Gas cooktop installation guide:

How to install a gas cooktop into a kitchen countertop. This article describes the steps in cooktop installation and includes warnings from the real world of "what can go wrong" and what to do about it.

Page top photo: a Bosch gas cooktop with installation nearly complete; a temporary wood block wedged between cooktop and the wall backsplash is holding the cooktop in precisely-aligned position for final securing and sealing.

This article series explains the steps in installing & testing gas appliances and includes a detailed procedure for converting from LP gas or "bottled gas" to natural gas or "piped in gas" at a building.

How to Install a Gas Cooktop into the Countertop & Connect Gas Piping & Electrical Power

Article Series Contents

• GAS COOKTOP INSTALLATION - home
  • GAS COOKTOP INSTALLATION STEPS - outline of the steps
  • GAS STOVETOP INSTALLATION TOOLS - what you need
• GAS COOK TOP & COUNTERTOP MEASUREMENTS - separate article
• GAS COOKTOP INSTALLATION DETAILS - separate article
• GAS COOKTOP RANGE & OVEN REPAIR & MANUALSGAS COOKTOP MANUALS - separate article

Watch out: Most manufacturers require that installation and fuel conversions shall be performed by a trained and qualified service technician and local building regulations may require gas appliance installation by a licensed professional.

The appliance installation technician should be sure to correctly identify the model number of your gas appliance so that s/he can follow the correct details of the manufacturer's instructions.

Shown above: our converted (to LP) Bosch gas cooktop ready for installation into the countertop.

Steps in the Installation of a Gas Cooktop or Stove-Top into a Kitchen Counter

Watch out: If your gas cooktop came from the factory set-up for natural gas and your fuel source is propane (or vice versa) you should complete all of the gas conversion steps before proceeding to install the cooktop into the countertop.

See GAS APPLIANCE CONVERT LP-to-NATURAL GAS if you need to make this changeover.

But before going through the natural gas to LP gas conversion procedure you might want to perform a quick test fit and make necessary measurements to be sure that your cooktop will indeed fit since if you bought a cooktop that cannot fit into your installation location, trying to return it after you've fooled around with converting its components between fuels may make exchange difficult.

Once a gas cooktop has been converted to the proper fuel, the remaining installation steps will involve at least the following steps that we list immediately below and that we illustrate in detail

at GAS COOKTOP INSTALLATION DETAILS

1. Collect the tools, supplies, parts, instructions 
   
   you will need and check the new gas appliance and its packaging to be sure that you have all of the necessary components.
   
   See GAS STOVETOP INSTALLATION TOOLS
   
   Double check that the new gas appliance has been properly set-up for the type of gas fuel to be used. Our photo above shows the red sticker indicating that this gas cooktop has been converted for use with propane or LP gas.
   
   Watch out: never connect an appliance set up for natural gas to an LP gas supply or vice versa. The appliance will not work properly and it will be unsafe.
2. Turn off the gas 
   
   supply to the appliance.
3. Remove old appliance:
   
   If an old gas cooktop is installed, remove it, first disconnecting the gas lines.
   
   Watch out: take care not to loosen or damage gas piping or fittings that will remain in place to be used with your new gas cooktop.
4. Measure the countertop opening & clearance space
   
   to be sure that the new gas cooktop will fit.
   
   GAS COOK TOP & COUNTERTOP MEASUREMENTS
5. Clean and prepare the countertop 
   
   surface & the appliance enclosure
6. Test that the new cooktop fits
   
    into the countertop - if you don't do this, including checking for gas piping and electrical wiring clearances before hooking things up you'll be sorry.
7. Adjust or remove any gas cooktop clearance obstructions
   
    in the countertop opening if needed
8. Connect the cooktop's electrical power supply
9. Connect gas regulator & gas supply piping to the cooktop
10. Check for gas leaks
    
     then turn gas supply back off (so if you break something during the rest of installation you may live to tell about it)
11. Gaskets:
    
    Install any manufacturer-specified (and usually provided) gaskets or seals between cooktop and countertop surface
12. Turn gas supply back on.
13. Test again for gas leaks again
14. Install the gas cooktop burner caps and grille
15. Turn on burners and check gas flame 
    
    quality and also gas burner igniter function.
16. Set final cooktop exact final position 
    
    and seal or secure of the cooktop in place on the countertop
17. Read the manufacturer's care instructions 
    
    for your cooktop and store the installation instructions, care instructions, and warranty where you might find them someday.
18. Cook something
    
     to celebrate - OK so we don't actually illustrate this step.

