Gas Cooker Installation and Gas Hob Fitting

Why this is not a DIY job

Freestanding cookers often arrive with a flexible hose, which makes the job look like a quick push-fit. It is not. The connection has to be made to the right bayonet or isolation point, the hose has to be the correct length and type so it does not kink or stretch when the cooker is pushed back, and the whole installation has to be tested for gas tightness afterwards.

The engineer also checks that the appliance burns properly once it is lit. A hob with lazy, yellow or lifting flames is not working correctly, and that is something you only find out by testing it under gas.

Freestanding cookers, range cookers and built-in hobs

The work differs depending on what you have bought:

• Freestanding gas cookers usually connect by a flexible hose to a bayonet fitting on the wall, with a stability bracket or chain so the cooker cannot tip forward
• Range cookers are heavier and wider, often need a larger supply and must be levelled carefully before they are connected
• Built-in gas hobs sit in the worktop and are normally connected with a rigid or approved flexible pipe beneath, with an isolation valve you can reach
• Dual fuel cookers have a gas hob and an electric oven, so they need a suitable electrical supply as well as the gas connection

Check before you order

A little checking before you buy saves a wasted visit. Measure the gap the cooker or hob has to fit, check the manufacturer's clearances to walls, cupboards and the cooker hood above, and look at where the existing gas point sits. If the new appliance is wider, or you are moving the hob to a different run of worktop, the pipe may need extending.

The installation instructions that come with the appliance set out its clearances and connection requirements. Keep them; the engineer works to them, and they are useful if you need a service later.

Moving from electric to gas

Switching from an electric hob to gas means running a new gas pipe to the kitchen, sized correctly for the appliance and everything else on the supply. It can be straightforward when the meter is nearby, and more involved when the pipe has to pass under floors or through several rooms. Chris will look at the route and explain the options before you commit.

Kitchen refits

If you are having a new kitchen fitted, it helps to plan the gas point before the units go in. A capped supply in the right position means the hob can be connected quickly once the worktop is in place. The same thinking applies to the sink waste and water supplies, which we can also deal with as part of a wider job.

What happens on the day

The old appliance is isolated and disconnected, the supply is checked, and the new one is connected, tested for gas tightness and lit. The engineer checks the burners, any safety devices such as flame failure on the hob, and that the cooker is stable. You will be shown how to isolate the gas to the appliance if you ever need to.

Safety around gas cooking

Cooking appliances are a common place for carbon monoxide to start if burners are dirty or damaged. A working carbon monoxide alarm in the home is a sensible precaution. If you rent your home out, gas cookers are among the appliances included in the annual gas safety certificate check.

If you ever smell gas, turn the supply off at the meter if it is safe to do so, open windows, do not use switches or flames, and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.

Book a cooker or hob connection

Call or WhatsApp 07429 632804 with the make and model of the appliance and a photo of the gas point, or use the quote form. Our services page lists the other gas and plumbing work we cover.