cookers & ovens

Our Easy Guide to 10 Common Oven Symbols & Functions

Our Easy Guide to 10 Common Oven Symbols & Functions

Have you ever looked at all the symbols on your oven and wondered what they actually all do? Most of us buy an oven with the hopes that it will serve us well for years to come, which is why maintaining your oven properly is essential. What’s more, you ideally want your oven to have all the cooking functions you need – but what oven symbols mean what?

Here, we’ve put together a full guide what what the oven symbols your oven has mean:

See our complete list of oven symbols below…

Ovens cooking functions are displayed on the front panel via symbols. Understanding these oven symbols is not only important for successful cooking but also important to keep your oven in good nick. Using them incorrectly could cause your oven to trip or fuses to blow and that’s a major inconvenience, even if you have good oven insurance.

To help you understand the various oven symbols and their baking/cooking functions, here are the ten commonly used symbols.

1. Fan oven

A fan in a circle represents an oven that uses a fan to distribute heat generated from a circular element that surrounds the fan. Ideally, the heat distribution should be even, so that it doesn’t matter where the food is placed in the oven, it cooks perfectly every time.

Fan ovens are designed to heat up faster, reduce cooking time and decrease energy consumption. Fan ovens are great for baking multiple trays at a time (biscuits, cupcakes and muffins on the top, middle and lower shelves respectively). They’re also recommended if you like your meat cooked the ‘chefy’ way, tender on the outside and rare on the inside.

If you have a combination oven and you want to use the fan, then the symbol won’t have a circle around the fan.

2. Conventional heating

The symbol for conventional heating is two lines, one at the top and one at the bottom of a square. The lines represent the two heating elements used, one at the top and one at bottom of the oven. Instead of a fan, the heat is diffused by natural convection. Use the conventional heating mode for roasting meat and vegetables or baking cakes.

3. Bottom element heat

The symbol is a single line at the bottom of a square, which represents the lower heating element in use. This method is ideal for baking something that requires a crispy base such as pizza. It is also used for baking a casserole.

4. Bottom element heating with grill

The symbol for this function is the zigzag (grill) line at the top and a straight line at the bottom of a square. It’s a good function to use for cooking pies, quiches, and crisping pizzas.

5. Fan with grill

The symbol is the zigzag line at the top of a square with the fan symbol underneath. The fan distributes the heat, while the grill roasts from the top. The grill cycles on and off to maintain the temperature setting. This method is ideal for cooking meat and poultry.

6. Grill

The symbol is simply a zigzag line at the top of a square. Using the full grill allows you to cook food for virtually your whole family plus guests. There may also be a half-grill setting, which means only the centre of the grill element gets hot. You’ll need to place food dead centre to get even cooking. Grills ate great for crisping and browning food, so use yours to make toast or toasted sandwiches, melt and brown cheese on lasagne and make delectable mushroom steaks.

7. Oven light

Rather obviously, the symbol is a light bulb in a square. Some ovens cook with the light on automatically so you can see progress easily, but other ovens have a light switch so that you have to turn it on and off to see what’s potting.

8. Oven defrosting

Not all ovens have a defrost function, but if yours does, you’ll see it on the symbol that looks like a snowflake above a drop of water. In this mode, the oven fan is switched on but no heat is generated. The air circulation defrosts the food. It’s great if you forgot to take food out to defrost overnight and you need to make a plan quickly.

 

9. Warming oven

The symbol is a dish with ‘steam’ lines rising above it. Use the function to keep food warm, without cooking it anymore. Food should stay moist and not dry out when using the warming function.

10. Plate warming

The symbol for this function is three dishes lined horizontally above one another. Dinner party etiquette dictates that you must serve plates warm. This setting keeps your plates safely warm without damaging the china.

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Oven Symbols Guide:

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Discover Our 3 Quick and Easy Oven Cleaning Home Remedies

3 Quick and Easy Oven Cleaning Home Remedies

Cleaning the oven is undoubtedly one of the most difficult aspects of keeping the kitchen looking pristine. Often it takes a great deal of physical strength to get the grease and grime off an extensively used oven. Worse still are the harmful smells of industrial-strength oven cleaners available in the market. Popular oven cleaners have highly caustic chemical such as butane and sodium hydroxide that can be hazardous to your family’s health.

