Hot Tips on How to Move an Oven to Your New Home

How easy is it to move an oven to a new home?

It seems pretty straightforward, disconnect it, pull it away from the wall, lift it into the removal van, and off you go.

But if only it were that simple.

For a start, there is the legal position of what you can and cannot do when you move an electric or gas cooker to your new home to consider.

To help you make an informed decision on whether you are legally competent to move an oven there are links to all the legal requirements later in this article.

So to err on the side of caution we would advise you to always get a professionally qualified tradesperson to disconnect and reconnect your gas or electrical appliances.

As safety should always be a top priority, always refer to the manufacturer’s handbook for guidance about your particular model before doing anything.

Handbooks for most makes and models of ovens can be found at www.manualsdir.com

If you are in any doubt as to your physical ability to move an oven, leave it to a professional removal company.

Like any home moving task, a little forethought and planning will save you a whole lot of grief and expense, and more importantly, prevent any injuries to you, or damage to your property.

So from a standard single oven to a full-size range cooker, we will help guide you step by step on how to safely move every shape, size, and type of oven to your new home.

You may also like to read: How to Move Heavy Furniture. In this guide, we explain some safe lifting techniques, how to use various furniture moving equipment, and how to pack your furniture to keep it safe during your home move.

Planning the Best Way to Move an Oven to a New Home

First of all, you should consider if it is even worth moving your oven to your new home.

Would it be more cost-effective, and easier, to leave it in your old home?

Here are 3 tips to help you plan moving your oven to your new home:

Measure: If you do plan on moving your cooker, be sure to measure the oven to ensure it fits in the available space in your new kitchen. A floor plan is a useful tool to help you plan the layout of your new kitchen.

You may also like to read: How to Make a Floor Plan. In this guide, we explain how to make a simple floor plan and how to measure your furniture so that you can be sure that it fits in your new home.

Check the route: Measure the route you will take out of your old home and the dimensions of doors, tight corners, and hallways that you will need to move the cooker through in your new home.

Get a Quote: Find out how much it will cost to get a qualified tradesperson to disconnect and reconnect your cooker. You will also need to get a cost estimate for moving the cooker to your new home. Get a removal company quote as soon as you have finished your decluttering so that you can make a reasoned decision on what is cost-effective to move to your new home.

Must do: Get a removal cost estimate from 3-4 professional removal companies.

What Equipment Do I Need to Move an Oven?

Having the right moving equipment and packing materials will ensure that moving your oven is safer and easier, as well as making sure that it is properly protected during the move.

• Furniture Rollers
• Old remnants of carpet or hardboard
• Furniture moving dolly
• Furniture moving straps
• Bubble Wrap
• Wrapping Blanket
• Cardboard
• Tape

You may also like to read: How to Move a Refrigerator by Yourself. In this guide, we suggest packing and moving tips when relocating your fridge or freezer to your new home.

How to Move an Electric or Gas Oven by Yourself

As we mentioned earlier, if your electric cooker is hardwired you will need a qualified electrician to disconnect and reconnect it.

Here is some more information regarding your legal responsibilities when working with electricity from www.diydoctor.org.uk

To find a locally qualified gas-safe engineer to disconnect and reconnect your gas oven, here is a link to the gas-safe register

So now your oven is safely disconnected from the electricity supply, how do you move an electric cooker?

• Remove all the detachable parts such as the oven racks, plate drawers, and burner racks.

Clean, cover in bubble wrap and box all the removed parts. Clearly label the box noting its contents and that it is for the kitchen.

Seal shut the oven door with strong masking tape which will not leave marks on your oven.

Clean the floor so that no grit can damage the surface when you slide out the oven.

Lift the oven at the front and slip some old carpet (pile facing the floor), doubled over old towels or blankets, or furniture rollers underneath so that it will easily slide out without damaging the floor.

Clean the oven thoroughly inside and out. It would be a good idea to do this well in advance of moving day.

Fill the inside of the oven with old polystyrene boxes.

Re-tape the door shut.

Secure the electrical cable to the oven so it is not a tripping hazard and so it cannot get damaged.

Attach a piece of cardboard the entire size of the oven door window inside and out to give it extra protection.

Cover the cooker in at least 3 layers of bubble wrap, paying particular attention to the knobs and anything that protrudes, then cover in furniture blankets and tape them securely so they cannot move.

Ensure the wheels of the dolly are clean as any small particles of grit may damage your flooring.

With help, load the oven onto a dolly by tipping the oven backward and slipping the dolly underneath, then secure it with a strap so that it cannot slip off.

