Gas appliance installation

In this day and age, a cooktop (Also known as a Stovetop) is the prime cooking appliance that is being used to cook meals at home and within a restaurant. The utility of a stovetop is guaranteed with a cooktop as most types of meals and food servings are cooked with a cooktop. Whether it is a healthy vegetable meal or whether it is delicious crispy bacon cooked in the kitchen, a cooktop is what is commonly used.

But before we dive into the meat of the process of installing a cooktop, we must answer a question some of you might be wondering about: What exactly is a cooktop?

What exactly is a cooktop?​

A cooktop is a cooking appliance that is generally an addition to the counter of your kitchen. Generally speaking, a cooktop sits on top of the counter, taking up space on the surface of the counter. With this feature, a cooktop has its controls for heat and cooking settings on top of the counter as well. Generally, the controls and the settings are at the sides of the cooktop, however, it is common to see the control for the heat and the settings to be on top of the cooktop on its own control slab. With that said, there still is a variety that comes with cooktops and nuances that differentiate the branching appliances.

What is the difference between a regular cooktop and a range?

When looking for a cooktop to install, it is easy to be confused with the differences between a range cooking appliance and a regular cooktop appliance. However, with enough exposure to the two types, you no longer have to worry about mixing the two types up. The everyday cooktop is characterized by its presence on the surface of the countertop. Due to the fact that the common cooktop only occupies the surface of the counter, the heat control and settings are placed to the sides or above the cooktop, away from the burners. This setup also allows for more cabinet space under the cooktop to keep the cooking necessities and pots and pans at a close reach. In difference, a range appliance completely cuts out the counter rather than sitting on the surface of the counter. This setup does come with the added feature that the heat controls are now at the front rather than at the side of the of the appliance. These differing features on the appliances have their own benefits and drawbacks, which we will soon be covering.

The different benefits and drawbacks of a range cooktop and a regular cooktop:

Whether you happen to have the common cooktop or a range in your kitchen, you will experience a few benefits with each of the features and a few drawbacks. These pros and cons are useful to acknowledge because every pro caters to a typical type cooking style and what you happen to be cooking, while the cons, quite simply, limits the selection of cooking styles and what you can cook, to what the appliance is capable of.

Looking into the big picture of a range cooking appliance:

To refresh your memory on what a cooktop is, a cooktop is a cooking appliance that is built into your counter but does not take out the counter itself. With this feature, the settings are on to the sides of the cooktop or above the burners (Such as a stove). It is relatively flat and has room underneath it to accommodate space for the cabinets. When it comes to the benefits of having a cooktop over a range, cooktops rule within the ‘minimalist’ category. Now, what does that mean? If you are looking for an easy on, does not demand a lot of space look, then a cooktop is what accomplishes that the most effectively. Cooktops do not have to be limited within a kitchen, as certain cooktops are light enough to be portable. That means a cooktop can accomplish the same work done within a kitchen as it can outdoors, while camping or even at an event. The sheer versatility of where you can put a cooktop and its consistent effectiveness makes it a prime selection for busy people. With this benefit means that it can be replaced without replacing the oven, which normally occurs when dealing with a broken range. Additionally, cooktops are more ideal for induction cooking. With benefits comes drawbacks, which a regular cooktop does possess. The most blatant con for a stovetop is its high demand for surface area in the kitchen. Because they do not completely cut into the countertop, they instead take up space on the surface of the counter. The counter must also have a hole that snuggly fits the cooktop inside of it, which the size may vary depending on the manufacturers. Suddenly, that is less counter space for meal preparations (Cutting, seasoning, etc.), baking or recipe building. This drawback can be helped by just purchasing a smaller cooktop, however, in the kitchen environment, a smaller setup may not be ideal for those big meals. Cooktops are not as capable when it comes to the variety of styles you can cook with it, however, it really takes a chef to notice this drawback, and for a regular household, it normally does not matter aside from the lack of convenience.

Tapping into the big picture of having a regular cooktop:

​As a bit of a recap, a range cooking appliance is similar to a regular cooktop, with the difference being that a range appliance completely cuts out the counter and has its heat controls and cooking settings at the front. This setup has its ups and downs as you might have guessed. Let us start with the pros. Because the range has its heat controls and settings at the front of the appliance rather than to the side, it allows more cooking versatility. This essentially means that, with a range cookery, you are able to cook more food in many different styles. It may not seem obvious at first, but due to the fact that the controls are at the front, it opens up the possibility to have a cover over the burners. This is normally seen in a barbeque grill; a range setup that has its controls at the front, allowing a steel cover to be installed to cover it. This great setup is especially good if you wish to have a BBQ meal or if you want to have peace of mind that you do not have to reach over the burners to have access to the settings and heat controls. Additionally, a range setup is best for a smaller kitchen, as a range has generally good placement options and flexibility in the kitchen environment. The main con that comes with a range cooktop is that it cuts away from the counter space and does not leave a lot of space below it for cabinet space. Additionally, if you have a range and an oven combination, replacing them may be costly as having just one of the component breaks would mean replacing both attached appliances; which in of itself, can be annoying.

