Kitchens have a common characteristic feature - functionality. In this relatively small room there are all types of household communications and a lot of equipment. The center of the kitchen has always been the oven or its prototype, the stove, and only then the hob appeared. Nowadays, the oven and stove are increasingly becoming separate devices, and the importance of the second has grown. But at the same time, technology is developing, and new oven cooking functions are becoming available to customers. Thus, the quality and variety of the modern human diet is increasing. Buying an oven for your kitchen is not a matter of one hour. The dimensions of the equipment are directly dependent on the kitchen set, and if it is not there or has not yet been assembled, then the overall picture will have to be “assembled” in the process. Installing the oven is simple in terms of the structure of actions, but you will have to carefully read the instructions and carefully carry out the connection.
Types of oven
Ovens are distinguished according to several classifications:
- type of accommodation;
- management method;
- source of energy.
Depending on the type of placement, there are free-standing and built-in ovens. Some options are placed anywhere, but next to the power source. For those being installed, special furniture sections are provided. Based on the control method, a distinction is made between autonomous and dependent ovens. The second subtype only works in conjunction with the hob, and adjustments are made through one interface. Autonomous ones have become increasingly common in recent years. The third classification option is by energy source. The devices are divided into gas and electric models. The former remain in demand due to the prevalence of the energy carrier, but cannot heat the chamber evenly. Electric ovens are the most popular at the moment. Users select a certain temperature, and the device, in turn, maintains it with high accuracy and at a stable level.
Choosing an installation location
Whatever the design, all options are installed in the central part of the wall, closer to the edge, and also away from the corners of the room. The stove is placed where the hood is planned. In addition, take into account the rule of the working triangle with vertices in the form of a stove, refrigerator and sink. Autonomous ovens are usually installed under the same autonomous cooking zone, so the triangular shape criterion is relevant for all oven models. In this case, the rule can be modified by replacing the sink or refrigerator with a work surface or dining table. These are not all the nuances. Maintain a safe distance between the oven and other objects. For example, the distance from flammable materials: oil, towels, curtains. The distance from water sources is ideally 1.5 meters or more, and the permissible minimum is 60 cm. Leave 60-70 cm of free space above the hob surface of the stove. Electric ovens are mounted next to a grounded power outlet.
Rules for placing an oven cabinet in a kitchen set
To ensure that the oven cabinet fits harmoniously into the kitchen interior, is convenient and safe to use, follow the following recommendations when placing it:
- follow the rule of the “work triangle” - a space limited by three points: oven, sink and refrigerator. The total sum of its sides should not exceed 6 meters;
- choose a comfortable height for the equipment. The optimal option is from 20 to 80 cm above floor level;
- Do not place the oven close to the refrigerator: this may lead to damage to one of the appliances;
- the distance between the sink and the oven should be less than 45 cm to avoid short circuits;
- the gas oven should be located no further than 1.2 m from the pipe - the longer the hose, the less reliable it is;
- think over the opening zone. It should allow you to freely remove the baking sheet from the oven.
Rules for installing and preparing a furniture niche
Installation is carried out between sections of the kitchen working surface, under its countertop or in a niche designed for this purpose in a set or a separate module. The wall is designed to match the parameters of the oven, and is ordered or purchased taking into account all dimensions and installation method. The segment suitable for installing the oven is disconnected from the rest, if such a fastening is present. After meeting all the criteria and taking into account aspects of the compatibility of furniture and ovens, all that remains is to prepare the furniture niche. In this sense, you should start with protection against surges in the power network. Then grounding is done. They also leave gaps between the oven and the walls of the furniture. To maintain an acceptable level of ventilation, at least 40-50 mm are left between the back wall of the niche and the oven, and a margin on the sides is 50 mm or more. In addition to ventilation, the lower part of the furniture should be protected from heating: a rise of 90-100 mm is needed.
Important points:
- The connection to the electrical panel must be made through a separate circuit breaker.
- Do not directly connect copper and aluminum wires.
- It is forbidden to connect electrical wires by twisting.
Installation of a gas cabinet is only permissible in the presence of a specialist.
Size calculation
To ensure that you install a built-in oven yourself without any unpleasant surprises, ensure that the project is approved in advance.
You can do this: first, buy the appliance itself, and then order a kitchen set, taking into account the size of the purchased cabinet.