The good news is that there are effective homemade solutions for oven cleaning that are safer not only for you but also for the environment. If your oven does not have a self-cleaning function, here are three relatively chemical-free ways of keeping your oven sparkling clean.

1. Baking soda with water

Use water and large quantities of baking soda to make a paste. The baking soda paste does not have an unpleasant odour like the harsh oven cleaners available in the market. Apply generous amounts of the paste to the walls and doors of your oven using a cloth. Spread the paste evenly. Let the paste remain for a couple of hours. This softens the stains, which can now be removed using a wallpaper scraper. Use a soft cloth dipped in warm water to wipe clean any residual paste and stains on the oven. Your oven will now be sparkling clean.

2. Lemon juice with water

Citrus oils have natural degreasing properties. Cut two lemons and squeeze the juice onto a baking dish that is one-third full of water. Place the lemon pieces in the dish as well and put the dish in the oven at a low temperature for about half-an hour (or longer depending on the state of the oven). The vapours from the lemon solution loosen the grime stuck on the oven walls. Turn off the oven, remove the baking dish, and let the oven cool. Remove the grime in the oven using a scouring pad, the same lemon solution, and a sponge. Wipe dry with a soft cloth. This technique is great for cleaning convection ovens.

3. Baking soda and vinegar

Spray vinegar inside the oven and sprinkle baking soda over it.  Allow the mixture to fizz for 30 minutes to an hour depending on how bad the grime situation is. Like the lemon juice method, scrub the walls and base of the oven using a scouring sponge. Since vinegar is a great degreaser, dip the sponge in vinegar as you scrub.  Wipe clean the oven using water and a soft cloth.

If you have been using chemical oven cleaners, perhaps it is time you tried one of these homemade oven-cleaning solutions that are safer for your family as well as the environment.

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10 of the Best Tallest Ovens on the Market

10 of the Best Tall Ovens on the Market

The tallest ovens around these days are double rather than single ovens and they tend to be known as either ‘built-under’ or ‘built-in’ ovens (the latter when the oven fits into a specially-built shell in the kitchen).

The name ‘double oven’ is actually a bit of a misnomer since the appliance usually comprises of not two ovens but rather one and half. The top oven is usually a standard oven with a grill while the bottom half is the main oven and usually has an energy-efficient fan facility. It could also be multifunctional (for instance, if baking then slow cooking with a conventional heat source works best).

You’ll find that single ovens tend to be anything up to 60cm tall while double ovens can go right up to 90cm. Width-wise though there’s usually no difference between the single and double oven – all are roughly 60cm wide and 55cm deep.

For this post we’ve concentrated on the height of the ovens and here’s our list of some of the tallest we could find:

Our pick of the tallest ovens around

  1. Hotpoint UHS53XS. Electric build-under oven. Height 88cms. Costs from £280.
  2. Hotpoint UH53WS. Electric build-under oven.  Height 80cms. Costs from £355.
  3. Belling BI70FP. Built-under Electric Double Oven. Height 703mm. Costs from £340.
  4. Stoves SEB700FPS. Electric Built Under Double Oven. Height 703mm. Costs from £430.
  5. New World NW701DO. Electric Built Under Double Oven. Height 703mm. Costs from £330.
  6. Rangemaster 85640 R7247. Multifunction Electric Built Under Double Oven. Height 720mm. Costs from £630.
  7. CDA DC740SS. Electric Built-under Fan Double Oven. Height 718mm. Costs from £480.
  8. Zanussi ZOF35501WK. Electric Built-under Double Oven. Height 715mm. Costs from £460.
  9. Bosch HBN53R550B. Exxcel Electric Built-under Double Multifunction Oven. Height  717mm. Costs from £985.
  10. Electrolux EOU5410BOX. Built-under Electric Double Oven. Height 715mm. Costs from £630.
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Simple Tips for Safe Hob Cleaning

Simple Tips to Safely Clean your Hob

The hob is often a place you prepare food every day, so it’s an essential place in your home to keep clean. The best way to ensure that the hob & cooker area is hygienic is to wipe after each use when any food residue or stains are still fresh.

