Replacing gas hob with induction hob

Qualitymark

How big a job would it be to replace a gas hob with an induction hob, and roughly what should it cost?
Does the induction hob need special wiring, or will it work from an ordinary socket?
Thanks in advance for help and advice.

tomdempsey200

you'll have to get the KW rating first


it'll prob need a 6 or a 10sq depending on what else is connected ..double oven etc.

2011

Qualitymark wrote: »

How big a job would it be to replace a gas hob with an induction hob, and roughly what should it cost?

That depends on many factors:
Lenght of run
Space in distribution board
Ease of routing cable
Size of load
ect....

Does the induction hob need special wiring, or will it work from an ordinary socket?

In general induction hobs awould be considered a large electrical load (>8kW). Loads this size can not be fed from a socket circuit.

Qualitymark

2011 wrote: »

That depends on many factors:
Lenght of run
Space in distribution board
Ease of routing cable
Size of load
ect....

In general induction hobs awould be considered a large electrical load (>8kW). Loads this size can not be fed from a socket circuit.

Thanks. Hm, so it would be difficult to look for online quotes. Must find a good local electrician…

2011

Qualitymark wrote: »

Thanks. Hm, so it would be difficult to look for online quotes. Must find a good local electrician…

+1
Most domestic electrical contractors will provide you with a free quotation.

Qualitymark

2011 wrote: »

+1
Most domestic electrical contractors will provide you with a free quotation.

I know. I just hate to ask three people to come out and quote when two aren't going to get the work.

tomdempsey200

have your appliance ratings ready when they call so there's no confusion


if it's just the induction hob then you can get that from the model number

sawdoubters

ld stick with gas

tomdempsey200

sawdoubters wrote: »

ld stick with gas

ya me too

gas is better

You don't see any chefs on TV using electric..

Qualitymark

sawdoubters wrote: »

ld stick with gas

A couple of factors make me want to change:

• There's a tiny leak (not dangerous but notifiable) in the gas hob
• However, that hob takes its feed from the left; I can't find a good, reasonably-priced hob of the same size that also connects from the left, and there isn't room on the right, because the dishwasher there comes right up to the top of the space
• Gas is increasingly expensive
• Gas cooking coats everything with a greasy film
• Induction hobs are very fast, responsive and hot, unlike the old electric hobs with iron plates
• They're much easier to clean than the crevice-filled gas hobs

I've thought about this quite a bit, and really would prefer to change, all things being equal.

2011

Qualitymark wrote: »

A couple of factors make me want to change:

There's a tiny leak (not dangerous but notifiable) in the gas hob

You could replace the hob.

However, that hob takes its feed from the left; I can't find a good, reasonably-priced hob of the same size that also connects from the left, and there isn't room on the right, because the dishwasher there comes right up to the top of the space.

You could get the gas connection moved.

Gas is increasingly expensive

Yes, but using a gas hob is cheaper than using a electric hob.
Remeber much of the electricty you pay for is generated by burning gas.

Induction hobs are very fast, responsive and hot, unlike the old electric hobs with iron plates

They are, but I would have thought that this applied more so to gas.
The main advantage of induction hobs is for a more uniform heating from the pan. Rather than generating heat on the surface which pans are placed onto, these hobs generate heat within the pans themselves. By doing this, the pots become the cooking surfaces and in theory work much more effectively.

They're much easier to clean than the crevice-filled gas hobs

Agreed.

I've thought about this quite a bit, and really would prefer to change, all things being equal.

What you want is the most important thing. But when making your decision you should be aware of all of the facts.

Also be aware that only pans made of a ferrus metal can be used.
This technology generates eddy currents within the pots to generate heat. Eddy currents can not be generated within non ferrus metals (so any material that a magnet will stick to).

