Gas hob installation Currys/Comet/John Lewis

shaun_from_Africa

You keep changing the goalposts meepster.

Wh

ich effectively means that if you install your own appliance, you cannot use it, until it has been checked by a Gas Safe registered installer.

Then

No, that only applies if it is being disconnected and NOT reconnected.

and now

However if you are installing a NEW appliance, it does need to be checked by a duly qualified person

Again, this is incorrect (as can be shown from the link that you provided in post #7)
There is no differentation made in the relevent legislation between old, new or replacement appliances being fitted provided that no other work is carried out apart from the actual fitting of it.


(1) No person shall carry out any work in relation to a gas fitting or gas storage vessel unless he is competent to do so.

23 The definition of ‘work in relation to a gas fitting’ lists specific activities covered by this term, but this list is not exclusive and other operations may also comprise ‘work’. The definition is wide-ranging and includes activities that could affect in any way the level of gas safety of a gas fitting (whether new or existing, and
In the context of ‘work’, terms not otherwise defined in the Regulations bear their normal meaning. Installation may refer to either a new or used/second-hand appliance or fitting and is not limited to initial installation in particular premises, ie it includes re-installation

there has been encouragment for unqualified homeowners to have a go at DIY gas installation

No there hasn't.
What has been stated is that the OP can look into it and if they are competent to do the job and feel safe doing so then it is not illegal for them to do it.
This is totally different to encouraging them.

but it's only a suggestion for you to look into.
Legally there is nothing to stop you doing the work yourself

.

IMO, it's no different to advising someone to change the brake pads on their car provided that they know what they are doing, have the right tools for the job and can do the job to a safe standard.
Wrongly fitted brakes could easily kill someone (as could wrongly installed gas appliances), if either job can be done correctly and safely, what is wrong with doing so?

ryder72

If anyone wants to find out what a gas explosion looks like, google it. Its pretty scary.

Weigh the risk of this happening against the cost of getting a competent person fitting and certifying it (should be between £40-70 pounds) depending on the location and assuming no alternations are required and make up your mind.

After all someone hell bent of saving money can flout the law and irrespective of the technicalities.

I personally wouldn't take a chance.

sancho

When we first moved in to our current house someone from a large local firm 'installed' our gas oven. He screwed the end of the pipe onto the fitting and checked for leaks. He charged 65 pounds. When we installed our gas hob and electric oven we got a different company to do it and he charged 50 quid for adding piping etc to the new place, even lent me his jigsaw to make the hole for it.

I wouldn't pay 80 pounds odd, but it depends if that includes cutting the hole and adding pipes etc

George_Michael

ac2011,
Providing that you could wait a day or two after delivery to get the new hob installed, you might be able to save a bit of money.

Have a look at the gas fitting on the old unit (if you can see it), and you might find that it is a bayonet type.
If it is and the new hob has the same fitting, then a local gas fitter would probably do the switch over for you for far less then the £85 to £90 you've already been quoted as it will only take them a few seconds to do.

But in true MSE fashion, make sure that you get a quote for the job before anyone turns up at your house.

cajef

George_Michael wrote: »

Have a look at the gas fitting on the old unit (if you can see it), and you might find that it is a bayonet type.

Gas hobs have to be fitted with rigid copper pipe and not a hose via a bayonet fitting(Gas Regs).

chunkychocky

We had a new gas hob fitted by John Lewis a couple of weeks ago and I have to say they were excellent. Firstly it turned out that we had a peculiarly small gauge of gas pipe running to the hob which they don't keep any fittings for so had to trace it back to behind the cupboard under the sink to the normal size of gas pipe and change it under there. Even if they hadn't had to do that the gas fitting on the new hob was on the opposite side to the gas fitting on the old hob so they would still have had to do some gas pipe work. Then it turned out that although the hole for the new one was roughly the same size, the corners were more square with the new one so they had to modify the shape of the hole in the work top to make the new one fit. Then it was awkward getting the oven back into place with the new piping in the new position so they had to keep jiggling and fiddling until it all went back in. Took them several hours and they were polite and friendly throughout. They even took the old hob with them even though we hadn't paid for that service. I'd highly recommend them.

mikey72

ormus wrote: »

afaik, the term "competent person" has not been clarified in common law/by any court case.
as an engineer, i consider myself competent to install a bloody gas hob. flexi pipe or not.

cajef wrote: »

Gas hobs have to be fitted with rigid copper pipe and not a hose via a bayonet fitting(Gas Regs).

That's a good enough definition of not being competent.

ac2011

Many thanks to all. I will arrange for a fitting with John Lewis and will post back on our experience with them