New build – developer refusing to replace substandard kitchen hob

getmore4less

Much less disruptive to learn how to use the hob you have.

The need for all 4 rings at high rating is going to be very rare and never with some planning.

Liquid based foods will simmer fine on lower power once up to temp you just bring them in turn.

AlexMac

voxyn wrote: »

...(to upgrade)... would mean a new cable from the mains unit to the kitchen, routed through one or two walls. Potentially a lot of disruption, and redecorating needed afterwards. The sparky guesstimated the work would be £1000+, including the cost of re-decorating, not including the hob cost....

...or, if there's gas in the house, run a new supply and fit a much more user-friendly gas hob at possibly less cost? My excellent Bosch hob with cast iron trivets cost less than a ton.

I would do that, but then, I think induction hobs are the devil's work 'cos I learned to cook on an open fire as a Boy Scout!

MysteryMe

getmore4less wrote: »

Much less disruptive to learn how to use the hob you have.

The need for all 4 rings at high rating is going to be very rare and never with some planning.

Liquid based foods will simmer fine on lower power once up to temp you just bring them in turn.

I agree. I never boil water on the hob. TBH I can't remember when I needed four rings on full blast. The types of saucepans used can make a difference as well.

getmore4less

AlexMac wrote: »

...or, if there's gas in the house, run a new supply and fit a much more user-friendly gas hob at possibly less cost? My excellent Bosch hob with cast iron trivets cost less than a ton.

I would do that, but then, I think induction hobs are the devil's work 'cos I learned to cook on an open fire as a Boy Scout!

Decent induction can be very good.

The wok induction ones are silly money.
A lot of cheaper ones pulse and the temp controls are poor.

Induction with a single decent gas burner is a good combo.

babyblade41

Just had a quick look at replies so forgive if duplicated.

I cook a lot and wouldn't choose an induction hob by choice but make sure you are using decent saucepans first and foremost. A good investment in my opinion
Secondly I never need to have full power on all cooking platforms ..it's very rare to need it

If you don't want the expense of changing as I think I posted earlier , but possibly get used to how induction cooks , it is slightly different and specific pans needed

Slithery

AlexMac wrote: »

I would do that, but then, I think induction hobs are the devil's work 'cos I learned to cook on an open fire as a Boy Scout!

I used to think the same until I actually used one. For anyone that's against them take a look at this recent thread...
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5976165/induction-hob-v-gas

Rodders53

getmore4less wrote: »

Much less disruptive to learn how to use the hob you have.

The need for all 4 rings at high rating is going to be very rare and never with some planning.

Liquid based foods will simmer fine on lower power once up to temp you just bring them in turn.

Agreed. Especially with lids on. I'm still learning how to use my new induction hob and very little actually needs full power operation!

NB Not all induction pans are made equal. So also try other pans (borrow from friends and family as 'testers').
I got a set free with my hob from Bosch (Neff and Siemens have identical pan sets) by Schulte-Ufer which knock the socks off some induction pans I have from Sainsburys Home and Hairy Bikers.
Ikea do some good ones, at more reasonable prices. :cool:

Just been over to son's house his 13A induction hob works very well for him... with 2 of 1200/1500W(boost) and 2 of 1800/2100 W(boost) rings. Only one can be on boost he says.
His daft kitchen fitter electrician advised he couldn't connect both a double oven and a more powerful hob on the existing 32A cooker circuit... should have checked with me first!
IET Diversity calcs are for 10A + 30% of remainder + 5A for cooker socket.
So 2 x 7.5kW (oven + hob the same) = 15kW = 63A so 3*5.3A = 16A + 10 + 5 = 31 A.

If it really takes 20 mins for the OPs hob to boil a sauacepan of water on one ring only in use then something is clearly very wrong... Very likely the pan not being suitable! (Unless that saucepan is a very, very big one holding a gallon or so).

voxyn

Thanks again everyone. @G_M summarises my options very well. I'm tending towards keeping with these hobs, though maybe some time in the future I'll have the appetite to do an upgrade.