Despite doing this, it’s still possible for a layer of oil and grime to settle on your hob. Depending on which type of cooker you have, using the right cleaning agents and tools can help you remove this stubborn material with relative ease.

Hob cleaning products and tools

You will find a wide range of cleaning products in the supermarkets specifically for the kitchen. For ease of use look for products that come in spray bottles. Alternatively, instead of using cleaning liquids with strong chemicals, you can try using some of the more natural hob cleaning products that are better for your health, as well as for the environment.

In addition, before you clean the hob, it would be helpful to have the following cleaning tools on hand:

  • Rubber gloves to protect your skin
  • A blunt blade or plastic scraper available at hardware stores, to remove the softened food residue ( after using the stain remover)
  • A scrubbing brush with a medium bristle
  • A microfiber cloth to clean the hob and give it a good smear-free shine

Cleaning the hob

Hob cleaning techniques differ depending on whether you have a gas, ceramic, enamel or a combination cooker.

  • Enamel hobs are relatively easy to maintain as they can take some forceful cleaning. Use a blunt blade to remove the stains, while being careful not to scrape the curved surface of the hob.
  • Ceramic and induction hobs are more prone to scratches and therefore need to be tackled carefully. Use a plastic scrapper to remove the grunge. In case of the ceramic hob, prevention really is the best cure. Wipe off any spills as soon as they happen.
  • The majority of the gas hobs have an aluminium base. Soak the base and burner lids in soapy warm water for a while. Clean the base with a scouring pad to remove the grime. Enamel burner lids can also be cleaned the same way.
  • A stainless steel hob should be cleaned rather gently. Clean the hob using a microfibre cloth and a mild bicarbonate of soda solution. To maintain your cooker, never leave any food residue on the hob as it can easily create permanent stains on the stainless steel surface.
  • Cleaning a hob with cast iron racks can be cumbersome. Wash the racks in a warm soapy water solution in a dipping tray. Use soda crystals and a wire wool to scrub clean the racks. Avoid washing them in the dishwasher as the salty dishwater can cause them to rust.

Whenever you clean your hob, follow basic safety tips.  If you are cleaning the hobs with a chemical based cleaner, then keep kitchen windows open for ventilation. Also, wear gloves and goggles for protecting your hands and eyes.

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Cooking up a Storm with the Best High Capacity Ovens

Cooking up a Storm with the Best High Capacity Ovens Availible

Oven capacity varies depending on the type of oven you’re considering. Single ovens tend to have a 77-litre capacity or less – while certain range cookers offer a single oven with a capacity of up to 115 litres. On the whole you can expect to get around three standard baking sheets into a 77 litre capacity oven and four standard baking sheets into a single oven range cooker. Farmhouse style double ovens on the other hand usually have a capacity of 60 litres maximum. As a result, all of the high capacity ovens listed here are single ovens or range cookers.

Best high capacity range cookers

  • Baumatic BC391.3TCSS – 90cm Dual Fuel Range cooker. This sleek silver and black behemoth features triple glazing which is excellent if you have a curious toddler who likes to touch the oven door because it keeps the heat where it should be – inside. Enjoy the double convenience of a dual fuel oven that offers the sensitive and quick cooking method of gas burners combined with the even heat distribution of a fan oven. If you are serious about cooking, this oven clocks in at a 110 litre capacity. Costs around £649.
  • Flavel FL95CRX Freestanding Electric Range Cooker – Stainless Steel. With a capacity of a 104 litres, this range cooker means business and is the perfect tool for the entertainer offering a fully variable grill, a beautiful ceramic hob with five heating zones and even a storage space for cooking utensils. Costs around £550.
  • Rangemaster 96320 Professional FX 90 90cm Induction Single Oven Range Cooker. How does an energy efficient oven with 115 litre capacity and attractive cream and chrome finishes sound to you? The Energy Saving trust thinks this Rangemaster is just the ticket – in fact it is ‘A’ rated for energy efficiency. Aside from the obvious cost saving benefits, the oven is extremely versatile offering the following functions:. defrost, fan oven, fanned grilling, fan-assisted oven, conventional oven, browning element and base heat (in both full oven and divided mode). Costs around £2000
  • Britannia RC-9SG-QL-S Q Line Single Oven 90cm Dual Fuel Range Cooker – Stainless Steel. This is a good choice for a gas cooker offering six gas burners including a dual wok burner. Other key features include an ability to convert to LPG (bottled gas) if required, a flame failure safety device, and fully automatic programmer and minute minder (capacity is 103 litres). Costs around £2000.

