Gas stoves are harmful to your health and the planet, and gas prices are rising so they also impact your budget. Thankfully, there’s a solution! Transitioning to an electric cooktop can feel intimidating, but don’t worry–by following the five simple steps below, you’ll be cooking with electricity in no time.
1. Decide if you’ll be electrifying your whole house or just your cooktop
If you want to completely get rid of gas in your home, one option is getting help from a business that specialises in assisting householders to do exactly that. They’ll do all the legwork for you, and can offset any costs for their time by being able to access the best grants and wholesale appliance prices. Examples include Goodbye Gas and Get off Gas in Victoria, or search for businesses in your local area.
If you are happy to do it on your own, or you’re just looking to switch your cooktop and/or oven, then start by looking for incentives that might be available to you from the federal or state government. It’s even also worth a quick look on your local Council website especially if you live in South Australia or Victoria.
National: House Energy Upgrade Funds, No Interest Loans Scheme
Victoria: Victorian Energy Upgrades
Australian Capital Territory: Home Energy Support Program, Zero-interest loans
Tasmania: Energy Saver Loan Scheme
2. Get your home electrical supply examined
Electric cooktops (and electric ovens), need a dedicated electrical circuit rated to their power requirements. This will usually be a circuit in the 30 to 40 amp range and often you can just use a spare circuit already on your powerboard.
A number of older homes have lower-power (single phase) connections to the grid and may require energy connection upgrades. An electrician can advise you on what kind of connection your house has.
Be aware when you are speaking to an electrician, you may want them to consider ‘load diversity’ rather than ‘full load rating’ of your newelectric cooktop. This just means that they’ll wire the system so that the cooktop has the capacity to run all of the cooking elements but not at full power at the same time (which most people will never do). This could avoid you having the expense of adding capacity to your switchboard unnecessarily.
So, have a conversation about what it is that you really need, and what might happen if you exceed the limits of your grid connection. Chances are this will simply cause the main grid breaker to trip and you’ll have to reset it and adjust your activities.
If you find that the electrical upgrades are more than you anticipated, you still have the option of using a portable induction cooktop until you’re able to do the electrical work. These units are widely available, and can just be plugged into a normal power point. Many people happily use one or two portable units placed on top of their gas cooktop (usually with a wooden board in between) for an extended period of time. Other solutions include electric air fryers, electric frypans, rice cookers, slower cookers and pressure cookers.
3. Assess your kitchen’s design needs and choose an electric cooktop
The best case scenario is that your new cooktop fits perfectly into the old hole left by the removal of your gas stove, but if that’s not the case then you might need to get a cabinet maker involved to cut the benchtop. The most common cooktop widths are 60cm and 90cm, although there are other options available.
If you are replacing a freestanding gas oven with a new freestanding electric oven then this is less of an issue (but beware, freestanding induction oven cooktop combinations can draw a lot of power compared to having separate components).
Now you get to choose a new cooktop! This is the fun bit. There is no one-size fits all choice here – it really depends on how you cook and what you cook. A good starting point for recommendations is Choice magazine.
4. Have your existing gas cooktop disconnected by a plumber
When the plumber cuts the gas line, you need to make sure it’s properly sealed (not just cut). If your cooktop is the last gas appliance in your home, get your line completely disconnected so you don’t have to continue to pay the service fee.
If you want your disconnection from fossil fuel to be permanent, you might go as far as removing the gas meter or paying for abolishment (removal of the gas lines completely). In Victoria, the cost for this is capped at $220 but it can be more expensive in other states.
5. Get the electrician back in to install your new cooktop
If you are replacing a gas cooktop then your electrician will run the new wiring from the cooktop to the circuit board. This final step means that you’re almost ready to use your new cooktop!
If you’ve gone with induction, you should consider what pots you use. Anything with a magnetic base is fine (stainless steel and cast iron)but if your old pans are glass, copper (without a steel base) or aluminium then it’s best to slowly replace them. There are some solutions that involve a temporary metal base to your pan but results from these are variable. The easiest way to work it out is by doing a quick check with a magnet on the base of the pans – if it sticks then you’re good to go!
Congratulations – now you’ll be cooking WITHOUT gas – in a kitchen that is cheaper to run, healthier and safer. Bon appetit!
