If you’re planning a kitchen refurbishment and are intending to replace your existing appliances, you may be choosing between having a gas or an electric cooker. Both have their merits, but in this post we’re going to explore the benefits of choosing gas for your cooker and hob.
Of course, for it to be viable to have a gas cooker, your property needs to have a gas supply. If your central heating operates via a gas boiler, the good news is that you’re all set to have other gas appliances in your home.
The following are the main arguments in favour of choosing a gas cooker.
1. Immediate temperature control
One of the main benefits of cooking with a gas hob is the immediate change you experience in temperature when you turn the knob up or down. This means you can quickly control the heat you’re cooking with, reducing it or increasing it as necessary.
Many electric hobs can take time to both heat up and cool down, making them less responsive if you want to quickly shift from one temperature to another.
Gas burners also distribute the heat evenly across the base of a pan, which means you can quickly heat and cook your food.
2. Quick cool down
When you turn off your gas hob, the heat will immediately disappear and the surrounding area won’t stay hot for very long. This means you’re less likely to burn yourself by accidentally touching the hob after you’ve finished cooking.
Some electric hobs can stay warm for a while after you turn them off, which can pose an additional hazard once you’ve stopped cooking.
3. They aren’t reliant on the electricity supply
This might sound like a strange pro to mention, but evidence suggests that the UK is experiencing more power cuts now than it has in the past couple of decades.
For instance, by the end of July last year, 14,500 unplanned power outages had been recorded across the country. That means having a gas hob could be very helpful, as you can still light the gas rings provided you have matches or a lighter.
Should you experience a power cut in the winter when it’s colder, being able to heat water to make a hot drink can be a godsend, while this also ensures you can cook even if the electricity is off.
4. Gas cookers are typically cheaper to run
Analysis by Which? comparing electric and gas cookers found that, on average, gas cookers are the cheaper option when it comes to your energy bills. In fact, the organisation found that gas cookers cost half as much to run as their electric counterparts over the course of a year.
Of course, there are no guarantees that the price of gas will remain lower than the price of electricity indefinitely, but it is worth considering if you are looking at ways to lower your utility bills generally.
5. You won’t need to buy new pans
Often when you switch away from gas hobs to induction hobs, you will need to invest in a new set of pans. That’s because induction hobs only work with pans made from specific materials.
So, when you’re factoring in the cost of replacing a gas hob with an induction hob, don’t forget to include the cost of purchasing a new set of pans that will work on your new hob. This might bump the price of switching up more than you think.
What else do you need to consider when installing a gas cooker?
One major consideration if you choose a gas cooker is ensuring that a Gas Safe engineer installs the appliance for you.
This is essential to give you peace of mind that your appliance is installed safely and correctly. When a Gas Safe engineer installs your gas cooker, they will provide you with a gas safety certificate.
It is also important to have your gas appliances regularly checked and serviced, just as you would with your gas boiler. In fact, you are likely to be able to combine the two, as a Gas Safe engineer can check your cooker when they come to service your boiler.
If you currently have a gas cooker but feel that it’s in need of replacing, don’t worry. When we carry out gas cooker installation in South London we can also disconnect and remove your existing gas cooker and hob.
This means you won’t have to worry about disposing of your old appliance and can rest assured that it will be safely removed to allow us to fit your new cooker in your kitchen.