It took me a while but I finally have my new induction cooktop installed. And once I was armed with the right information it wasn't that hard!
Hopefully sharing what I learned will make the decision a bit easier and quicker for others.
Here are my tips:-
Firstly, the two main things you have to find out when you have decided its time to replace your old gas cooktop with a new energy efficient, induction cooktop are:
- What size "cut out " do I have in my bench top? This will determine the size of your new cooktop.
- Do I have the right electrical setup for induction? * Most induction cooktops require a dedicated circuit with 32A or higher amperage.
*If you are unsure, get an electrician to come and give you an installation quote and make sure that your electrical setup is compatible. If you live in Victoria you can access the services of Get off Gas who can take care of the installation for you. If you live in other states an experienced electrician will be able to do the job.
Research the available sizes of induction cooktops
- Do an online search of retailers of induction cooktops and check the "cut out" dimensions. They will be listed under "specifications" along with the actual dimensions of the induction cooktop.
"Cut out"measurements are key
- Compare the "cut out" measurements of your old cooktop with the new one.
- As long as the "cut out" measurements of your old cooktop are the same size or slightly bigger than your new induction cooktop it should fit the space.
- I had an electrician come and take out my old oven (which is directly beneath the cooktop) so he could have a good look and measure exactly my "cut out" space, before I placed the order for the new one.
- Depending on what is beneath your cooktop - drawer, cupboard etc. you can hopefully get in and measure the cut out yourself.
- Having seen the electrician remove the oven I realise it is something you could do yourself armed with a screwdriver and someone to help you lift it out.
Don't forget to check the height of your new cooktop
- If its higher than your old one you need to consider what's underneath it.
- My oven is directly below my cooktop and only just fitted with about 15mm to spare!
- I was so focussed on the length and depth of my cut out space that I forgot about the height of it!
Induction cooktop brands quality doesn't vary much
- Unless you particularly want a specific brand I was advised by the salesperson that most of the induction cooktops are very similar, so go for the one that is closest to the size you need and best value.
If you need to cut your stone bench you can
- I wanted to avoid cutting my engineered stone benchtop but it can be done.
- If you have an engineered stone or stone benchtop and the new induction cooktop that you want is too big for the space you can have it safely cut but it must be done by a stone expert with the right tools and cut wet!
What the installation cost me
- I did have to spend about $1500 for the installation by an electrician which included running a 6mm cable and installing a 32A circuit from the switchboard to the kitchen.
- The cost could me more or less depending on how far away your cooktop is from your switchboard.
Will your existing pots and pans work on induction?
- I was surprised that all but two of my existing stainless steel and cast iron cookware work fine on the new induction cooktop.
So happy to be off gas for my asthma
Being an asthmatic, it feels so much safer to be standing stirring a pot and not worrying about inhaling gas, which is an irritant for asthma sufferers. I am looking forward to cooking this winter and not needing to have doors and windows open to provide ventilation for the cooktop.
Asthma Australia CEO, Michele Goldman recently told Choice Magazine, "There are a range of contaminants released from a gas cooktop that can impact your health. Things like nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde and small particulates that are breathed deeply into the airways and can cross into the bloodstream. So it's not only the lungs that are impacted, it's other organs."
My Electrification journey to energy self-sufficiency
I am now one step closer to having an all-electric household. Next is replacing my gas hot water system with a highly efficient electric heat pump.
My home already has solar panels on our rooftop so once we have a battery we will be safe from inflation pressures and rising energy bills.
The federal government's recent $2.3bn policy announcement might make my home battery a reality a bit sooner than expected. From July (if re-elected) the government will cut the cost of a typical household battery by about $4000 or 30% and could lead to a million more households, small businesses and community facilities installing batteries by 2030.
And by the way, we are thrilled with our new induction cooktop and very impressed with how quickly it heats up and how easy it is to clean, compared to the old gas one. I wish I had changed over sooner.
