Replacing an older gas cooker

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dusty42

117 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 28

#197944 19-Jun-2016 16:31

Hi guys, just wondering if anyone has any experience they can share.

I have an ancient gas oven with gas hob - the oven now needs to be serviced as it is refusing to heat up. Google says this is a common fault for gas ovens and is a sticky gas valve or borked flame suppression device.

As the oven is so old I'd prefer to replace it and get a dual fuel machine with fan baking etc.

Oven is in a corner of the kitchen between the bench and the wall. It is a compact 54cm oven, and the gap it is in is 65cm. The walls around the oven do not have any splashback etc, looks like ordinary old wallboard and rimu trim.

The only dual fuel oven we have found to match our original is a 54cm Belling with dual oven. Nice looking but pricey at $2900.

Can I put in a regular 60cm oven in instead? Is the 5cm gap to the wall enough, or will the gas fitter want this addressed?

If I have to fireproof a wall in a hurry, what is the easiest way to do so? I would consider just slapping up something ugly for a temporary solution until I have a chance to figure something else out.

Also - did you know that it is impossible to find a public copy of gas regulations in NZ online? I think rules and regulations should be widely and freely accessible to ensure the best possible compliance. Yeah it's complicated by the legal restrictions on who can do the work, but to me it seems backwards to demand people pay money to learn what the law says.

mdf

3566 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1519

Trusted

#1576722 19-Jun-2016 20:02

The Gas Regulations are freely available here. But I suspect you're after the more detailed NZ/ISO standards, which you do have to pay for due to copyright restrictions (it's a known but still irritating issue).

I believe you can fireproof with a special sort of tile. We had to put up some as a quick and dirty prior to more fullscale renovations. But this was some years ago. If you can fireproof, I've seen a basic Parmco dual fuel gas hob electric stove for around $900 (from memory). But it is 600mm wide.

But your best bet is to speak to a gasfitter.

dusty42

117 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 28

#1576763 19-Jun-2016 21:06

Would definitely like a 60cm oven if possible, the compact Belling has a $1k premium over the similar regular sized model. Which feels like a hell of a lot for an oven too small to fit most roasting pans and trays.

Good to hear that a temporary solution might pass muster with the gasfitter. I don't mind how ugly it might appear, just happy to get a certified install and some time to think stuff over and plan it better. We've got a mostly original 1960s house so making sudden changes to the kitchen cause our old oven died is really unappealing.

lissie

495 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 27

#1584129 1-Jul-2016 15:16

We installed a dual fule Bosch- very nice cooker and about $1000 under the price you mentioned. I believe a 50cm gap is pretty standard. We installed splashback glass behind and to the side of the stove (we're only 15cm from the side wall) - and the installed volunteered to put up a temproary one so the gas fitter could certify.

Glass is cheaper than tile, looks better IMHO and is helluva lot easier to clean

I help authors publish their books - DIYPublishing.co.nz

dusty42

117 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 28

#1584895 2-Jul-2016 22:14

My gas-dude was really useful - said that providing I had 10mm of "hardieboard" on the wall everything would be fine. No need for any other covering like tile/glass/steel, providing the board was in place.

He suggested doubling thinner boards if 10mm not available.

Lissie - saw that Bosch dual fuel. Looks like a way better machine - catalytic panels in the oven, nicer oven rails, even the knobs on the front feel better. My pick of the 60cm dual fuel machines we saw.

I chickened out tho. Ended up not bothering with wall insulation or splashback at all and shamefully ended up with the micro-Belling.

We needed a machine with integrated splashback/lid or we would have had to shift a large number of light and power switches to be compliant and it was turning into a nightmare. The 60cm Belling dual fuel does have a glass lid, but the machine is ugly as sin and doesn't even have a timer on it, and because of the placement the side hinged oven was too close to the wall and wouldn't open properly.

So went for the Belling 54cm Mini Richmond. We definitely love the look, and the oven cavity is impressively wide for a a 54cm oven. It's wonderful to get a fan oven again, and the top oven has already proved useful. Annoyingly pricey tho.