Price for converting electric to gas stove? (Houston: how much, houses)

[aloharunnergirl]

We are looking to buy in Houston and noticed that some of the homes we like have an electric instead of a gas stove. How much would it cost to convert an electric to a gas? Would it cost more if the stove is in a kitchen island (as opposed to placed along a wall? Trying to budget for this change if needed. TIA

[gwarnecke]

I'd guess that a determining factor is how far you need to go to reach an existing gas line.

Our house has a gas cooktop in a kitchen island that the previous owner installed to replace an electric cooktop. He had to run a gas line roughly 10 feet from the dryer gas valve (laundry room is right next to kitchen), under wood floor to island. No idea how much it cost, but I doubt he would've gone to the trouble if it was extremely expensive.

[astrohip]

Does the house have gas? Not all houses in Houston have natural gas. Assuming it does...

You mention an island, but it isn't clear if you want to put it there, or that's where it already is.

If it's on an outside wall currently, and you have gas, adding it is fairly easy. Not necessarily cheap, but it's doable.

Island: Depends on the flooring, as they would have to run it under the floors. Hardwoods generally have some space under them, and it can be done. If it's tile or vinyl, it becomes much MUCH harder. They would have to carve out a channel thru the slab to get the gas to the island. Big $$$.

Hard to guesstimate a price on any of this. Have a plumber or contractor come out. There may be other ways to get a line to an island. Might be some existing conduit or something they could use.

Good luck!

[Failed Engineer]

In addition to what has been mentioned another factor is throughput from the meter. If the home is older, total throughput was allowed to be lower than what current code requires. Even if access is easy you may have to repipe gas lines elsewhere in the home to meet code. This project can vary from a couple hundred to 5 figures. Unfortunately good plumbers are still pretty busy from what I know so it may be hard to get them out for an estimate and they may quote pretty high due to demand.

Personally I'd replace the electric cooktop with an induction. They keep the kitchen cool compared to electric and gas and offer similarly precise heating control as compared to gas. You may have to buy new cookware though.

[detachable arm]

Originally Posted by Failed Engineer

In addition to what has been mentioned another factor is throughput from the meter. If the home is older, total throughput was allowed to be lower than what current code requires. Even if access is easy you may have to repipe gas lines elsewhere in the home to meet code. This project can vary from a couple hundred to 5 figures. Unfortunately good plumbers are still pretty busy from what I know so it may be hard to get them out for an estimate and they may quote pretty high due to demand.

Personally I'd replace the electric cooktop with an induction. They keep the kitchen cool compared to electric and gas and offer similarly precise heating control as compared to gas. You may have to buy new cookware though.

If you have to upgrade your meter and header pipe, may as well upgrade it so you can easily add a whole house generator in the future, for the next time the power grid goes down.

[aloharunnergirl]

Great feedback, thank you! I hadn't thought of changing the location from island to counter up by a wall and we are looking at both older and newer homes so I'll file away the information about throughput from the meter. It had occurred to me that the type of flooring will also be a factor. Have never heard of induction stove, will check it out.

[NTexas2010]

Originally Posted by aloharunnergirl

Great feedback, thank you! I hadn't thought of changing the location from island to counter up by a wall and we are looking at both older and newer homes so I'll file away the information about throughput from the meter. It had occurred to me that the type of flooring will also be a factor. Have never heard of induction stove, will check it out.

I will second the suggestion for an inductive stove top. All of the benefits of a gas stove (controlled temperature, rapid heat up and cool down functionality), plus easy to clean (think flat electric stove top); the only downside is not all cookware is compatible with an inductive stove top. You will need cookware that is flat bottomed that will make full contact with the "burner" that will properly interact with the electromagnets inside of the cooktop.

With that said, I 100% whole-heartedly suggest you look into induction stove tops over gas or the existing electric.

[airdrawndagger]

Originally Posted by NTexas2010

I will second the suggestion for an inductive stove top. All of the benefits of a gas stove (controlled temperature, rapid heat up and cool down functionality), plus easy to clean (think flat electric stove top); the only downside is not all cookware is compatible with an inductive stove top. You will need cookware that is flat bottomed that will make full contact with the "burner" that will properly interact with the electromagnets inside of the cooktop.

With that said, I 100% whole-heartedly suggest you look into induction stove tops over gas or the existing electric.

While I agree that induction is superior to standard electric, one of the big advantages of gas over induction is that a gas range can operate if you lose electricity, which seems to happen every year in this city.

[ilikeme]

Originally Posted by NTexas2010

I will second the suggestion for an inductive stove top. All of the benefits of a gas stove (controlled temperature, rapid heat up and cool down functionality), plus easy to clean (think flat electric stove top); the only downside is not all cookware is compatible with an inductive stove top. You will need cookware that is flat bottomed that will make full contact with the "burner" that will properly interact with the electromagnets inside of the cooktop.

With that said, I 100% whole-heartedly suggest you look into induction stove tops over gas or the existing electric.

Gas has the advantage of working when the power is out though.

[ilikeme]

If the home is already plumbed for gas, even if it has an electric stove currently it is not uncommon for their to be a gas line stubbed out of the wall below/behind it. Usually just have to look in the cabinets underneath for it.



I prefer gas over electric. Heats up faster and more consistently, and works when the power goes out.