Installing a cooktop and range (+Oven).

Installing a new stovetop or a range may seem like a daunting task, however, with a little knowledge and quick planning, installing these cookers will be quite straightforward and no longer seem like a difficult job to do.

Installing a regular cooktop.

When installing a regular stovetop, consider the size that is demanded of the cooktop and double check you can accommodate the size within your counter. Keep in mind that the manufacturer generally builds their cooktops with the same size they use for every model. If you plan on changing the manufacturers, always double check on their sizes and match it with the size of your counter. 

Tips on dealing with a gas stovetop.

• Before unplugging the gas pipe, turn the gas supply off (Normally shown as a red lever under the cabinet), then light the stovetop to check to make sure the gas supply is completely blocked off (A good indicator that the gas supply has been turned off is when it does not spark or emit a flame when your try to light it up). After this step is done, carefully unplug the stove from the outlet. 
• Once that is completed, you must disconnect the flex hose from the gas supply (This can be accomplished with two wrenches that fit the nut). 
• Smelling some gas is normal so do not panic when you do smell it. 
• After all of that, simply remove the stovetop and voila, that is half of the fight completed. 
  You should be able to place the new stovetop snuggly into the gap.
• Your stovetop should come with a regulator, which needs to be installed at the base of the supply (Where the gas would eventually enter) of the stove, BUT BEFORE the regulator is attached, apply a pipe thread sealant to the pipe thread as a safety procedure (Working with gas requires extra attention to ensure no leaks or moisture corrosion occurs).
• It is just a matter of reinstalling the flex connector and turning the gas back on.
  The flex connector should have bend largely, avoid creating a sharp bend as that may lead to insufficient gas for the burners, and may lead up to concentrated gas buildup, which may combust if not properly dealt with.
• Lastly turn on the gas and test the burners out.
• Keep in mind that your nose is your best friend, if you smell something that resembles that of rotten eggs or boiled eggs gone wrong, then you may have a leak and should turn the gas off immediately.
• ​If installing a gas stove top concerns you, check out our services, our experience will alleviate the stress of installing this

Tips on dealing with an electric stovetop.

• Make sure you have an outlet that works for an electric stovetop and make sure that the outlet is not crowded by other appliances. 
  
• Overloading an outlet with outlet extension box will reduce the effectiveness of your appliances and may lead to an overloaded and busted fuse. 
  
• Make sure the cord and the outlet is always within reach for those emergency turn offs and shutdowns.
  
• Watch out for water leaks if your stove top is within close proximity to your kitchen sink, it may damage the electronics.
  
• We suggest you always look at the manual and follow the instructions thoroughly

Tips on dealing with an induction cooktop.

• Induction cooktop installations are normally more tamed than gas and electric stovetop installations
  
• ​Test your induction cooktop with a pot and boil some water on high.
  
• When testing your newly installed induction cooktop, be sure you are using a pot that is compatible with the cooktop. Certain pots and pans may not work with the use of induction, examples are copper and aluminum cookware. An example of an induction compatible cookware is cast iron cookware.

Installing a range stovetop (Oven and range setup).

Normally, your manual should be enough to install the appliance, however, here are some tips when it comes to installing a freestanding range.

Tips on dealing with a freestanding range

• A freestanding range is a range and oven setup that is what you would normally find in a regular household kitchen, differing from a slide in range by having their controls to the back and above the burners (Similar to a cooktop).
• Make sure you have properly measured the space to ensure that you are not left with an annoying gap between your new rangetop and your counter. 
• Always check your manufacturer, as the same manufacturer would normally stay consistent with their sizes, changing manufacturers may mean you will have to deal with a larger (or smaller) range and must accommodate for the size change.
• When dealing with a free standing range, always install the tilt stopper before you slide the range into position. This prevents accidental tipping when opening the oven door, which decreases the risk of injury.​​

Tips on dealing with a slide in range

• Slide-in ranges are different from freestanding ranges as they look more built in and have their controls at the front. However, they also differ from freestanding ranges with their size. A filler in between the wall and the appliance might be needed.
  
• Aside from the filler, the same tips from the freestanding range is applied for the slide in ranges; check your manufacturer and sizes and install the tilt stopper before sliding the range into position.