Converting an electric stove to gas can be practical if one wants to cook a great variety of foods faster with better control and if one wants to lower utility bills at the end of every month.
This is why other people have decided to modify their modern electric stoves to old-fashioned gas stoves.
We will further discuss the benefits of converting to a gas stove in this detailed guide, its costs, and what it will involve. By the end of the article, you should be able to know whether changing to a gas stove is worth it or not for you.
What are the benefits of changing to a gas stove?
Converting an electric stove to a gas stove gives you the following advantages:
- Instant fire to use for cooking
- Responsive burner control
- Cheaper utility expenses
- Convertible from LPG to natural gas
1) It lights up instantly
Using a gas stove is very convenient, as the flame can light up as soon as you turn the knob. So your food can be cooked right on schedule.
Whereas, electric stoves take longer for their burners to heat the surface. It can even take up to a long 15 minutes.
As such, preheating the burners of the electric stove is essential before you place the food on top of it.
2) It gives you full control over your cooking
Another crucial benefit of a gas stove is that its heat is a lot easier to control to suit your cooking needs than its electric counterpart.
You can simply and slowly rotate the dial to the desired temperature level from low to high.
It also follows that if you need to keep food from burning as you’re cooking it, gas stoves let you quickly lower or turn off the heat.
3) It is cheaper to use than electric stoves
Many people are actually modifying their electric stoves to gas stoves due to the savings they will get. Operating a gas stove typically costs 10 to 30 percent less than an electric stove.
Mind you, however, that gas stoves still need electricity to function though not as much as electric stoves do.
A gas stove only needs a low amount of power in order to ignite its burners and for its several digital features, like LCD display, clock, and timer, to function.
The rest of the energy that a gas stove uses for heating or cooking comes from its gas supply line or tank.
4) It uses less energy
Although gas stoves require some degree of electrical energy, it uses less power at 1.5 amperes on average than electrical stoves, which need 30 to 60 amperes.
So not only will this minimized power usage impact the environment less, but it will also give you a good amount of savings each month.
5) LPG stoves can be converted back to natural gas
If you have converted a natural gas stove to one that can use LPG gas, you can easily convert it back to natural gas with the help of a professional gasfitter.
Natural gas has its advantages over LPG gas for your stove. Among them are
- It releases relatively less carbon dioxide, making it better for the environment.
- Being lighter than air, natural gas dissolves at a faster rate in case of a leak.
- It is readily available and comes through your house’s gas pipes.
What are the disadvantages of changing to a gas stove?
The worst disadvantage of using a gas stove is being more prone to fire, explosion, and property damage due to leaking gas or a punctured tank body. Plus, it releases toxic substances every time it is used, including harmful carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.
1) It is less safe than electric stoves
Whenever you use a gas stove, it emits compounds that are harmful to your health and the planet. These include formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide.
On the other hand, electric stoves don’t produce any of these things. But they have to be handled with great care to prevent causing a fire in the house.
2) It still requires electricity
Contrary to what most people think, using a gas-powered stove still needs electricity for it to function.
In converting your electric stove to a gas stove, you’ll need to hire an electrician to change the electrical outlet from 240 to 110 volts and install the new gas line.
3) There may not be a gas supplier near you
One of the problems that a homeowner can have if they want to convert their electric stove to gas is they may not have a gas supplier nearby.
If there’s no gas supplier near you, whether that be for natural gas or LPG, you’re better off sticking with your electric stove, unfortunately.
And the same applies if you find the hooking up of the gas line or gas service expensive for your budget.
4) It is harder to clean
A gas stove is harder to clean than an electric stove. Food, grease, and other gunk can fall or splatter on or under the cleaning grates and flame covers.
But with an electric stove, you just need to let the cooktop cool down and wipe the surface entirely with a soft and damp cloth and some detergent.
How much does converting an electric stove to a gas stove cost?
Changing from an electric to a gas stove normally costs between $125 and $2,000. It’s a huge price gap, but that is because many factors can influence it:
- Components – You usually need to pay a high amount for the components needed to convert an electric stove to a gas stove.
Say, you need to procure gas piping which will be set up underground. A good ballpark figure for the pipe price is between $0.50 and $8 per linear foot.
- Permits – Before any work is to be done, you or your gas contractor will need to obtain a permit. This ensures that the gas pipe installation will be on par with the governing authority’s standards.
Securing a permit can additionally cost you about $40, though it depends on where you live in the US.
- Labor – Getting your electric stovetop modified by a pro so you can use gas instead should cost you $50 to $150 per hour. If the job is a bit difficult to do, the price will certainly be higher.
What works are involved to convert a stove from electric to gas?
Here are the changes you may need to make to your electric stove to convert it to a gas type:
– Replacing your 240V electrical outlet
– Capping your gas lines
– Installing new gas lines
– Extending your gas lines
Replace the outlet
Since gas stoves require less voltage compared to electrical models, your 240V outlet would need to be changed to a 110V outlet.
If you already have an existing gas line in place, then the work is almost finished. The electrician will just inspect and add some lines to connect to your stove appliance.
This is the typical scenario for most homeowners. And lucky for you, you will only need to spend $125 more or less for this job.
Capping or Sealing Gas Lines
If you have an old gas line or one that you aren’t using anymore, you would need to cap it to keep your home safe from accidental gas leaks and fire.
Be aware that this work is neither simple nor affordable to complete.
That is because some gas pipes and fittings will have to be taken out and cleaned before being sealed tight.
And so the added price for sealing off the gas line should go from $350 to $400.
Building New Gas Lines
If your house has altogether no gas supply lines, then the cost will be exorbitant at $2,000 or even more.
The reason for this outrageous cost is that everything will be done from zero. This estimate takes into account the parts, permits, and labor.
So if the price is jaw-droppingly high, you can just stay with your current electric stovetop. There’s no way out of this price if you want the control and convenience a gas stove offers.
Extending the Gas Lines
In case your current line is too short to reach your gas stove, you would need to have the established gas pipes extended. But this will kick up the overall price of the entire work by $200 if you want to add 10 feet to the line.
Can I convert my electric stove to gas myself?
Although anyone can gather the materials and tools and convert their electric stoves to gas, it is far too dangerous to do it yourself.
Just a minor work of changing the socket voltage comes with the risks of electrocution and socket damage that will make the work even harder and more expensive to fix.
Furthermore, installing gas lines is seriously dangerous since a fault can cause a fire, explosion, or property damage. And worse, you and other people can be harmed as a result.
So it’s always best to get a licensed electrician, plumber, or gasfitter to carry out this stove-power conversion.
After all, paying a few hundred dollars or even a thousand is nothing compared to the comfort and peace of mind you get when you know that the job has been well and safely done for you.