Therefore pots or pans made of the following materials cannot be used:

Aluminium
Stainless Steel
Copper
Terracotta
Pyrex

This may add to the cost :eek:

See link:
http://www.smeg.com.au/how-can-i-tell-if-i-can-use-my-current-pans-on-induction/

Happy cooking

ted1

Qualitymark wrote: »

A couple of factors make me want to change:

• There's a tiny leak (not dangerous but notifiable) in the gas hob
• However, that hob takes its feed from the left; I can't find a good, reasonably-priced hob of the same size that also connects from the left, and there isn't room on the right, because the dishwasher there comes right up to the top of the space
  
• Gas is increasingly expensive
• Gas cooking coats everything with a greasy film
• Induction hobs are very fast, responsive and hot, unlike the old electric hobs with iron plates
• They're much easier to clean than the crevice-filled gas hobs

I've thought about this quite a bit, and really would prefer to change, all things being equal.

a Kwh of Gas costs less than 6c. a kWh of electricity costs about 18c

so gas is three time cheaper then electricity

tomdempsey200

ted1 wrote: »

a Kw of Gas costs less than 6c. a kW of electricity costs about 18c

so gas is three time cheaper then electricity

really ?

2011

tomdempsey200 wrote: »

really ?

I just cehcked mine:
I pay 5.5c per unit for my gas and 15.91c per unit of electricity (Airtricity).

That I why I use gas to heat my water and not the immersion.

tomdempsey200

You'd have to be mad to use an electric hob if gas is really 1/3 the price!

considering gas is also a better method of cooking on the hob

josip

When you factor in the amount of heat energy transferred to the pot, gas is not 3 times cheaper to cook with on a hob.

With an induction hob 84% of the energy is transferred.
The most quoted figure for gas is 40%.

For me there is no discernible difference in the responsiveness of an induction hob compared to a gas hob. We've had both at various stages.

Do gas hobs have timer controls?

RebelButtMunch

2011 wrote: »

I just cehcked mine:
I pay 5.5c per unit for my gas and 15.91c per unit of electricity (Airtricity).

That I why I use gas to heat my water and not the immersion.

The water heaters have a large and a small element. So with electricty you have the choice of only heating the top half of the tank. With gas you haven't got that option and must heat the whole tank.

2011

josip wrote: »

When you factor in the amount of heat energy transferred to the pot, gas is not 3 times cheaper to cook with on a hob.

You are confusing effiency with cost per unit.

For me there is no discernible difference in the responsiveness of an induction hob compared to a gas hob. We've had both at various stages.

You may be correct.
I am not trying to argue that gas hobs are better than induction hobs (my own hob is electric).
My aim is to inform the OP of the facts so that an informed decision can be made.

However if you think that cooking with an induction hob is going to cost less than a gas hob you are very much mistaken.

2011

RebelButtMunch wrote: »

The water heaters have a large and a small element. So with electricty you have the choice of only heating the top half of the tank. With gas you haven't got that option and must heat the whole tank.

That depends on the type of gas boiler and haeting system used.
Some boilers heat the water as it is used so the heating system does not have the traditional large hot water tank in the hotpress. Once a hot tap is turned on the boiler fires up and immediatley heats the water as required. When the hot taps are turned off the boiler switches off.
Very efficient, certainly far cheaper than heating water electricaly.

http://www.worcester-bosch.ie/homeowner/boilers/what-is-a-combi-boiler

josip

2011 wrote: »

You are confusing effiency with cost per unit.
An induction hob may have a smaller heat loss if expressed as a percentage, but even if the haet loss from a gas hob was three times higher it would still be cheaper to cook by gas. Do the maths!

Please reread my post and show where did I say that gas wasn't cheaper?
I didn't calculate an exact number because of the varying prices per unit and because the stated efficiencies of gas/electricity are only average, commonly qupted figures. I thought it would be fairly obvious to everyone from the figures that an induction hob would be 40-50% more expensive, but not 300%.

2011 wrote: »

"Do the maths!"

2011

josip wrote: »

Please reread my post and show where did I say that gas wasn't cheaper?

Apoligies, I just read it agian.

Here is the maths:

Going with your figuers (which I am would wondering about) and Airtricty rates:
For 10 units of output from a gas hob it will cost €1.38 (at 40% effiency) and from an induction hob it will cost €1.85 (at 86% effiency).

