Please please help me replace my range

6 years ago

I am going absolutely bananas trying to replace the range in our kitchen island.

The range we have, which is almost dead, is a Thermador dual-fuel 30" drop-in. It has a built-in pop-up exhaust.

Never mind about the exhaust. I just need a new range.

We prefer gas or dual fuel, but as far as I can tell, there is no such thing as a drop-in anymore that isn't electric. So that's question number 1:

1) Is there a gas or dual-fuel drop-in range available?

If I have to switch to electric, I'm somewhat comforted by the rumor that electric burners are a lot better than they used to be.

2) Is that true? Will I not hate electric?

If I don't or can't go with an electric drop-in, then my only other choice is a slide-in. But my counter is 34 3/4" high and they are all 36" -- or are they?

3) How nuts will a stove that sticks up over an inch drive me? I did notice that the range we have now sticks up about 1/4-1/2", and I've never even noticed it.

I've already had one stove brought out and had to return it because they couldn't make it work for some reason. So I paid a very good appliance store to have someone come out and inspect everything so I could know what my options are, and all they told me was that they don't carry any gas or dual fuel stoves that would work and not stick up.

So I figured that I would get much better advice here from all of you! You're more knowledgeable and more helpful.

What can you tell me?

Thanks so much in advance.

Featured Answer

Toronto Veterinarian

6 years ago

The only electric that you'd like is induction - don't bother with buying a standard radiant electric. But I think you'd really like induction, which gives you as much control as gas, but without the flame or heat.

However, your non standard counter height will likely be a problem -- if my range was an inch higher than my counter, I think it would really bother me.

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Comments (13)

Fori
6 years ago
You'll hate electric. Induction is pretty nice though.

It sounds like your counters aren't standard, so you're going to have problems. :(

My range sticks up about 3/4". It would not bother me because the sides are finished except that it's gas, and so the grates stick up another inch and that would not bother me...except that i'm kind of short.
gellchom thanked Fori
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gellchom
Original Author
6 years ago
Yeah, I'm short, too. Which is probably why the counter is a little lower than standard. Curse you, Thermador, for not making things that will replace your old ones! :-)

Fori, are you saying you do have a stove that sticks up 3/4" plus the height of the grids? (Come to think of it, I'm sure that my grates stick up a bit more, too.) Is it impossible, or just annoying but something you got used to?

I have heard great things about induction, but I don't want to switch to all new cookware, and aren't induction ranges very very pricey?
stevep2005
6 years ago
Here is a good explanation of Drop In Ranges from a big appliance place in my neck of the woods. Looks like there are only a couple of drop ins left out there. They also suggest going with a range top with a wall oven underneath. I kind of like that option as it opens you up to a world of quality appliance combinations. https://blog.yaleappliance.com/what-is-a-drop-in-range
Toronto Veterinarian
6 years ago
"I have heard great things about induction, but I don't want to switch to
all new cookware, and aren't induction ranges very very pricey?"

Neither of those concerns are a sure thing.......all or some of your cookware now might be compatible with induction, and they're not all particularly pricey. You can test your current cookware with a magnet (if a magnet sticks to the bottom of your pot/pan, it will work with induction). The price of induction stoves and ranges has dropped a lot in the last several years, as has the price of induction-compatible cookware.
gellchom
Original Author
6 years ago
"a range top with a wall oven underneath" -- WHHHAAAATTT??? Can I really do this? Talk to me! :-)
Fori
6 years ago
That means new cabinetry, most likely!
Fori
6 years ago
Oh, I measured. My counters are the standard 36". The top of my range grates are 2" above that. I'm 61". The difference is probably psychological, but I don't like using tall pots on the back. If you avoid the "pro" look, you probably won't have stupid high grates. And a proper range should at least be droppable to 36"; mine is not.

I see a lot of installation manual reading in your future.
Helen
6 years ago
A range top with an oven below is possible and you would need a cabinet but presumably you could get a cabinetmaker to do a matching one.

This look is very trendy but I personally don't understand it - aside from aesthetics. The oven in almost all instances is placed lower than a standard range and there doesn't seem to be any increase in functionality for the trade off but it looks sleeker than a stove which is why people with limited space kitchens will do it. I have never seen it done where there is the ability to actually have a wall oven at a comfortable height.

People who switch from gas to induction are generally quite happy after adjusting and there are real benefits to induction versus gas. One benefit is that if you are using a down draft, an induction doesn't need as much venting capability as a gas would. Of course what you cook is going to impact venting needs as well.
dan1888
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Look at the Bosch Benchmark slide-in. You won't need a cabinet at all. Here The 800 is very similar and less money.
oic57
6 years ago
Hi,

We replaced a drop in with a Bosch Benchmark slide-in induction, which we love. We also had the problem with the counters height (they were 35" and 1/4 tall) but we removed the legs and we made it work. Two years ago when I was looking for an induction stove, the Bosch was the "lowest" one. Other people have put a filler between the stove top and counter, when they could not make the range the same height as the counter. Check the post https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/2481515/my-slide-in-stove-is-taller-than-the-granite-and-other-issues for more information.

Before

After:
gellchom
Original Author
6 years ago
I did the magnet test on my cookware -- not one worked. (I mostly use copper-bottom Revere Ware and Calphalon, as well as woks.) I don't think we will be here too many more years, so I am disinclined to switch to induction.

Fori, I am the same height as you! Thanks for the great tip about avoiding the pro look to save a little height.

So, GW geniuses, what are my best choices in

- slide in gas or dual fuel

- freestanding? It is in an island, but I can live with a little thing sticking up in back, although I do prefer the controls on the front.

- a cooktop plus a wall oven

?

Thanks so much for all your time and help.
oic57
6 years ago
Induction does not have grates adding extra height :). You can find inexpensive nice pots that work for induction in places like Costco, TJMaXX. Compared to the price of the range their cost is peanuts. And induction is soooo easy to clean. And with a little or no exhaust, induction is much preferable to gas. Just saying.

Please please help me replace my range

Toronto Veterinarian

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