Freestanding cookers: How to buy
Measure up
Easy-clean ceramic hob
Be sure to measure carefully before you buy. Unless you’re planning to buy a brand-new kitchen, your cooker will need to fit into your existing gap. 50 and 60 cm wide models are the most popular. They are all 60cm to 65cm deep.
Gas vs electric
You may not have a choice but if you do then gas hobs are easier to control, spread the heat right around the bottom of your pots and respond quickly.
Electric ovens offer you more control and most have fans to spread the heat right around the cavity.
Multi-function electric ovens give you more control over how your oven is heated so you can provide the perfect cooking conditions for a wide variety of foods.
High street vs online
Your cooker buying options break down to buying online or buying in store at a big name retailer or an independent shop.
Big names are likely to offer you competitive deals but independents can offer that personal touch.
Delivery
Some large retailers will deliver for free, while the full package of delivery and installation of a new electric cooker and removal of the old one can cost as much as £99.
Independents are a good option for quick delivery from stock.
Installation
Whether it’s gas or electric, you’ll need to get your cooker professionally installed. For gas cookers, you’ll need to have it installed by a CORGI-registered engineer.
For electric cookers, in England and Wales, as long as you’re connecting to an existing cooker socket, you won’t have to let your local authority know.
However, if you’re installing a new power circuit for the cooker, then Part P of the Building Regulations will apply. This means that you will have to notify the Building Control Office of your Local Authority unless the work is carried out by a qualified electrician with certification that exempts them from notification.
In Scotland, use a certified electrician if the job is covered by a building warrant. Similar regulations don’t apply in Northern Ireland.
Gas cookers in flats
The standards regarding the installation of gas cookers in flats have recently changed. If you’re buying a new gas cooker for a flat or other multi-use dwelling, make sure it has flame supervision devices (FSDs) on each burner.
An FSD will shut off the supply of gas should burner fail to ignite or get blown out. If you buy a new gas cooker for a flat and it doesn’t have FSDs, from 1June 2008 CORGI-registered engineers won’t be able to fit it for you.
Removal and recycling
Retailers will take away your old cooker when you buy a new one from them as long as it’s disconnected first – if you pay for installation of a new machine they’ll be able to carry out the disconnection work as well. If you’d prefer, you can also use the www.recyclenow.com site to find a recycling centre near you.