Best high capacity ovens

  • Hotpoint Openspace OSHS89EDC. A super-large oven size from Hotpoint, this electric appliance is capable of holding up to 77 litres. It’s A rated efficiency-wise, has a removable inner glass door for cleaning, a pizza function and a cooling fan. Costs around £620.
  • AEG COMPETENCE BP3003021M. The largest single oven produced by these manufacturers, this appliance has a huge 74 litre capacity, so it’s great for big family get-together Sunday roasts. Allows you to programme the oven to switch off or on when you like.  Comes with its own floodlight to allow you to check on food without having to open the door. Costs around £470.
  • Smeg Linea SFP140. This electric oven has a 72 litre capacity, a variable grill type and a quadruple glazed oven window for energy efficiency. There’s a control panel lock in case there are kids round, a defrost feature and a cooling fan. Costs around £740.
  • Electrolux EOC5440AOX. With a capacity for 70 litres, this electric appliance comes with a quadrupled glazed window and a defrost feature. Boasts an A rating for energy efficiency. Costs around £440.
  • Zanussi ZOB31301WK. Extra shelf levels and a 70-litre capacity mean you’ll never be stuck for dishes that can fit inside this oven.  Dinner parties can be as large as you like. Also comes with a quick defrosting function. Costs around £225.
  • Belling XOU60LPG. One of the few gas single ovens we’ve featured in this list, this Belling has the capacity for 69 litres. Comes with air cooled doors, an electronic timer and a double glazed oven door. Costs around £530.

High capacity ovens honourable mentions

  • Neff Series 3 B45E52N3GB. This electric oven has a capacity of 67 litres and comes with a triple glazed oven window to keep in heat. Has a programmable timer and a pizza function. Costs around £850.
  • Whirlpool AKZM756/IX. Can hold up to 67 litres in the oven cavity. Has a double glazed window and programmable timer as well as a single variable grill. Costs around £430.
  • Samsung BF641FB. A two fan electric oven which cooks food quickly and at an even temperature. Can hold up to 65 litres at once and has an A energy rating. Cleaning afterwards is easy thanks to a ceramic enamel interior and a scratch resistant surface. Costs around £300.
  • Beko OIF22309X. A 65 litre capacity oven, this appliance also comes with a speedy fan to cut down cooking times. Is 20 per cent more energy efficient than other A-rated models. Also comes with a fully programmable timer to allow you to set meals to suit. Costs around £230.
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Choose from the Top 10 Fastest Induction Hobs on the Market

The Top 10 Fastest Induction Hobs on the Market

From 0 to 60 in a matter of seconds. It sounds like an advert for a car doesn’t it? But it’s actually the start-up speed for some of the fastest induction hobs on the market. There are quite a few super speedy models around.

A fast induction hob actually offers you both control and precision when it comes to cooking. The speed at an induction hob heats up is critical for amateur and professional cooks. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the top 10 fastest induction hobs available.

