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How to Install a Gas Cooktop Into a Countertop
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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.
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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.
[Click to enlarge any image]
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
- 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. - Turn off the gas supply to the appliance.
- Remove old appliance: If an old gas cooktop is installed, remove it.
- Measure the countertop opening & clearance space to be sure that the new gas cooktop will fit.
GAS COOK TOP & COUNTERTOP MEASUREMENTS - Clean and prepare the countertop surface & the appliance enclosure
- 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.
- Adjust or remove any gas cooktop clearance obstructions in the countertop opening if needed
- Connect the cooktop's electrical power supply
- Connect gas regulator & gas supply piping to the cooktop
- 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)
- Gaskets: Install any manufacturer-specified (and usually provided) gaskets or seals between cooktop and countertop surface
- Turn gas supply back on.
- Test again for gas leaks
- Install the gas cooktop burner caps and grille
- Turn on burners and check gas flame quality and also gas burner igniter function.
- Set final cooktop exact final position and seal or secure of the cooktop in place on the countertop
- Read the manufacturer's care instructions for your cooktop and store the installation instructions, care instructions, and warranty where you might find them someday.
- 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.
[Click to enlarge any image]
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 left 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
...
Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above
Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.
Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs
Question: gas stove burner control knob won't turn
(Sept 28, 2015) Anonymous said:
my nobe won't turn it's stuck how do I fix it
(Sept 28, 2015) Anonymous said:
The stove works one of my knobe,it's not turning it's not strip it won't turn please help
These questions were posted originally at GAS COOKTOP or STOVE IGNITER REPAIR
Reply:
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 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.
Question: igniter won't work on a 1992 Sears gas stove - no clicking
(Dec 13, 2015) Anonymous said:
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.
Reply:
GAS COOKTOP or STOVE IGNITER REPAIR
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.
- Venera Brinzea, Maria Mitu, Codina Movileanu, Adina Musuc and Domnina Razus, "Expansion Coefficients And Normal Burning Velocities Of Propane-air Mixtures By The Closed Vessel Technique", University of Bucharrest, (2010), Analele Universatati Bucuresti, Department of Physical Chemistry 4-12 Regina Elisabeta Blvd, District 3, Bucharest phone: +40'21'3143508; fax: +40-21-3159249 p ISSN: 1220-871X e ISSN: 1844-0401, ARS DOCENDI PUBLISHING HOUSE Sos. Panduri 90, District 5 Bucharest phone/fax: +40'21'4102575 e'mail: arsdocendi@yahoo.com
- PropaneCarbs.com, "Tri Fuel Natural Gas & Propane Conversion Kits, More Information About Conversion Kits ... for Generators, Welders, Concrete Sws, Floor Cleaners, Man Lifts", Tel: 1-877-425-8383, Email: info@propanecarbs.com, Website: http://www.propanecarbs.com, retrieed 4/28/14, original source: http://www.propanecarbs.com/tri_fuel_kits.html
- Propane101.com, "Converting Gas Appliances", Email: webmaster@propane101.com, website: http://www.propane101.com, retrieved 4/28/2014, original source: http://www.propane101.com/lpgasapplianceconversions.htm
Notice: as of the retrieval date, and regarding authority, the "Propane 101" website does not name authors, provides no contact information, no address. - At geocities.com/rainforest/6847/report1.html is an interesting and detailed though not “neutral” report on the components and contaminants in the combustion of natural gas. You’ll see a long long list of emissions products, but look again – most of the contaminant levels listed are in the picograms.
- apvgn.pt/documentacao/iangv_rep_part1.pdf lists the components in natural gas exhaust from vehicles
- The Need Project, Manassas, VA: need.org/needpdf/infobook_activities/SecInfo/NGasS.pdf
- Kroschwitz, Jacqueline I., and Mary Howe-Grant (eds.). "Gas, Natural." In Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. 4th ed., vol. 12. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1993.
- Tussing, Arlon R., & Bob Tippee. The Natural Gas Industry: Evolution, Structure, and Economics. 2nd ed. Tulsa, OK: PennWell Publishing, 1995.
- Thanks to reader E Leal for suggesting the addition of details about how to convert gas burning appliances from propane to natural gas or from natural gas to propane. 8/4/09
- Thanks to reader JR for discussing LP and natural gas operating pressures and leak detection safety, October 2010.
- Glenwood Range Company, Customer Service, 435 Park Ave., Delaware OH 43105, 614-363-1381, Glenwood-Sunray Service Center: 215-682-4211.
- In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
CONTINUE READING or RECOMMENDED ARTICLES.
- Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes and to use illustrations from The ILLUSTRATED HOME .
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.
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