Replacing A Gas Cooker

mimi1234

Forgive me in advance if I sound really thick but this is the first time we are replacing a cooker and I haven't a clue what to do. 

So we have ordered one from AO.  The delivery person could have taken out the old one and installed the new one but the cost was close to £125 which I cannot afford.  I ticked on the box that said they would take the old one but I would need to unfit it.  Is this something that can be done easily or would it be better off having done by a professional?  

The fee for having the new one fitted was close to £100 so I thought I would look through the yellow pages to see if  I could find someone cheaper to do it.  I've asked for a few quotes and they have ranged between £35 and £60 but are asking about hoses, safety chains and bayonet fittings.  I haven't a clue what any of those are.  If there is already a gas cooker fitted, would all these items need to be replaced?

I'm sort of thinking I might as well get AO to do the whole job.  I never thought it would be this complicated.  

Once again, apologies for sounding really thick.  I've not done this before.

Le_Kirk

You need to look at the gas connection at the back or side of the existing cooker and see how it is plumbed in.  If it is a flexible connection for a standalone cooker, it is just a bayonet fitting (bit like a light bulb) and you can disconnect with a push and turn.  If it is a built in cooker, it is a bit more complicated and you will need a gas safe engineer.

Heedtheadvice

As above:

built in needs Gas Safe Engineer both for disconnection and connection. Legal requirement. I would doubt (but might be wrong!) that AO deliver one by a Gas Safe Engineer but they would maybe be ok for the bayonet fitted types (if the same for both the old and new cooker!!) otherwise....... nobody wants a leak eh?.

Koysii

See behind the cooker if there is any chains either side attached to wall. These are legal requirement now I believe. Once you unhook them you can wiggle out the cooker to see what type of hose connection is on the back. If it's a bayonet type of fitting then it's easy to fit yourself. 
Like below the bayonet type slots into the wall outlet of gas, and the threaded part into cooker. You'd need to buy a can of gas leak test and some gas yellow PTFE tape. When you spray to check for leaks, the liquid will literally form large and small bubbles. 

mrochester

Is it legal to do any of this yourself?  My understanding is it is illegal to mess with any part of the gas supply yourself. 

neilmcl

mrochester said:

Is it legal to do any of this yourself?  My understanding is it is illegal to mess with any part of the gas supply yourself. 

It's legal if the correct bayonet fitting is already in place and all you're doing is connecting the new oven/cooker up, you're not actually doing any "work" to the gas supply and therefore comply with the regulations.

mimi1234

Thanks all for your replies.  It is definitely a bayonet fitting.  I have YouTubed a few videos on how to uninstall (is that even the right word) the cooker but fitting it sounds a bit scary for my liking.  I will have to get someone registered to do it.  Thanks again.

neilmcl

mimi1234 said:

Thanks all for your replies.  It is definitely a bayonet fitting.  I have YouTubed a few videos on how to uninstall (is that even the right word) the cooker but fitting it sounds a bit scary for my liking.  I will have to get someone registered to do it.  Thanks again.

Correction, you have to get someone competent to do it 

It really isn't that scary, the bayonet fitting is self-sealing so you've got no chance of causing a leak, unless you damage it of course. If you can change a bayonet light bulb you can do this.

https://youtu.be/TrMnp4civws

Le_Kirk

mimi1234 said:

Thanks all for your replies.  It is definitely a bayonet fitting.  I have YouTubed a few videos on how to uninstall (is that even the right word) the cooker but fitting it sounds a bit scary for my liking.  I will have to get someone registered to do it.  Thanks again.

Yes, that is the correct word.

st999

If the old cooker is fitted with a bayonet connector then it is easy, my wife removes the bayonet fitting every time she cleans behind the cooker and she is in her 70's.

mimi1234

Thanks all especially @neilmcl for the video.  I saw a few others on YouTube too but that one made it look very simple.   
Our cooker has the chain and the bayonet thing so it's exactly the same.