Safely Removing A Hard Wired Cooker

[83dons]

Hi

We move house tomorrow and I need to have the cooker out of the place by then. It is hard wired to the wall and an on/off switch is above the cooker. I tried to call the local electrician but he is booked up til January and probably not interested such a small job. How can I remove the cooker A without electrocuting myself and B to make the connection safe for when then the new people come in. I also have a clock that is hard wired to an an off switch in a similar way that I need to remove. Any help today appreciated just the basic steps to follow to satisfy A and B please! Thanks in advance.

Chris

 

[Doc Hudson]

The cooker should have its own circuit from the fuse box. The whole circuit can be isolated here , either turning the switch off  (down) or removing the fuse carrier if its an old wire fuse box. Also turn off at the local switch as well. If there is a connection plate at the wall then the cooker wires can easily be removed from this once you have proved that the circuit is dead. Otherwise you will need to undo the connections at the back of the cooker itself. But you will need a voltage detection device to confirm it is actually dead before you undo anything.  Never assume just because you have turned a switch that the wire is now dead. Where about in the country are you, we may have a member local who could call in to disconnect and make safe. I am surprised you didn't book up someone a few weeks ago ready for your moving date?

If you don't have access to any test meter that can read voltage then I would recommend you get back on the phone until you can find someone who can come round at short notice. Electricity can kill a healthy adult in less than a second. If there is any risk of you leaving exposed live wires then wait until someone competent is available. I don't think the size of the job bares much relevance on the interest, probably more that fact that if most electricians don't have worked booked up ahead them, they don't normally manage to pay the mortgage or feed their families. The task itself is easy and not very expensive. but you could end up paying over the odds for a last minute call out. Electricians can't afford to sit around all day waiting for a phone call for tomorrows work.

Doc H.

 

[83dons]

So basically don't bother trying it myself!? I do have a voltage meter somewhere.

The property is in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. If you have someone that can come out and do the job today then there will be someone at the property til 5pm. It needs to be made safe as possible for the new residents coming in.

 

[ProDave]

So what is the new resident going to cook on?

Presumably he will want his own cooker connected?

Try another electrician, there must be someone that can do it, though if anything like me this is always the busiest time of year.

 

[Doc Hudson]

Have you got a connection plate on the wall e.g.  http://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-45a-cooker-connection-unit-white/16686?cm_sp=Search-_-SearchRec-_-Area1&_requestid=126627#_=p  or does the cable just disappear in the plaster?

Doc H

 

[83dons]

So what is the new resident going to cook on?

Presumably he will want his own cooker connected?

Try another electrician, there must be someone that can do it, though if anything like me this is always the busiest time of year.

The cooker is 40 years old so presumably will be fitting his own! Iv tried 6 already Id have thought it would be a quick job easy £40 cash or something in between jobs.

 

[83dons]

Have you got a connection plate on the wall e or does the cable just disappear in the plaster?

Doc H

The flex comes out of the cooker (think would need to take cooker apart to take it out from that side) and goes into the plaster some way beneath the switch

The clock is wired into the plaster beneath a socket with a switch and fuse 

Cant post the links as it wont let me.

 

[ProDave]

What you really need then is someone to fit a cooker connection plate for you.

With a 40 year old cooker (and hence almost certainly 40 year old wiring) this might not be so straightforward. Don't bank on someone just coming in to do it in 5 minutes, there may be other issues.

Is this a house you are selling? or a house you have been renting?

 

[83dons]

House being sold was built in 1961 and I have no idea if the wiring has ever been updated. The occupier has never had an issue with any appliances not working. I have an engineer coming out tomorrow so will see what happens and let folk know here what he did.

 

[ProDave]

I take it you were not living there yourself then?

The only cheap fix is disconnect the cooker and fix a surface mount cooker connection plate to the wall where the cable comes out of the plaster.

My guess is the new owner will be getting a lot of work done anyway.

 

[Doc Hudson]

Cheapest fix is to physically disconnect the cable at the fuse box and leave someone else to decide if they want a connection plate fitted.

Doc H.

 

[steptoe]

I'm sorry, but for an unknown person to call me at a days notice and expect me to come and do such a job for an 'easy' £40 is badly disillusioned,  it would be maybe £40 for.me just to turn up plus materials and labour, 

I don't even.think I could/would do such a job for a regular customer for that sort of price. 

 

[Jono Pashley]

Ive had someone call me sunday lunch time wanting a cooker connected the same day...for 60 quid...would of cost me more than that to get out the dog house for missing dinner with the other half...

 

[Essex1]

Just done a disconnection one day followed by a reconnection the next. £60+VAT all in.