When the time comes for replacing your hob, perhaps your cooker is broken or just outdated and part of your kitchen refurbishment includes a new hob, there are a lot of choices, with the main choice being do you go gas or electric? Electric hobs are then broken into traditional electric or induction hobs. Before you make a decision on which hob is the best for you, consider your kitchen cooking needs, safety of family members and what cookware pots and pans you have and if you are looking at replacing any.

What is the difference between an electric hob and an induction hob?

Electric hobs and induction hobs work similar to each other, but the induction hob has coils beneath its surface that induce electrical current to generate heat in the pan or metal object. Induction hobs use less power and stay cold until a pan is placed on the ring and only then heat up. This makes induction hobs perfect for soaring energy prices as they use less electricity than an electric hob. Induction hobs can be up to 90% efficient, compared with around 65% for electric hobs.

Electric hob can be a solid plate or ceramic and they produce heat by passing an electric current through elements located beneath the glass surface. 

Is an electric hob better to cook on than an induction?

An electric hob may be easier initially to cook on than an induction hob as it is what people are used to regardless of whether the hob is powered by gas or electricity. An induction hob takes a bit of getting used to as the speed of heat is faster and the rhythm and pace for cooking is different. A big challenge is remembering that the minute the pot or pan is removed or lifted from the ring, the ring automatically shuts off.

Induction hobs require compatible pots and pans so this may mean initially having to replace your cookware. The cooktop is easier to clean with less chance of scratches and cracks and the hob cools down at a faster pace. So if little children hang out in the kitchen, this is a big plus.

How much will it cost to fit an electric or induction hob?

The cost of fitting an electric hob vs an induction hob are similar to each other and often just require an hour's labour, two at the most. The straight forward fitting, is either fitting the electric hob into a new build where there was not a hob before, or replacing an old broken electric hob with a new electric or induction hob. The only time hob installation will get a bit more challenging, is when replacing an old gas hob with a modern electric hob.

The electrician will need to ensure that the correct size fuse is available on the socket for the connection, whether that is a 13 amp or a 32 amp socket. The manual of the cooker will always say what is needed so the electrician should just follow the make and model of the hobs requirements. 

The electrician will also make sure that their is an isolation switch for the hob when installing it in your kitchen.

Do I need an electrician to install my induction hob?

When it comes to wiring a large appliance, like a hob, that you will be using almost every day to cook, it is safer to pay a skilled electrician to come through and replace and install your electric hob in your home. A D.I.Y. job leaves you vulnerable to poor wiring, getting an electrical shock while installing the cooker and creating a fire hazard inside your kitchen. It is not worth putting you, your family and your home at risk just to save on a small labour fee.

Can my electric hob be repaired?

Yes, there are a lot of common electric hob faults where it might be a case of wiring being replaced or a component or switch in the hob needing to be changed. If your hob stops working, before you have an electrician replace the hob, it would be wiser and a cheaper investment to try and get it fixed first by replacing a faulty part.

A few common faults include;

A faulty connection or burnt out heating element may result in only a partial ring heat up. The heating element can be removed and replaced. If the hob has no power but the plug socket is working, this might mean that an electrician needs to inspect the terminal block, looking for a burnt out or damaged wiring connection. The electrician will also check the fuse to see if it needs replacing.

If the heat on the rings is not maintaining a steady heat, perhaps not getting hotter when the setting is increased, or cooling down too soon, this could indicate a faulty thermostat that will need replacing.

Plates that no longer heat up, indicate a faulty ignition switch or energy regulator. A sign of this will be with the control knob looking damaged or burnt.

If terminals have melted, or moisture has gotten into the hob, this can damage internal components, resulting in parts or wiring needing to be replaced.

Estimates for common electrician jobs;

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