fitting a new hob. is it illegal?
fitting a new hob. is it illegal?
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Discussion

pesty

Original Poster:

42,655 posts

287 months

Friday 10th February 2006
quotequote all
The fitting on the new gas hob I just put in was in a different place. Around 2 inches shorter.

I cut the pipe removed 2 inches then put in a inline yorkshire fitting soldered all seems fine.

I could not get a gas fitter to come out for such a small job not one of them was interested in the yellow pages so decided reluctantly to do it myself.

Now someone I know has told me that what I have done is illegal and that only corgi registered gas fitters are allowed to work on the gas supply.

so now I'm worried that i will blow the house up and go to jail for life.

am I ok or what?

>> Edited by pesty on Friday 10th February 16:11

minimax

11,985 posts

287 months

Friday 10th February 2006
quotequote all
I belive that technically what you have done is illegal but in actual fact I would sit back and marvel at your handiwork and say bollox to the law and if you're sure you've done a good enough job then just keep it quiet

Balmoral Green

42,561 posts

279 months

Friday 10th February 2006
quotequote all
Just to make sure its OK, hold a naked flame around your new joint to check for leaks.

esselte

14,626 posts

298 months

Friday 10th February 2006
quotequote all
An old hob we used to have had a "bayonet" type fixing.Are these still available or are they now classed as dangerous?

oi_oi_savaloy

2,315 posts

291 months

Friday 10th February 2006
quotequote all
I was hoping this was some sort of exotic topic about hob nobs and the strange places they get to but sadly not.........


esselte

14,626 posts

298 months

Friday 10th February 2006
quotequote all
oi_oi_savaloy said:
I was hoping this was some sort of exotic topic about hob nobs and the strange places they get to but sadly not.........




I prefer the chocolate ones

>> Edited by esselte on Friday 10th February 16:21

simpo two

93,052 posts

296 months

Friday 10th February 2006
quotequote all
Yes, you can't work on gas.

However when I discovered that my new hob would cost more to have fitted than the hob itself, I thought 'bollox' and consulted the Screwfix catalogue. I saw a flexible fitting that looked just right and then went to my friendly local plumbing shop to get one that day.

'You know that you're not allowed to do this yourself?'

'Yes. How much is it?'

'£10'




Have you noticed how everything is either illegal or compulsory?

Byff

4,427 posts

292 months

Friday 10th February 2006
quotequote all
I've just fitted a shower - Totally illegal now.

They can go themselves if they think I'm paying for an electrician to check my work. Same goes for gas, you get used to the pungent smell after a while.

Tuna

19,930 posts

315 months

Friday 10th February 2006
quotequote all
As with fiddling with your electrics (also illegal), what you do at home is your business and no-one elses. However, the laws are there to protect you from doing something dangerous, and to protect the future buyers of your home.

The law kicks in when you come to sell - theoretically you are liable to the purchasers to disclose such information and mortgage lenders, insurance companies etc. would be less likely to deal with a house that has not been legally maintained. Of course proving that a job is DIY and has been done since you occupied the house and/or the laws were introduced is pretty difficult.

Lots of people each year die as a result of poorly done DIY. If you're confident that you can do the job properly, and then reliably check that your work is safe, then I'd certainly not wait for a plumber/electrician to come out and do the job for you. Personally I'm happier with electrical work than any form of plumbing, because on the whole you can't get 'little' electrical leaks - it's either a sound job (visible and mechanical check, then with tester if appropriate) or not.

angrys3owner

15,855 posts

260 months

Friday 10th February 2006
quotequote all
Balmoral Green said:
Just to make sure its OK, hold a naked flame around your new joint to check for leaks.


This is actually quite a good idea - probably with someone ready to turn off the gas!

Byff said:
I've just fitted a shower - Totally illegal now.

They can go themselves if they think I'm paying for an electrician to check my work. Same goes for gas, you get used to the pungent smell after a while.


Yep, think it's a complete joke - I think most people with a brain can do a better job than your local "trained" sparky or plumber - although I would leave the gas to a gas fitter as I can see myself getting blown up.

simpo two

93,052 posts

296 months

Friday 10th February 2006
quotequote all
I was told by the FENSA-registered man who fitted two d/g windows to my house that it was unsaleable because another window (that a neighbour did fo rme) didn't have the right stamp on it.

Shit, I just lost £180,000. Bummer, eh?

pesty

Original Poster:

42,655 posts

287 months

Friday 10th February 2006
quotequote all
mmmmm I'm worried now. I think the lots of people die each year from bad diy did it .

It was a case of it can't be that hard if no on else will do it I'll do it myself. Now I'm thinking what the hell was I doing working on the gas supply.

I'm sure the job is ok there is a ring of solder around the joint, no smell and no bubbles when I put soapy water on it but all the same I think I'll try to get someone out to check it for me If I can.

Thanks for the replies

stumpage

2,213 posts

257 months

Friday 10th February 2006
quotequote all
Brought a dishwasher the other day. In order to get the lead through the work top to the plug I need to take the plug off and refit it once the cable is through. Told by shop that if I remove the plug the warranty is void. So I ask "What if I plug it into an extension lead and take the plug off of the extension lead and run that through the work top?" Answer "That's fine sir"

WTF!!!!!

clubsport

7,417 posts

289 months

Friday 10th February 2006
quotequote all
As far as diy goes, if i get plumbing wrong it will leak....a bad electrical connection will cause the circuit breaker to kick in.....The one aspect I will not touch is Gas, for the sake of 30-50 quid get a corgi registered fitter to fit or even check your handywork out.
If the house blows up (really hope not!) are the insurance company going to pay out if it is due to a faulty gas fitting? Doubt it.

john75

5,303 posts

278 months

Friday 10th February 2006
quotequote all
Balmoral Green said:
Just to make sure its OK, hold a naked flame around your new joint to check for leaks.


Not recomended to do this.

Rather like putting you hand on high votage cable to see if it is live.

bluespanner

3,383 posts

254 months

Friday 10th February 2006
quotequote all
so how long is it before you are not allowed to fix your own car?
I mean youre only just allowed to change interior lightbulbs, FFS

dirkgently

2,160 posts

262 months

Friday 10th February 2006
quotequote all
The trouble with gas is you could wake up with your house in the next county; this can piss the neighbours off especially if you are middle terrace,

Balmoral Green

42,561 posts

279 months

Friday 10th February 2006
quotequote all
john75 said:
Balmoral Green said:
Just to make sure its OK, hold a naked flame around your new joint to check for leaks.


Not recomended to do this.

Rather like putting you hand on high votage cable to see if it is live.

Yep, that works well too. But I like to short it with a screwdriver, you get a nice light show too.

>> Edited by Balmoral Green on Friday 10th February 16:49

anonymous-user

85 months

Friday 10th February 2006
quotequote all
bluespanner said:
so how long is it before you are not allowed to fix your own car?
I mean youre only just allowed to change interior lightbulbs, FFS


NO!!! - Apparently lightbulb changing is now only legal if it's done with the written permission of some ttty quango employee from Whitehall!

motco

17,660 posts

277 months

Friday 10th February 2006
quotequote all
This man thinks it IS legal Gas Fitting Advice

>> Edited by motco on Friday 10th February 17:03