Or, after installing the headset, you select the appropriate option, keeping in mind the parameters of your niche.
Remember that the device should not fit end-to-end - the basic rules for its standardization will be discussed below.
DIY installation
Self-installation is possible if you have knowledge and experience working with electrical circuits. They are almost always mounted in the lower tier, but autonomous products without a hob are installed in different places, provided that the gaps are maintained. Manufacturers take into account the complexity of this moment and provide cameras at a distance of 5 cm from the back and sides, and 10 cm from the bottom. Special furniture sections, in turn, have 10-centimeter legs. During the installation process, they first check the capabilities of the installation site, the serviceability of parts, connections, and communication points. Set up a system of electrical wires and make grounding. Sometimes you have to look for sockets with special parameters. Installation of the device proceeds after preparing the working tools and the installation site. The device is fixed only with factory fastenings.
Checking electrical wiring and connection
Without checking the quality of the wiring, further actions are prohibited. The first step is to find out the resistance level. Next, check the cross-section of the electrical wires, because it must correspond to the power of the oven. Next, the quality of the cores is determined. Typical system needs result in the presence of a grounding structure. Then they look at the circuit breaker, which reacts to failures and overloads. The current level for operation of this element is selected, depending on the declared power of the device. The built-in device is connected using a thick copper wire. In general, it is recommended to make an additional branch. New sockets of a non-standard configuration may be needed. The relevant information is indicated in the technical passport. The more powerful the oven model, the more likely it is that a special connector will be required. Screw terminal blocks should be used to connect the wires.
Installing and fixing the oven
For installation into the set you will need a painting knife, a fork, insulation, a drill and a Phillips screwdriver. As for the installation location, for stand-alone devices without a hob, an option with a second tier is possible, but it is better to place the device in the bottom row. Install equipment only in a level space that has been verified by the building level. The connection has a clear algorithm. They start by replacing the aluminum cable with a copper cable with three wires. Replacement is carried out from the device to the shield itself. For a device consuming 3-3.5 kW, you need a wire with a cross-section of 2.5 mm² and a 25 ampere circuit breaker. If the energy consumption is higher, then a core with a cut area of 4 mm² and a 40 ampere circuit breaker. The wires are connected to a 3-phase outlet. For houses with double cable, the shield is grounded. If the oven has a two-pin connector on the back, then the grounding on it is a separate screw - you can work with a simple wrench.
Equipment check
After connecting the equipment, it is necessary to check its performance, including at loads that are critical for the available power. The procedure allows you to determine the quality component of the wiring.
Equipment check:
- we activate the machine responsible for the equipment;
- the LEDs or screen on the oven should light up;
- turn on the heating elements at maximum power;
- We calcine the chamber with active exhaust (>250⁰С).
It is advisable to wait until the factory lubricant burns out completely, otherwise the dishes will be saturated with an unpleasant technical smell during cooking. If the verification procedure went without problems, then you can permanently secure the cabinet in its place.
Checking the oven operation
How to properly prepare a new oven for use
After installation, the device should be discarded of anything left after unpacking. Even before turning on for the first time, the oven must warm up to +25 °C, so if the appliance was cold, then leave the doors open. Subsequently, the stove requires calcination. It should be heated together with all grates, baking sheets and everything that is included and intended for indoor use. Then the oven is turned off, opened and left to cool completely. After a few hours, the inside of the oven, including all its elements, is washed with non-abrasive products. First they work with a sponge, and then wipe everything dry with a rag or thick cloth. For normal calcination, 2-3 hours at maximum temperature are enough - as a result, technical materials and liquids will be eliminated. Simultaneously with calcination, it does not hurt to use the convection or top heating mode.
Warming up is also used:
- After washing.
- After glass replacement.
Possible problems
The main problem with installation is the height of the oven. At the same time, the strict dimensions of the niches should seem to correspond to the technical parameters, but in reality, ovens with handles may not fit into niches with a height of 598 mm. If the oven has a front control panel, a niche of at least 600 mm is required for it.
The design of the oven should not be changed if:
- the device is under warranty service;
- you don't understand anything about electrical engineering.
If during the warranty period you decide to return an unsuitable device, they will accept it from you. However, the following cases will be considered an exception by the warranty service personnel.
- Traces of attempted opening. These could be removed seals, cut bolts, or other signs.
