Induction hobs in HMOs?

Reply to the comment left by David Judd at 06/07/2022 - 12:44
My induction hobs have cost between £150-£200 or so, which I don't think is too bad. However, currently on The Wright Buy from £99.99 upwards. I have had one or two breakdowns in 5 or 6 hobs over as many years, but so easy to replace.

Something not yet mentioned is that those with medical electrical implants such as "pacemakers" are strongly advised not to use induction hobs. Indeed I have had one affected tenant point this out when I mooted the idea to them. I would therefore personally not install them in any tenanted property.

I recently changed my ceramic hob for an induction model. I also have ceramic hobs in some HMOs.

While they use less energy than ceramic hobs and are a great fit in the right environment, induction hobs do need ferrous pots/pans, which would be an additional expense to consider, or an adapter.

Costwise, they start from the low hundreds and, if you get one the same size as your gas hob, installation costs could be quite low. You'll need a Gassafe op to cap off the gas supply and a sparkie to wire in the new hob if it's not a plugin model. And assuming that there's a socket in the right place.

The cheaper models tend to come with a 13amp plug and can be plugged into a socket but, as has been pointed out, are low powered, typically 3kW, which restricts the use of all the hobs simultaneously. Higher powered ones, typically c7kW, require wiring in to the mains by said sparkie, and can accommodate full power on all rings together. Which fits the pattern of use by your tenants - are they happy to use adapters? I started off with an adapter but found it a bit of a faff and ended up getting new pots and pans.

From a safety point, the rings still get hot, though it's the heat transferred from the pan rather than the rings as with a ceramic hob.

During lockdown, I replaced a ceramic hob in one of my HMOs with another because I didn't want the ferrous pots/adapter hassle though now, given energy costs, I may think different. Maintenance wise, my tenants keep them clean - one's coming up to it's 7th birthday and still going strong, no marks, cracks, etc. But then it depends on your tenant profile too.

We swapped out all ceramic hobs several years ago.

The comments above cover most of the considerations

Pros:
Easier to keep clean than gas or ceramic
More energy efficient than ceramic
Safer - do not get (or stay) as hot as halogen and cut out if nothing on them

Cons
Need ferrous (steel pans) - can use adaptors but lose efficiency
Glass so easier to scratch, chip or crack
Need electrician to fit
Risk of steel pan lids or utensils getting hot if left over active hob

Other considerations
Cost - similar to other options
Fitting to existing worktop - similar to any other replacement hob, you need replacement to be at least the same size as existing

Practical Points / Tenant education
- Wipe off spills, periodic clean with light cream cleaner and scotch pad (no steel pan cleaning pads).
- Any hard to clean marks can be scraped off with razor blade type paint scraper
- Pans must be steel
- Do not put at max power when putting non-stick pan on. Increase power to avoid damaging the non-stick (thermal expansion of lining vs pan)
- Do not put heavy items in any cupboard above the hob

Benefit
Tenant has responsive, cost and energy efficient hob which is easy to keep clean.

13 A x 230 v will only provide ~ 3kw so try to use cooker feed if all rings are likely to be simultaneously in use.
Power is only consumed when a mangetic material is placed on or close to the surface. Pans in stainless steel are ok because of high iron content. Aluminium ok only with a magnetic base built in. Ceramic no good.
cleaning easy.
If left on with no pan - no energy consumption - but be careful leaving stray pans or other ferromagnetic materials on the plate if switched on.
We are replacing gas with induction as and when poss. No products of combustion - no flame - no chip-pan fires. Quick surface cooldown - plane top easy clean - never had a surface broken yet, usually fit existing cut-out. Don't recommend infra red electric - no advantages over gas except plane surface.
R R Draper BSc(Eng)

My experience with 2 flats we rent out.
1st flat had old fashioned electric solid hotplates so we replaced with a Hotpoint induction hob. It lasted only 2 years so we replaced it with a standard ceramic hob.
2nd flat was a new build with all Neff equipment, the induction hob there did a bit better it lasted 3 years. It's an up market flat so we bit the bullet and replaced it with same model.
I have since read that induction hobs built for the domestic market are not designed to last and if you get more than 5 years out of one then you are lucky.
Larger commercial induction hobs designed for restaurants, hospitals etc. will last a lot longer.

I wouldn't install induction again after last time. Firstly they cracked it within a week by dropping a saucepan on the corner. That was a £400 bill.

Secondly they heat up a lot quicker than other hobs and after a few months all (and I mean ALL) the induction-compatible saucepans are completely knackered because they've burnt food in them. These are young people in a house share but they are by no means mingers in any other way - keep the place reasonably clean and tidy etc.

I have induction hobs and they are brilliant, the pans may work on it that you have just test them with a magnet if it sticks they will work on induction hobs. I have mine covered with domestic and general along with the washer and dishwasher it's well worth the £16 per month. Easy to use, clean and professional looking. Sale of goods act 2015 says if it doesn't last 6 years the manufacturer must replace it regardless of warranty. Induction hobs should last 8 to 10 years. Mine are whirlpool.

Research induction adapters
" Do not use induction converter discs unless you absolutely have to, because you lose a ton of efficiency, and the disc gets so hot that it can damage some induction stoves. "

Reply to the comment left by Rob Crawford at 06/07/2022 - 08:50
Non induction ceramic hobs are awful. They take hours to heat up. I'd never recommend them.