switching out range top for gas stove?
June 25, 2018 11:30 AM Subscribe
We are thinking of switching out a cabinet with range top for a gas stove - what do we need to think about that we are not?
We have been looking at houses, and have found one that we really love - except it doesn't have a gas stove. It does have a gas hot water heater and gas heat, so we can get a gas line run.
We are thinking about switching out the cabinets and range top for a stand alone gas stove - has anyone does this? What are we not thinking of? Here is the picture of the kitchen.
-We have someone coming out to give us a quote on how much it would cost.
-We are probably adding a pantry to make up for the lost cabinet space.
-We are thinking we may keep the electric oven as well, as sometimes it is nice to have two!
We have been looking at houses, and have found one that we really love - except it doesn't have a gas stove. It does have a gas hot water heater and gas heat, so we can get a gas line run.
We are thinking about switching out the cabinets and range top for a stand alone gas stove - has anyone does this? What are we not thinking of? Here is the picture of the kitchen.
-We have someone coming out to give us a quote on how much it would cost.
-We are probably adding a pantry to make up for the lost cabinet space.
-We are thinking we may keep the electric oven as well, as sometimes it is nice to have two!
Best answer: i'd just replace with a gas stovetop and keep the electric oven since it's already separate (and electric ovens are supposedly superior to gas).
posted by noloveforned at 11:41 AM on June 25, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by noloveforned at 11:41 AM on June 25, 2018 [7 favorites]
Best answer: We have a gas range top and an electric oven, Ask Us Anything:
Pros: control of cooking with gas, speed of heating up electric oven.
Cons: The oven control labels were apparently not made to go with a gas range top and all melted off. Now I am the only person who can use the oven, because I am the only one who remembers (kinetically) which button does what.
In short, keep the electric oven, but if it's under the range, make sure its controls can literally handle the heat.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 11:41 AM on June 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
Pros: control of cooking with gas, speed of heating up electric oven.
Cons: The oven control labels were apparently not made to go with a gas range top and all melted off. Now I am the only person who can use the oven, because I am the only one who remembers (kinetically) which button does what.
In short, keep the electric oven, but if it's under the range, make sure its controls can literally handle the heat.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 11:41 AM on June 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I'd switch the cooktop to gas, drop that funky toaster oven in the corner to free up counter space, and put in a more modern electric double oven with microwave/convection.
posted by JoeZydeco at 12:01 PM on June 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by JoeZydeco at 12:01 PM on June 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
Yes, just get the gas top and keep the oven. I had that for years and it was the best. My current range has a gas top and electric oven, its good too, but I miss the easy cleaning I had with the built in top.
When I remodelled my kitchen and decided to move the range, thus needing to draw a gasline across the ceiling, it was much cheaper than I thought. It probably depends on where you are and who you ask.
posted by mumimor at 12:15 PM on June 25, 2018
When I remodelled my kitchen and decided to move the range, thus needing to draw a gasline across the ceiling, it was much cheaper than I thought. It probably depends on where you are and who you ask.
posted by mumimor at 12:15 PM on June 25, 2018
Best answer: Nthing above suggestions to keep the range but change it to gas if it isn't already, and replace the single electric oven with a double oven. I have a gas cooktop and double electric ovens and I LOVE THEM SO MUCH, all of them. They're separate enough that using all three of them at once doesn't cause traffic problems and when we're entertaining lots of people (which we do quite frequently, esp for Thanksgiving and Christmas) it's really nice to have all the options.
posted by cooker girl at 12:17 PM on June 25, 2018
posted by cooker girl at 12:17 PM on June 25, 2018
How easy it is can depend on where your gas is coming into the house, where it goes from there, and what kind of foundation you have. If you have a slab on grade, it could get tricky if your furnace and water heater are on the other side of the house. You may be able to take it through an attic, but you may then have to deal with patching some finishes in addition to running yhe pipe. If you have a crawl space or unfinished basement, it may just be running pipe where you need it.
posted by LionIndex at 12:38 PM on June 25, 2018
posted by LionIndex at 12:38 PM on June 25, 2018
I just bought a house and was all fired up to do the same, but when I had a contractor come out and explain everything involved in cutting a hole for a standalone range (in my head it sounded so simple!) we opted to replace the electric cooktop with a gas one and leave the built-in electric oven alone. It was going to add a lot more hassle and $$ to cut a hole in the cabinetry (especially given the layout of our kitchen) and then refinish the edges and all that. And we didn't know what the floor under there would be like, either.