- The components or mechanical parts of the device have been damaged by rodents that you may have at home.
- The manufacturer's recommendations were not followed when transporting the device.
- Unsuitable voltage parameters caused damage to the electrical part of the device. Critical possible limits are usually indicated by the manufacturer in the instructions.
Door hinges of appliances, power regulators, elements responsible for heating, ignition, thermostat, rubber seals, rods, retaining springs - all these are elements that often become a problem for owners of home appliances. If a cracked power regulator does not interfere with the operation of the appliance, but only causes discomfort, then a broken heating element will make it difficult to use the oven.
You can continue to comfortably use your oven only after the repair is completed. It is permissible to carry out minor repairs yourself. After all, original spare parts for common branded devices are by no means in short supply. For complex repairs, it is better to call a specialist at home or take your equipment to the nearest workshop.
Features and rules for installing a gas oven with a hob
To connect a gas oven, you do not need permission from the gas service, but at the same time, there is a fine for incorrect installation. The optimal installation option looks like this: first, the shut-off valve is released, and a triple fitting is screwed onto its outer pipe. Screw on using lubricated tow. Next, taps are installed on two free branches of the fitting, just like a fitting on a pipe. All joints are then checked for tightness and tightness. They are coated with soapy water and then the central tap is opened. If bubbles appear, then all manipulations begin again. Even barely noticeable bubbles are enough. When everything is done perfectly, proceed to connecting the cabinet. It is connected by a line to the tap. A gasket with grease is placed in the union nut. The nut is tightened tightly, but so much so that it does not put pressure on the connection.
The best material for flexible hose is a corrugated metal hose.
Safety first
A domestic gas leak is an extremely dangerous situation that can lead to serious poisoning, explosion, property damage and death. This happens infrequently, and the cause of misfortunes is usually common - errors in connecting devices and violation of their operating conditions.
The set of rules and safety standards boils down to ensuring that all connections of gas pipes and appliances are sealed; the number of such components must be kept to a minimum. Having studied the rules for installing gas household appliances, even a home craftsman can cope with this task.
High-quality equipment is not cheap, so you should not skimp on properly connecting the device. Installation work will cost approximately 2,000 rubles including materials
During the work, it is necessary to follow the procedure for connecting the equipment, use suitable materials, and strictly follow the instructions. Upon completion of work, all connections are checked. Compliance with the rules will allow you to get the desired result - a safely installed and connected gas oven.
When installing a built-in gas oven with your own hands, the most common violation is the use of a tee for a gas pipe to which the hob is already connected.
Inexperienced craftsmen believe that if it works with a water supply system, then it will work for a gas supply system. The result is three joints that must be carefully sealed.
According to the rules, connecting the oven and hob should be done separately, connecting each device to its own pipe. The number of connections in this case will be reduced to two.
In practice, using a tee can be quite safe. If the threads are properly sealed, it does not really matter whether two connections are made when connecting or three.
You cannot connect gas appliances through a tee without using a dielectric gasket and a shut-off valve for each individual consumer.
But this method contradicts the existing rules for installing a gas oven. If during an inspection a gas service representative discovers such a tee, the owners of the apartment or house will face a completely legal fine.
Therefore, from the very beginning it is necessary to take this point into account in order to connect the oven correctly. In addition, a dielectric gasket should be used, and a shut-off valve should be installed for each gas-consuming appliance.
Tips and tricks for choosing an oven
The leader in consumer preference is electric models. The latter provide more options regarding temperature conditions and cooking methods. When choosing, you can use standard criteria: ease of use, efficiency, safety, appearance, compatibility with the environment and environmental friendliness. Gas ovens have a significant drawback: you often have to check the condition of the dishes from below, as they dry out from one-sided exposure. As for the dependent/autonomous division, the size of the room is important in this regard. Dependent ones are in a sense more universal, but autonomous ones are suitable if there is a separate hob, and an additional one will be superfluous due to the lack of another hood. In terms of the built-in/free-standing parameter, none of the options has a clear advantage. The first type is better for design, and the second can be represented by compact options.
Regardless of the type of device, you need to pay attention to the presence of a smart interface, a built-in microwave, and automatic cleaning capabilities. The buyer should be interested in the presence of Let's Taste and StreamFunction. Operating savings depend on energy efficiency.