2011

An interesting link here, might be worth a read:

http://www.controlinduction.co.uk/induction-hob-efficiency/induction-hob-running-costs/induction-hob-v-gas-hob-v-halogen-hob.html?Itemid=122

tomdempsey200

2011 wrote: »

Apoligies, I just read it agian.

Here is the maths:

Going with your figuers (which I am would wondering about) and Airtricty rates:
For 10 units of output from a gas hob it will cost €1.38 (at 40% effiency) and from an induction hob it will cost €1.85 (at 86% effiency).

still a no - brainer in favour of gas if energy usage is the determining factor

josip

tomdempsey200 wrote: »

still a no - brainer in favour of gas if energy usage is the determining factor

Yes, and important to consider that induction hobs tend to be more expensive than gas hobs and the additaional cost of replacing non-ferrous pots with ferrous one.

Also, in winter time the gas energy that escapes the cooking process will be used towards space heating and so isn't really wasted.

For us, there were other reasons apart from energy usage, but that's for another thread.

2011

tomdempsey200 wrote: »

still a no - brainer in favour of gas if energy usage is the determining factor

I like the fact that the induction or electric hob is so easy to clean.

There is also the safety factor, remove the pot and the ring turns off and goes cold rapidly.

Qualitymark

I won't have to replace pots if I do change - all my pots are iron or steel. Is there another kind?
Thanks for the figures on cost. Hmm, interesting.
I think what I'll do is get a couple of electricians in to quote on this, and think about whether to do it. I don't like to ask people to spend their time giving quotes when they may not get the job; however, the upside is that someone who did a really good job for a price that's fair to them and me would become "my" electrician for future jobs, and almost certainly get work from friends as well.

Qualitymark

Qualitymark wrote: »

A couple of factors make me want to change:

• There's a tiny leak (not dangerous but notifiable) in the gas hob
• However, that hob takes its feed from the left; I can't find a good, reasonably-priced hob of the same size that also connects from the left, and there isn't room on the right, because the dishwasher there comes right up to the top of the space
• Gas is increasingly expensive
• Gas cooking coats everything with a greasy film
• Induction hobs are very fast, responsive and hot, unlike the old electric hobs with iron plates
• They're much easier to clean than the crevice-filled gas hobs

I've thought about this quite a bit, and really would prefer to change, all things being equal.

There is no such thing as a safe leak, I wouldn't allow a hob with a leak to be used in my house, if it's leaking I'd advise you not to use it.

Qualitymark

gary71 wrote: »

There is no such thing as a safe leak, I wouldn't allow a hob with a leak to be used in my house, if it's leaking I'd advise you not to use it.

That's why I want to replace it; however, the gas installers who found the leak said it was microscopic, and none of the regularly-checked gas alarms in the house has ever gone off.

2011

Qualitymark wrote: »

I won't have to replace pots if I do change - all my pots are iron or steel. Is there another kind?

Yes, pots or pans made of the following materials cannot be used:

Aluminium
Stainless Steel
Copper
Terracotta
Pyrex


Simple test:
If a magnet sticks to a pot it will work with an induction hob, if it does not stick, it won't work.

2011

Qualitymark wrote: »

That's why I want to replace it; however, the gas installers who found the leak said it was microscopic

Sounds suspect to me.

none of the regularly-checked gas alarms in the house has ever gone off.

Means nothing.
Gas detectors provide the "last line of defence", you should not bet your life on them!

That is like someone saying "I knew that the circuit was safe because the fuse did not blow"

Qualitymark

Qualitymark wrote: »

That's why I want to replace it; however, the gas installers who found the leak said it was microscopic, and none of the regularly-checked gas alarms in the house has ever gone off.

A test is just a snap shot in time, if a hob is leaking it usually indicates a tap defect which gets worse as the tap is used.

Who ever allowed you to use the hob after a leak is identified doesn't have your best interests in mind.

a U guage never lies gas detectors do, I know of 4 ladies who were taken to hospital with carbon monoxide poisoning after detectors failed to pick it up.