For reference, my contractor told me gas lines start at $800, and unfortunately ours had to run the entire length of the house to get to the kitchen and ended up costing a lot more than the cooktop itself. But, in the long run for us, worth it.
posted by something something at 12:50 PM on June 25, 2018
For reference, my contractor told me gas lines start at $800, and unfortunately ours had to run the entire length of the house to get to the kitchen and ended up costing a lot more than the cooktop itself. But, in the long run for us, worth it.
posted by something something at 12:50 PM on June 25, 2018
Best answer: Make sure you do the calculations on ventilation, as a gas range produces more heat than electric. You may need to upgrade the vent hood unless the original was oversized to begin with.
posted by sapere aude at 3:38 PM on June 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by sapere aude at 3:38 PM on June 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
Electric ovens are better than gas, even if you want a gas cooktop. Having the oven separate is a good idea if you ever have multiple people working in the kitchen; having the oven at the height you already have it at is a good idea if anyone might use the kitchen who's not great at bending down to lift hot and heavy things.
An oven and stovetop that come inexplicably stuck together means you don't have the flexibility to choose the two things independently AND you're stuck with them one atop the other which is the least ergonomic layout I can imagine.
Also a built in cooktop doesn't get greasy gack disappearing down the gap at the sides!
I'd definitely stick with your current setup and just switch the cooktop for a gas one...
posted by quacks like a duck at 11:06 PM on June 25, 2018
An oven and stovetop that come inexplicably stuck together means you don't have the flexibility to choose the two things independently AND you're stuck with them one atop the other which is the least ergonomic layout I can imagine.
Also a built in cooktop doesn't get greasy gack disappearing down the gap at the sides!
I'd definitely stick with your current setup and just switch the cooktop for a gas one...
posted by quacks like a duck at 11:06 PM on June 25, 2018
Have you considered an induction hob? It does a god job of combining the controllability of gas with the ease of installation and ease of care that comes with electric
posted by Jakey at 6:48 AM on June 26, 2018
posted by Jakey at 6:48 AM on June 26, 2018
Response by poster: Jakey, I had no idea those existed - how cool.
Many thanks for all the advice - we will see what the quote comes back as!
posted by needlegrrl at 12:53 PM on June 26, 2018
Many thanks for all the advice - we will see what the quote comes back as!
posted by needlegrrl at 12:53 PM on June 26, 2018
I also prefer induction cook tops to gas cook tops. It could save you a lot of money by avoiding plumbing for a new gas line. And your household air will be cleaner, particularly if you have children or people with respiratory conditions, by reducing nitrogen dioxide pollution.
You get instantaneous heat control similar to a gas stove, typically in discrete steps of 10 or so. But if you need more fine tuning you can just slide the pot off center of the "burner".
It does require induction compatible cookware, which means a magnet will stick to it. Cast iron and most newer stainless steel cookware is induction compatible these days, but check the label.
An induction stove top will cost more than a gas or standard electric stove top, but more than offset by the cost of gas plumbing.
posted by JackFlash at 6:55 PM on June 26, 2018
You get instantaneous heat control similar to a gas stove, typically in discrete steps of 10 or so. But if you need more fine tuning you can just slide the pot off center of the "burner".
It does require induction compatible cookware, which means a magnet will stick to it. Cast iron and most newer stainless steel cookware is induction compatible these days, but check the label.
An induction stove top will cost more than a gas or standard electric stove top, but more than offset by the cost of gas plumbing.
posted by JackFlash at 6:55 PM on June 26, 2018
« Older Can I rescue this suede purse? | What to do when our health insurance lapses due to... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by rachelpapers at 11:38 AM on June 25, 2018