you the time and effort of going into a quotation process with a company that perhaps isn’t as good as they say they are.
The opposite can happen, too - your acquaintance may have a glowing review for their electric cooker installer, and they may present you with a direct line of contact. This can not only cut down your search time, but it can help to give you a sense of certainty in your selection, knowing someone else has used the company recently and has had a good experience.
However, it goes without saying that no matter how glowing the feedback is, you must always do your own research into a supplier. Standards between people can differ, and one person’s idea of ‘great’ might not be the same as yours, so it’s best not to take feedback as complete certainty but rather as a suggestion that someone may be a good fit for you.
Understanding Service Terms
With a high-risk job comes the absolute need for a written service agreement between you and your supplier. You shouldn’t ever go into a project without a clear, written document outlining the expectations, costs, and timeline for completion.
If you come across a trader who wants to go ahead without a written contract and instead relies on a verbal agreement, it’s best to cease communications with them. This arrangement can leave you open to being manipulated with added costs or longer periods than initially discussed - and as there’s nothing physical to fall back on, it’s simply one person’s word against another’s.
Your written agreement should cover the scope of your electric cooker installation, including an itemised list of equipment and products and their associated prices. The payment terms should be clearly outlined so both parties know what to expect and when.
If your contractor is VAT registered, check that VAT has been added to your proposal. An extra 20% fee when settling the bill can be a shock, so it’s best to get the full costs ironed out before work begins.
Lastly, be sure to ask about any warranties or guarantees included with the contractor’s service and ask if this covers the appliance and labour or just the appliance.
It should be clear by now that you must choose the right tradesperson for your electric cooker installation. The supplier needs to be reliable, with a solid reputation and track record for installing electric cookers, and they must be a qualified electrician.
Using MyJobQuote’s online directories can help you find the best installer in your area that is suitable for your budget and your installation requirements. By taking the time to accurately assess your needs and align those with the capabilities of your chosen trader, you can be sure to receive a safe and efficient electric cooker installation.
Last updated by MyJobQuote on 12th June 2024.