Oven Saga?

Oven Saga?

15:12 PM, 17th November 2021, About 2 years ago 21

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The existing oven in a rental property in Norwich had to be replaced. Got the measurements from the tenants and ordered a new one, paid for the existing one to be disposed of and paid for the new one to be installed.

When the old one was removed from the space under the gas hob and the delivery guys tried to put the new one in, they found there was a gas pipe behind, so they could not push the new one in to align it in line with the units. They said it was not safe.

They, therefore, took away the new one saying it would not be safe to install it because of the gas pipe and also took away the old one.

They have tried 2 other ovens which did not fit and took them away.

The letting agent got one of their contractors to have a look, and he said the only solution is to cap the gas pipe and remove the gas hob and install a new electric hob and oven. He also says that he needed an oven there to know what gap/space they have got to work on.

Surely any skilled person should be able to work this out by measuring the gap and also looking at the measurement of the replacement oven/hob which will fit that space?

This has been going on for over a month and the tenants are not happy, says the letting agent, and requires it to be fixed asap. They have full management responsibility, which is lacking.

Can anyone please recommend a company which can solve this problem and instal an appropriate oven or remove the existing gas hob and fit both?

If an electric one is to be fitted, then the appropriate wiring may be necessary.

Many thanks.

Pran


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Comments

Graham Bowcock

10:33 AM, 18th November 2021, About 2 years ago

It may not help, but I had this exact problem earlier this year. My son measured for a new electric oven, went to Howdens and came back with one the right size. The issue was that that old oven had an indent at the back, and the gas pipe for the hob fitted into it. The new oven was squared off.

I pondered for a day or so but ultimately our gas man was able to reroute the pipe so that the oven would fit. not actually too big a job.

Property Gal

10:36 AM, 18th November 2021, About 2 years ago

I had the identical problem and Solved it the same way as Graham. Gas pipe rerouted and then oven fitted without problems.

David Judd

11:41 AM, 18th November 2021, About 2 years ago

As a landlord you should know how your oven and hobs are fitted. Surely you have the old model number and specs - I would never ask a tenant to measure any appliance - its not their responsibility. When you pay for someone to install, its accepted that there are no other works required, they just unplug and install. Not their fault the oven ordered wouldn't fit and they are not gas registered installers - so they can't fit it. You need to get a gas approved installer to reroute the gas pipe for the stove, and then put the oven in. Not sure why you have gas hob and electric oven - just one more appliance to get gas safety registered. I would cap off the gas stove, remove it and put all electric.

Graham Bowcock

12:09 PM, 18th November 2021, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by David Judd at 18/11/2021 - 11:41
Bit harsh that David. I have bought dozens of appliances and never had this issue before this year. I didn't expect it and had never had cuase to look behind the oven. It's a house I bought many years ago and it's the original oven/hob.

Agreed not the tenant's fault; if the landlord didn't know the tenants wouldn't know either.

Mike

12:10 PM, 18th November 2021, About 2 years ago

This is how it is, life is challenging, there are various ways to overcome hurdles, sledge hammer is one, and I have seen people passing electrical cable through a copper pipe being used as a conduit, where someone chiselled through the pipe such that the whole copper pipe became Live, running next to water pipes, and central heating pipes, one would have assumed that the pipe that had been punctured was for water, and just luckily I was asked to resolve a water leak issue, the owner was showing me how he had turned his water supply off as he accidently chiselled through this copper pipe, and also he believed that his power RCD tripped off as some water must have entered nearby electrics.
He had to chisel off some screed in the floor to expose the pipe joint that was leaking, so trying his best to be careful, he still managed to chisel through this other copper pipe that had no leak but was damaged as he tried digging out screed around it be unknown to him that it was carrying a 2.5mm power cable, but we cannot see what was in that pipe, so I asked him to restore his power because by now any water that ran off into nearby electrics should be dry as it has been like 3 days gone, so just try if it will resume as I needed power to switch back lights on. So he switched power back on, so far no tripping, but then suddenly as I poked my screwdriver I had to clear some debris sitting between two adjacent copper pipes, one carrying the water and the other unknown to me carrying the power cable, there was a big flash and bang and power tripped off, so the essence of this message is that do not compromise on safety by improvising alternative materials and standards, here the electrician or the cow boy builder ran electric cable inside a copper pipe, that was not earthed, whilst water pipes were earthed, so in the end that copper pipe did not actually protect the power cable, it still got chiselled , but a plastic conduit would not have become live, that is the difference.
My advice to OP is do not replace the gas hob with electric, and have the gas pipe re-routed by a gas safe plumber, as tenants will not be used to electric cooking, may burn food, or get burned, when someone had just finished cooking and the plates are still very hot for a long while after.

Paul landlord

12:10 PM, 18th November 2021, About 2 years ago

As both above posters have put this is nothing new. New appliances not fitting into old spaces is commonplace and I deal with all the time. As already stated in previous posts its down to the different architecture of the units produced by the different manufacturers. I'm a sparks as well as a 30 year portfolio landlord so believe me ive dealt with it more times than I can even think of.

Really dont see the big deal though. Worst case scenario ive ever had to do is get the gas re-piped out to suit the new appliance architecture and it's voids.

Changing to an electric set up is going to be a costly installation especially if you dont have a 32amp dedicated cooker outlet in place and I can't see being necessary- I've never had to do it.

David Judd

13:00 PM, 18th November 2021, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Graham Bowcock at 18/11/2021 - 12:09
I have several properties and have a database of all appliances in each flat, with serial numbers etc, etc. It helps to know whats installed should anything go wrong as sometimes its not easy to find the serial number if the hob has already been installed, or the rating plate has fallen off etc, etc. Also so you don't buy the wrong size appliance for the space.
Appreciate the landlord has given full management responsibility and they should be on top of it - but 1 month later - time to get a new managing agent I think.

Neilt

14:30 PM, 18th November 2021, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by David Judd at 18/11/2021 - 11:41
My thoughts completely. As Landlords we need to up our game and get professional

Paul Edwards

15:31 PM, 18th November 2021, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Graham Bowcock at 18/11/2021 - 10:33
We had exactly the same thing in our own residential house, gas man just turned the stop cock round and worked perfectly, less than 30 minutes work

Pran

13:05 PM, 19th November 2021, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by David Judd at 18/11/2021 - 13:00
Thank u for all the comments which are very useful & greatly appreciated as I am a novice in this respect. I hv been advice the solution wud be to remove gas hob (still working) & cap gas pipe, put induction hob as this can use the ignition power supply the gas hob currently uses. Both hob & oven wud be electric. induction hob, not sure whether this is suitable for tenants. All this is costing around £800. Also I am told this wud need special pans. As I gather from Yr comments this shud hv been a simple solution. Not any more. Not sure whether I should get gas pipe relocated. & just install oven. Can anyone recommend anyone. Many thanks

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