Tools Needed for Installation of a Gas Cooktop & for Gas Orifice Spud Conversion Between Natural Gas & LP / Propane

Tools listed by the manufacturer for converting between natural gas and LP gas or propane and for installing a gas cooktop or range will typically include a small-bladed screwdriver, a nut driver, and wrenches.

It's a rare installation job that goes like clockwork without encountering a surprise, as we will illustrate.

For example you may need a hammer and chisel if minor adjustments to wood obstructions intrude into the appliance opening, and you will certainly need both thread sealant designed for gas piping installation and a gas leak detector solution.

Above left are the manufacturer's instructions, slip joint pliers, a marker, a metric hex key set (more on this later), a small bladed screwdriver that fits the burner control knob air adjustment screws (more on this later), and a magnifying glass that let blind old guys read the stampings on the spuds or gas orifices.

Above right is the measuring tape you should have been using to check all measurements before ever ordering your gas cooktop, lest the cook top you ordered not fit into the countertop where it's to reside.

Watch out: when measuring for a cooktop installation into an existing countertop or you may find surprises. Above are the hammer and chisel we needed to trim a bit of plywood that was a surprise intrusion into the opening into which the cooktop had to fit (more on this later).

Above in our second photo are two adjustable wrenches needed to remove old or install new gas piping connections. Why two wrenches? One has to hold one member of a pair of fittings being screwed together while the second turns the second member tight.

Watch out: if you do not use two wrenches you may twist and damage the short nipple that extends from the bottom of the gas cooktop. You'll be sorry.

And you'll need a nut driver sized to match the spuds or orifices to be removed or installed along with a gas leak detector and thread sealant formulated for use on gas piping

. As the manufacturers all insist that gas appliances should be installed only by a qualified technician (or by a licensed installer as is required by building regulations in some jurisdictions) we know you'll have all of these tools and supplies, but it's nice to have them at hand.

For example, the nut driver for modern gas appliance spuds may be a size that you didn't have, or you may have nut drivers only in inch-dimensions and you may need to buy one in metric dimensions to avoid damaging the brass orifice spud.

Gas Stovetop or Cooktop Installation Details

Please continue reading at GAS COOKTOP INSTALLATION DETAILS

Gas Cooktop & Gas Range Installation References

• See GAS COOKTOP RANGE & OVEN REPAIR & MANUALSGAS COOKTOP MANUALS
• See additional citations atReferences or Citations

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

Gas stove burner control knob won't turn

My gas burner knob won't turn it's stuck how do I fix it?

The stove works one of my knobs; It's not turning, it's not stripped, but it won't turn please help . (Sept 28, 2015) Anonymous

These questions were posted originally

at GAS COOKTOP or STOVE IGNITER REPAIR

Reply: some gas stovetop burner knobs have to be pushed down before turning

Anon

First try pushing the knob inwards towards the stove. As a child safety feature, newer stove and cooktop control knobs lock in the "off" position unless pushed in before turning.

If other knobs work properly on your stove but this one does not, I'd turn off power and fuel to the stove, then try removing the knob assembly for a closer inspection.

You may need to replace it but first, pull off the knob and look for food spills or crud: sometimes we find spilled food, especially sticky food, has fallen into the mechanism and needs removal, perhaps by soaking in a de-greaser or soap solution overnight.

Igniter won't work on a 1992 Sears gas stove - no clicking

I have a 1992 sears gas stove. The only problem is the ignitor does not operate, no click sound, when the front burner handle is turned to lite. However, the ignitor does operate when the rear burner handle is turned to light; the familiar click sound is heard.

The ignitor is the same one for the right side front and back burners. I looked at the electrical connection and it is not loose or have a signs of a short. (Dec 13, 2015) Anonymous said:

Reply:

Anon, take a look at the gas stove igniter repair discussion

at GAS COOKTOP or STOVE IGNITER REPAIR.

If your unit has power but there is no click and no spark at the igniters I suspect the control module has failed.

...

Continue reading at GAS COOKTOP INSTALLATION DETAILS for a step by step guide to installing a gas cooktop, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• GAS APPLIANCE CONVERT LP-to-NATURAL GAS
• GAS COOK TOP & COUNTERTOP MEASUREMENTS if you need to measure before ordering a cooktop.

Suggested citation for this web page

GAS COOKTOP INSTALLATION at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to GAS APPLIANCES, PIPING, CONTROLS

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

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