10 Fastest induction hobs

  1. The Berner BWM3 mini counter-top induction hob heats up incredibly quickly and  gives off almost no heat. Thanks to its power and speed you can expect to reduce cooking time by about 70%. It comes in at about £1,600.
  2. The Whirlpool Acm847ba Touch Control 60cm induction hob is a Which Best Buy product and comes in at roughly £400.
  3. If space is limited and you are looking for a really efficient way to cook, then the Induction Fast Heat Up Multi Cooker or Andrew James Digital Electric Induction Hob (2000 Watt) are ideal. Retailing for about £50 and £30 respectively, they are the perfect solution for students or people living in bedsits as they take up very little space.
  4. The Stoves SEW600iRX electric hob induction is 60 cm wide and has four different sized induction zones. For peace of mind, there is also a child safety lock – which is good news as this induction hob heats up very quickly. This product costs around £520.
  5. The Indesit VIX644 CE induction hob in black costs roughly £270. Thanks to intelligent pan recognition, it only heats the base of your pan, minimising energy loss and it will heat up to your chosen cooking temperature in seconds.
  6. The Bosch PIA611B68B 600mm induction hob 4 zone touch control has 17-stage power settings for each zone, as well as the added advantage of a power boost setting for instant heat. It is also easy to clean and it will set you back about £350.
  7. The Burco Twin Counter Top induction hob guarantees faster cooking times and low energy consumption. It also has a timer and it can heat up to 220 degrees C. This product costs about £315.
  8. If you are also looking for an oven, the Rangemaster Excel 110 electric induction range cooker in stainless steel is a smart addition to any kitchen. Its induction hob with its five zones is incredibly responsive and the product also features a main and a second oven. This oven costs in the region of £2,500.
  9. A cheaper option is the Belling FSE60DOI  60cm induction cooker with double oven, which is on the market for just under £670.
  10. The Samsung CTN464NC01 induction hob has four zones and features the latest in induction technology. Retailing at just under £500, it also boasts the temperature control of a gas hob.

It’s worth noting that induction hobs require specific pans to function.

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Discover 10 of the Best Domino Hobs on the Market

10 of the Best Domino Hobs on the Market

First off – what are domino hobs? Well, for those not currently in the know it’s an oblong-shaped hob which combines two methods of cooking at the same time (hence the name. i.e., a domino is oblong and split with two different numerical sections).

Advantages of domino hobs

The concept of the domino hob isn’t only great in terms of space-saving, but it also provides far more flexibility in the kitchen – to the extent you can now buy domino hobs with a BBQ grill, wok burner or a deep fat fryer if you so desire. So, what are the best domino hobs currently on the market? Well, the following are our favourites:

Best domino hobs on the UK market

  • De Dietrich DTi1032X. This high tech appliance has touch controls, nine power levels a boost function and auto switch-off device. An induction wok hob which is energy efficient. Costs around £1195.
  • Miele Company Fryer CS1411 F. This high quality fryer is also great for cooking the likes of pasta since it comes with a special insert specifically for that. Adjustable temperature controls. Costs around £1250.
  • Gaggenau’s Vario VR 230 electric grill plate. This electric grill plate comes with a lava stone base to absorb fat, making it a very healthy choice for barbecue cooking. Has nine different power levels. Costs around £1200.
  • AEG’s MaxiSense flexible induction hob. Half the cost of the other hobs so far mentioned here, the MaxiSense is great for cooking more than one thing at once. Then again, the two cooking zones can be combined into one large zone. Cooking can be paused – which is excellent for family homes. Costs around £650.
  • ATAG:TY3011M teppan yaki hob. Fancy a bit of healthy oriental cooking? Then check out this smart looking stainless-steel appliance. The yaki pan cooks perfect meat and shellfish thanks to its dipped hot plate to catch any excess oil. Costs around £1,425.
  • Miele CS1122E Ceramic Domino Hob. An electric hob with stainless steel frame and glass ceramic surface. This item works as two zones or one larger area. Automatically turns itself off after four hours. Costs around £800.
  • Bosch PKF375V14E Ceramic Domino Hob. Comes with nine power levels and a two stage residual heat indicator. Again the cooking zone can be extended. Costs around £400.
  • Neff N24K35 wok hob. A gas hob which is great for producing first class stir-fries thanks to its dual-control wok burner. Has a flame failure safety device. Costs around £400.
  • Siemens ER326BB70E Domino Gas Wok Hob. Has two burners (one high speed; the other standard). Combines a cast iron pan support with a flame failure safety cut out device. Costs around £430.
  • Zanussi ZEI3921IBA Induction Domino Hob. An electric induction hob with two hotplate burners, this domino appliance is stainless steel in appearance with rotating knobs. Costs around £215.

