Can you fit a gas cooker yourself

kissenger · 6 Dec 2014 at 01:59

I've been offered a second hand Smeg cooker for a really good price, but I don't fancy all that palaver of getting a Corgi plumber in to fit it, not to mention the cost (probably looking at £50-60). I've got all the necessary gas works already installed in my kitchen (i.e., the bayonet fitting plus a proper 'cooker' electrical socket), so could I realistically fit it myself?

Obviously I'm not trying to blow myself up here, but at the same time I don't want the hassle if it's as easy a job as it seems.

spoffle · 6 Dec 2014 at 02:03

Well of course you "can" (yes, yes it's illegal, I know) and it wouldn't be hard to do.

It's about whether you want to remain legal, and have the installation certified.

Hyburnate · 6 Dec 2014 at 02:23

Legally you need to be Gas Safe registered but you can do it yourself.

kissenger · 6 Dec 2014 at 08:38

I thought it was only illegal to fit a new cooker, and for someone else.

FlyingFish · 6 Dec 2014 at 09:05

No, it will be classed as a new installation (which it is) even though the appliance is not new. And as such would need to be fully tested (gas/site/safety devices/correct operation/ventilation etc.) Even more so as it's 2nd hand, and the risk of something not working correctly is greater. Not sure how fitting your own gas appliance affects your home insurance either.

If you were unplugging and plugging back the same appliance in the same location (exact) then that's acceptable, using the bayonet connector.

Either way, you can do what you like in your own home as long as you don't endanger others, apparently.

Mick

Dave L · 7 Dec 2014 at 12:06

For the sake of £50, I'd have the cooker installed and checked by a gas engineer. Ever seen a gas explosion at a house?

the shadow · 7 Dec 2014 at 15:16

Mickie · 7 Dec 2014 at 20:54

you can fit one if you understand how to check for carbon monoxide, if you know how to gas rate it, check for gas leaks at the meter, make sure its fitted properly..

hyperseven · 7 Dec 2014 at 21:05

Would the same apply to an electric cooker?

I recently, 2 weeks ago, installed one.

Mynight · 7 Dec 2014 at 21:47

No only if it was a new run from the consumer unit. If you simply wired the cooker into an existing point on the wall then you're fine.

Personally I would double check the cable size in the wall and the wattage of the new cooker. Unlikely to be an issue but I've seen some pretty daft things before.

LupoLover · 8 Dec 2014 at 08:18

You can fit it yourself if you have a terminated point already in the kitchen and just need to attach the bayonet fitting. That is Legal! Its only hen you start playing with non terminated fittings where you need to be GAS Safe.

Cosimo · 8 Dec 2014 at 09:12

LupoLover said:
You can fit it yourself if you have a terminated point already in the kitchen and just need to attach the bayonet fitting. That is Legal! Its only hen you start playing with non terminated fittings where you need to be GAS Safe.

Don't you have to ensure that no gas is leaking from the termination before reconnecting?

Banzai_Joe · 8 Dec 2014 at 09:33

Mickie said:
you can fit one if you understand how to check for carbon monoxide, if you know how to gas rate it, check for gas leaks at the meter, make sure its fitted properly..

This. If you don't then pay to have it done properly.
And if you do have issues that you attempt to claim on your house insurance for, they'll almost certainly ask "when was the cooker fitted" and "where is your gas safe certificate".

Not worth it dude.

pitchfork · 8 Dec 2014 at 10:11

You can, but the fact you had to ask would lead me to believe you aren't competent to do so.

NickK · 8 Dec 2014 at 11:38

Hyburnate said:
Legally you need to be Gas Safe registered but you can do it yourself.

Also your house insurance.. and probably mortgage/rental agreement would have something in the fine print about it..

cheesyboy · 8 Dec 2014 at 11:44

Pretty sure I fitted my own in my old house. Was just a case of connecting up the hose. Can't see why that would need to be regulated.

E: from the regs;
http://www.hseni.gov.uk/l56_safety_in_the_installation_and_use_of_gas_systems_and_appliances.pdf

56. For the purpose of the definition of ‘work’, readily movable appliances include
appliances such as laboratory Bunsen burners and mobile barbecues, which are
readily portable. Other appliances, eg free-standing cookers connected by a flexible
hose, are not considered to be ‘readily movable’, but can be moved temporarily, eg
to clean the space they normally occupy; this type of activity is not regarded as
‘work’ within the meaning of these Regulations. (Where an appliance is connected
by means of a bayonet fitting, this will need to be disconnected before moving the
appliance – such a disconnection is also excluded from the definition of work, as is
the connection or reconnection of this type of fitting.)

If the fittings are already there, you can do it yourself

Vanquish-Storm · 8 Dec 2014 at 12:55

cheesyboy said:
Pretty sure I fitted my own in my old house. Was just a case of connecting up the hose. Can't see why that would need to be regulated.

E: from the regs;
http://www.hseni.gov.uk/l56_safety_in_the_installation_and_use_of_gas_systems_and_appliances.pdf

If the fittings are already there, you can do it yourself

He is not moving the same appliance temporarily to clean the space though.

cheesyboy · 8 Dec 2014 at 13:10

Vanquish-Storm said:
He is not moving the same appliance temporarily to clean the space though.

Yes, it says "connection or reconnection of this type of fitting"

We should probably assume "reconnection" to mean refitting the same unit. "Connection" would, therefore, be a new unit.

panthro · 8 Dec 2014 at 15:15

kissenger said:
I've been offered a second hand Smeg cooker for a really good price, but I don't fancy all that palaver of getting a Corgi plumber in to fit it, not to mention the cost (probably looking at £50-60). I've got all the necessary gas works already installed in my kitchen (i.e., the bayonet fitting plus a proper 'cooker' electrical socket), so could I realistically fit it myself?

Obviously I'm not trying to blow myself up here, but at the same time I don't want the hassle if it's as easy a job as it seems.

Why for the sake of £50-60 would you even contemplate it if you're not qualified?

cheesyboy · 8 Dec 2014 at 15:36

panthro said:
Why for the sake of £50-60 would you even contemplate it if you're not qualified?

Why would you even contemplate throwing £50 at something which you don't need any qualifications (or any great skill) to do?