Replacing Gas Hob - Advise needed

[pogotosh]

Hi Guys,

I have recently moved into a new house and am looking to replace the gas hob in my kitchen. The existing hob is a Smeg and is 68cm wide.

I have now found couple of alternative options that I would like to purchase. However, I noticed that these are around 73-75cm wide. Hence, I wanted to check if anyone else has tried replacing their existing hob with a wider hob. Any particular issues that one should be aware of? Any incremental work that one needs to undertake before a wider hob can be installed?

Thanks for your help .

I see 2 issues, from the view point of the totally ignorant person who has had kitchens upgraded. So
Firstly and the lesser evil, do you have anything underneath to stop you putting a wider hob in? Ie are there cupboards or draws that are going to obstruct any new fitting?
Secondly, and unavoidably, what do you have above the hob? Gas regulations require a clear height clearance over a gas hob. I have no idea how high it MUST be, but quiet simply there is a legal requirement for the clearance over a hob.
Do not make the assumption I made some years ago that just because we had an old extractor over an old hob and that we were simply replacing it everything would be fine. This legislation upgrades regularly and so what was compliant 5 years ago may not be now.
Basically, if it doesn’t comply it’s not safe and no one reputable will undertake the work.
Obviously if you have no cupboards or extractor over the hob I assume you won’t have an issue.
Good luck.

have a look at the fitting instructions and see how big the cutout is.

"cookers" and ovens are most often 600mm wide. If it is designed to fit into a kitchen that previously had one, it may be that the cutout is only 600 and there is a wide spillage lip overlapping the worktop.

Or it might not.

You will need a space underneath with no drawer that might touch or interfere with the hob's workings. This will be specified in the installation instructions. I think you will need a unit underneath of equal or greater width, such as a pan-drawer. I don't think you will be able to fit an appliance.

Gas hobs are fitted with rigid copper piping and must be fitted by a Gas-Safe registered engineer qualified on cookers (I think most are, but some might just do boilers). Gas cookers have a different fitting.