As you can see from the domino hobs in the above list, the range of domino hobs are still dominated by the expensive and quality brands such as Miele, Neff and Bosch although other, less expensive ranges are currently making an appearance as the popularity of the domino hob increases.

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Why isn’t My Oven Fan Working? Try our Troubleshooting Guide

Why isn’t My Oven Fan Working? Try our Troubleshooting Guide

Oven ExampleAn oven that’s not heating correctly is one of the most common problems that our engineers are called to resolve. When you switch on your oven, it’s fan evenly distributes the heat generated by the element. A fault in either the fan or the element will prevent your oven from heating effectively. There could be other minor faults as well.

Let’s look at this problem in more detail.

Faulty oven fan element:

If the oven is blowing cold air (which means the fan is working), and the oven thermostat light is on, then the element surrounding the fan could be damaged.

Ask a technician to unplug the appliance and remove the back panel inside the oven. This will expose the oven fan and element. On close inspection if the element appears burnt in some places, then the  appliance technician will almost certainly need to replace that part.

Note, sometimes the damage to the element is not visible, but it could be broken inside the element casing. Your appliance technician will need to confirm this. Replacing the oven element will cost you in the region of £75 – £125.

Faulty oven fan motor:

There could be a problem with the oven fan motor if:

  • the fan appears noisy or works more slowly than usual
  • the oven light is on and the element gets hot, but the heating is ineffective

With the oven turned off and unplugged, the technician will remove the inside panel and give the oven fan a turn by hand. If it appears stiff then the fan motor is faulty and needs replacement.

The technician is also likely to:

  • Check if a fan blade has come loose, which may be causing the fan to become ineffective and make strange sounds.
  • Check if the oven fan is covered with grease and muck from cooking. Giving the oven fan a good cleaning may solve the problem.

Incorrect oven setting:

If neither the fan nor the heating is working, the oven may have been set in ‘auto’ mode. Reset the oven to ‘manual’ mode. Your oven should start working now. Refer to your user manual for more details.

Faulty oven thermostat:

Finally, if the fan is not working and there is no light in the oven, then there could be a problem with the oven thermostat.

Call an appliance engineer to handle replacement of any part in the oven.

Please remember:

Appliances should be serviced regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions – found in the product manual. If you have a problem with an appliance, call in a NICEIC or Gas-Safe registered appliance engineer to repair your appliance. Don’t forget that if your appliance is not working optimally, you should also have it serviced to prevent causing damage to the appliance.

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What’s the Cost of Installing a New Hob in Your Kitchen?

What’s the Cost of Installing a New Hob in Your Kitchen?

Having decided which type of hob you want to purchase, the next step is to buy the hob and have it installed. The cost of installing a new hob in your kitchen can be broken down into buying and installation costs, and running costs.

1. Buying costs for a new hob

Depending on the type of hob you buy, here is how much you can expect to spend on a new hob:

Base price models (£75 – £200)

  • Gas hobs start at £75
  • For about £100 you will find electric plate hobs with twist-knob controls
  • Starting price for ceramic hobs is £170

Mid-price range (£200 – £400)

  • Between £200 and £250 you will find mid-range electric plate hobs, ceramic hobs and gas hobs
  • Induction hobs start at £300
  • In the £300 and £400 value range, you will find some really stylish and modern hobs with more than four burners

Premium range (£400 – £750)

  • A gas or ceramic hob priced more than £400 will have a designer look and special functions like dual heat zones
  • Induction hob features in the £300 and £500 range remain fairly similar
  • Any hob that costs more than £500 will have designer looks and advanced features such as residual heat indicators and touch sensitive controls.

Designer range ( more than £750)

Any hob in this range will most certainly belong in a designer kitchen. Expect the entire range of features you can possibly have on a hob, including small utensil detectors, overflow indicators, and pause buttons.