Ensure the path to the removal van is clear of tripping hazards.

Load the oven onto the removal van with a tail lift or ramp.

Place the oven at the cab end, in an upright position, against the wall, and ensure an equally heavy item is opposite to balance the load.

Strap the oven securely in place so that it cannot move.

FAQ About Moving an Oven to a New Home

Can you move an oven on its side?

As there are no liquids or gases in an oven, unlike a fridge or freezer which you should never lay down, it is, therefore, safe to lay an oven on its side walls.

How to move an oven without a furniture dolly

Using a shoulder dolly, which is a harness with straps that pass under the oven or any large and heavy object, can be used. These can be bought online or hired fairly cheaply.

How to move an oven down stairs

You can hire a stair climbing sack barrow or truck to which you strap the oven. A conventional sack truck can be used if there are two of you to ensure the safety of yourself and the oven.

Tilt the truck back towards your body and gently lower the barrow down each individual step with a helper to hold the oven steady and guide you down.

How to move an oven without scratching the floor

Depending upon the weight of your oven you can use furniture sliders under the feet of the oven, lengths of plastic sheet or hardboard which will allow your oven to slide easily, or your oven can be slid on old pieces of carpet (face the pile downwards).

How to move an oven away from the wall

Tilt the oven backward or raise the front so that you can slide a piece of carpet under the front feet, then slide the oven away from the wall. Ensure any cables or pipes are long enough to allow you to move the oven outwards.

You may also like to read: How to Pack a Kitchen for Moving Home. This is the ultimate guide to packing and moving all the commonly found items in a kitchen.

How to Move a Range Cooker

The sheer size and weight of a range oven will put most people off the idea of moving it themselves to a new home.

Therefore, it is recommended that you hire a professional removal company to move such a large item.

Before thinking of moving your range oven measure the route you would have to take to the removal van to ensure it can get through doors and through narrow hallways.

Some models are fitted with rollers which will make the whole process so much easier.

It would be best to refer to the manufacturers’ handbook to find out about your particular model.

Beware though that the roller wheels may damage your flooring. Put plywood under the wheels to prevent gouges, especially on wooden or vinyl flooring.

Note also when moving an oven range that many have a stability chain attached to the wall, so be careful when trying to pull your range away from the wall. Ensure there is enough slack in the electric and gas cables to move the oven as well.

Be sure to thoroughly clean the floor in front of the cooker to prevent small bits of grit from damaging your flooring as you slide your range cooker out.

Never try to move a range oven by pulling on the handrails as they are not designed for that purpose.

A minimum of four people may be able to move a range using a shoulder dolly.

This is a strap that goes under the range and the weight is supported by the body strap that each person wears.

Piano moving dollies could also be used by sliding them under the feet of your range oven.

Some ranges have a glass lid and if possible remove this before attempting any movement of your range oven.

Remove all the oven racks and warming drawers if your model has them to reduce the weight.

But the best option may be to sell your range oven to the buyers of your new home.

You may like to know: How to Move a Washing Machine. In this guide, we offer packing and moving tips to make the relocation of your washing machine easier and safer.

How to Move an AGA Oven

Because an AGA has a fitted flue and will require dismantling before moving, AGA recommends that you do not try to move an AGA yourself.

www.agaliving.com has plenty of useful information about your AGA.

An AGA is likely to add value to your home and is a good selling feature.

The cost to dismantle, move, and reassemble it may outweigh the cost benefits of selling the AGA as part of your home sale.

You may also like to read: How to Protect Walls, Floors, Doors, and Stairs When Moving Home. When moving large and heavy appliances it is easy to damage your home. In this guide, we explain how to protect your home from scuffs and scrapes when moving out of your home.

Landlords Safety Responsibilities

If you are moving into a rented property with an electric or gas oven already installed, your landlord has a legal obligation to ensure all electrical and gas appliances are safe to use.

Your landlord must give you a copy of the gas and electrical safety certificates within 28 days of you moving in.

The inspection should then be carried out annually and a new certificate issued as stated on www.gov.uk

Moving large and expensive items to a new home can be strenuous and expensive. Without the right equipment and knowledge, even more so.

A full-service removal company will have the skills and tools to be able to move your oven and other household goods safely and efficiently.

If you are in any doubt about any aspect of moving your oven leave it to the professionals.

You may also like to read: What is a full-service home removal company? In this guide, we explain exactly what a full-service removal company does and all the additional services they offer which you may find invaluable during your home move.

Stay safe and good luck with your home move.