RebelButtMunch

Also the gas may only leak when the pressure to do so is sufficient. e.g lots of people using the gas at 6pm making dinner, and the pressure might not be enough to cause your leak a big problem. Everyone is asleep at 2am and there might be enough pressure behind your leak to cause a problem

Qualitymark

They repeated the test several times at different times of day.

2011

Qualitymark wrote: »

They repeated the test several times at different times of day.

But they found a leak during a test!

I would expect that if a gas hob is found to be leaking as a result of even one test that until would have to be repaired or replaced.

Qualitymark

2011 wrote: »

But they found a leak during a test!

I would expect that if a gas hob is found to be leaking as a result of even one test that until would have to be repaired or replaced.

So would I, and I immediately went off to buy a replacement hob, but I couldn't find any of the same measurements that fed from the centre or left!

The fitters, despite my worry, said it wasn't important, the leak was so tiny that it might come purely from the age of my current hob and the fact that grease has crept down into the innards of the knobs. They said it was notifiable, but absolutely not dangerous. But I definitely want to change it.

Qualitymark

Qualitymark wrote: »

They repeated the test several times at different times of day.

A appliance is not going to repair it's self, your leak is pertintully dangerious.

I judge things by "would I want in my house" and my work experience as a first responder to reported gas leaks and explosions.

I find the idea of leaving a appliance left connected after a leak is smelt and then found mind boggling, it takes as little as a 12 day course and up to recently no trade background to regerster and work as a RGI. RGI's who knowingly leaves a leak may not have experienced things that go bang in the night, if he's wrong who pays the price?

Also it's amazing how RGI's can change their opinion on a risk assessment after a good old fashioned KABOOM.

I'm in the "why take a risk" catogory of gas fitter.

Qualitymark

Qualitymark wrote: »

So would I, and I immediately went off to buy a replacement hob, but I couldn't find any of the same measurements that fed from the centre or left!

The fitters, despite my worry, said it wasn't important, the leak was so tiny that it might come purely from the age of my current hob and the fact that grease has crept down into the innards of the knobs. They said it was notifiable, but absolutely not dangerous. But I definitely want to change it.

He's wrong, no leak can be left if its being smelt.

Again, don't use it and if you can turn off the supply to it there's usually a isolation valve on the pipe feeding the hob.

If you search online first and find a appliance you like then try and source it locally, it's easyiers once you have model details.

Qualitymark

gary71 wrote: »

I find the idea of leaving a appliance left connected after a leak is smelt and then found
<snip>

It wasn't smelt. No smelling involved. No smell of gas. This was a mandatory check of all gas appliances and pipes during replacement of the central heating boiler.

Qualitymark

Qualitymark wrote: »

It wasn't smelt. No smelling involved. No smell of gas. This was a mandatory check of all gas appliances and pipes during replacement of the central heating boiler.

Forgive me I mistook the notifiable for noticeable:o.

A leaking hob usually is a symptom of a ageing gas tap which has the pertintual to get worse every time you open and close the gas tap which is why it should have been delt with once identified.

In the old days the tap would be re greased but we live in a throw away society so it's a new hob.

Dai John

My daughter bought an induction hob, and I was impressed, very fast. It has an ordinary 3 pin plug into a normal wall socket....works fine.

Qualitymark

gary71 wrote: »

Forgive me I mistook the notifiable for noticeable:o.

A leaking hob usually is a symptom of a ageing gas tap which has the pertintual to get worse every time you open and close the gas tap which is why it should have been delt with once identified.

In the old days the tap would be re greased but we live in a throw away society so it's a new hob.

If anyone can direct me to a hob that feeds from the left or centre, my problem is solved… The current hob is about 57cm wide by 48cm from back to front.
I really would prefer to switch to an induction hob, but not if it's going to mean huge rewiring.

JOSman

Hi OP,

Did you change and if so, how are you finding the induction hob? Thinking of getting one myself.

Qualitymark

Never did. Would've had to get an electrician to run a new circuit, so I didn't bother.