Popular brands as per hob category include:

Gas hobs: Stoves, AEG Electrolux, Indesit, Smeg and Zanussi

Electric hobs: AEG, Indesit, Beko, New World, Neff and Baumatic

Ceramic hobs: Bosch, Stoves, AEG Electrolux, Indesit, Smeg and Zanussi.

Induction hobs: AEG Electrolux, Miele, Stoves, Smeg

Electric plate hobs: AEG, Indesit, Beko, New World, Neff and Baumatic

Also check out kitchen retailers like Homebase and B&Q for some low-cost options.

2. Installation costs

The cost of installationing a gas hob will be approximately £120 (this includes labour and fittings). Only a GasSafe qualified engineer should install your gas hob. Hiring someone who is not qualified to install the gas hob will put you and your family at great risk.

Hire an experienced electrician to install the electric hob. You can expect to pay £70 to £100 depending on the type of hob.

3. Running costs

There are significant differences in the running costs of gas and electric hobs. A gas cooker used for about 80 minutes per day for a year will cost £37 less per year to run, than an electric cooker used for the same amount of time. In addition, since the long-term costs of electricity will rise more quickly than gas because of green taxes being added to the former, the difference in running costs between gas and electric hobs will further increase.

Our advice would be to compare the costs of installing the new hob, before you decide on a particular hob brand and model.

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Discover 10 Reasons Why Your Oven is Overheating

Discover 10 Reasons Why Your Oven is Overheating

Most ovens have traditional thermostats that control the temperature of the oven.  If your oven is overheating on the outside and burning food, the most probable explanation is a faulty thermostat.

However, there are a few other possible causes why your oven is overheating.

Let’s take a look at 10 of the most common reasons for the problem.

  1. Thermostat knob:  A faulty thermostat knob will result in an inaccurate temperature setting in the oven.  The knob should be securely attached. A technician can also recalibrate the knob.
  2. Thermostat-sensing bulb: Conventional ovens have a thermostat-sensing bulb usually at back left side or the rear. If the bulb has come loose from the holder or is damaged, the thermostat will malfunction and overheat the oven.
  3. Grime: Sometimes the thermostat can malfunction because it is covered with food and grime. Removing the thermostat and cleaning it may just solve the overheating problem.
  4. Oven-vent: Blockages in the oven vent is another common problem.
  5. Control panel: Some ovens have an electronic control panel. A power outage can cause a glitch in the control panel. To resolve this, an engineer can reset the circuit breaker and unplug the oven for a few minutes before turning it on again.
  6. Thermostat: Test the temperature of the oven using a heat resistant oven thermometer. If the oven temperature is higher than the level set, then most likely the thermostat needs replacement.
  7. Heating elements: The oven can also overheat if there is a malfunction with it’s heating element. The technician will check for any damage to the element or if the element has come loose.  The outer casing of the element could hide damage to the element.
  8. Temperature sensor: Electrical ovens have a temperature sensor that ensures that the oven functions at the correct temperature. This is a long thin tube like part located usually in the top rear of the oven. A problem with the sensor can cause the oven to overheat.
  9. Selector switch: The selector switch in the oven acts as a communication device between the thermostat and the heating elements. It receives the temperature signal from the thermostat and regulates the heating elements. If the selector switch has a short, it may signal a lower than actual temperature, causing the heating elements to overheat the oven.
  10. Oven fan: If the oven fan is not working at the correct speed, the oven will overheat. To know more, read our ‘Oven Fan not Working Troubleshooting Guide ’.

For safety’s sake

Don’t meddle with the wires and whatnot in your oven to try fix the problem yourself. Rather call Surewise.com, report that your oven is overheating, and let them arrange for an engineer to fix the problem for you. If you meddle on your own, you are likely to violate the terms of your insurance policy.

Please remember:

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding servicing your appliances. You’ll find this in the product manual. If you have a problem with an appliance, call in a NICEIC or Gas-Safe registered appliance engineer to repair your appliance. Don’t forget that if your appliance is not working optimally, you should also have it serviced to prevent causing damage to the appliance.

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Posted by Surewise in Appliance Insurance Articles