Is it permissible for me to replace an induction hob?

[skotl]

The background
New kitchen put in last year, including electrics to a new island, into which was inserted a Whirlpool ACM847 induction hob (rated at 8kw). All electrics done by a spark, EICR and Building Control involved.

The detail
1 month after the hob's 1 year warranty has expired, it has failed with what seems a common fault (F47, if anyone is inclined to google it).
Whirlpool engineer has quoted us over £300 to fix it, and the company is not interested in the fact that it is only one month outside warranty.

Unsurprisingly, I'm not that keen to throw good money after bad - many people on t'interwebs say that after they have repaired their ACM847, it would fail soon after with the same fault.

So, I'm looking at buying from another manufacturer, especially one that offers a 3 or 5 year warranty.

The question
If I purchase a hob rated at the 8kw or less that the original device was, is it permissible for me (ex electronics engineer, but definitely amateur electrics) to replace the unit myself?
On a related point, I spotted one option that is rated at 3.8kw - does that indicate that I should change the current MCB for a, say, 20A MCB?

Thanks
Scott

Edit: This is in Scotland

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

You can replace the induction hob, without contriving any regulations.
I would add just because the warranty has expired on the hob, does not mean your consumer rights have!

 

[skotl]

You can replace the induction hob, without contriving any regulations.
I would add just because the warranty has expired on the hob, does not mean your consumer rights have!

Cheers PBoD. I was conscious of keeping the question, and hopefully any ensuing discussion, on topic

However, tonight's task is a Sale Of Goods Act letter to the retailer asking them to replace or repair the unit. My question re the electrics is in preparation for Plan B!

 

[winston1]

1 month after the hob's 1 year warranty has expired, it has failed with what seems a common fault (F47, if anyone is inclined to google it).
Whirlpool engineer has quoted us over £300 to fix it, and the company is not interested in the fact that it is only one month outside warranty.

The Sale of Goods Act is your friend. Goods must be of merchantable quality, fit for purpose, and be expected to last a reasonable time. A common fault sounds like a manufacturing defect. The SOGA is for 5 years in Scotland.

Your contract is with your retailer not Whirlpool, who have quite rightly washed their hands of it. Contact your retailer, who could well be the installer. Don't be fobbed off with the manufacturers guarantee which is in addition to your legal rights. If he is difficult contact the citizens advice bureau.

 

[skotl]

Yes indeedy. Didn't get round to it tonight, but will be on it tomorrow.

I have asked the manufacturer to consider a concession on the warranty, but the SOGA "repair or replace" letter will be going to the reseller.

 

[ericmark]

As to supply size I would say 32A is standard and 99% of hobs can have a 32A supply even if it does not match what the rating plate says.

8 kW seems normal my hob will old allow you to use two rings on boost so 6.7 kW on boost and 7.4 kW individual heat areas. I used boost when I first got it but now very rare other than plain water it is useless it just burns stuff in the pan.

I was very lucky by chance I got a Belling which uses knobs to control been in around 7 years and worked well. My mother got a hob with touch controls which had to be removed. She could not see touch controls from a wheel chair and also they are so slow to use the idea of switching off rather than lifting pan just did not work. It was just good luck we got knobs works so much better than touch controls.

Hope you get a low cost fix. But if not do consider anyone in wheel chair or children can't see many of the touch controls so without realising it a child can turn on heat areas as they can't see there are any controls.

 

[JohnW2]

As to supply size I would say 32A is standard and 99% of hobs can have a 32A supply even if it does not match what the rating plate says.

Diversity is your friend here. With diversity, a 32A circuit can supply about 83A (about 19 kW) of cooking appliance loads.

Kind Regards. John

 

[skotl]

Thanks guys.

I'm hoping for a SOGA or warranty resolution but not expecting one! So good to know I've got my choice of (3 or 5 year warranty) hobs.

What a pain in the proverbial.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I'm hoping for a SOGA or warranty resolution but not expecting one!

Difficult to see how a retailer could argue that a hob which broke after 13 months was of merchantable quality.

Does he warn potential customers not to buy that one, as it won't last much more than a year?

 

[JohnW2]

I'm hoping for a SOGA or warranty resolution but not expecting one!

Difficult to see how a retailer could argue that a hob which broke after 13 months was of merchantable quality.

I would agree, but I haven't got a clue as to how often such claims under SOGA are successful - have you?

Kind Regards, John

 

[skotl]

This is why I hadn't mentioned the (potential) legal / contractual side of the situation in the OP. But, given that question has been answered then I guess we can meander off down the SOGA path

The problem for me is throwing good money after bad. I will have far greater chance of a SOGA "conviction" if I pay an independent engineer to assess the hob. Question is; if I get nowhere with the reseller (and there's always the small claims court, too) then that's more money down the drain.

So, while I'm here, over to the pro electricians on here - is this engineering assessment the sort of job that an electrician would undertake? I guess it would be more likely to be an appliance repair specialist, right?
Anyone on here that has done this, and can give an indication of a) cost and b) any estimate of chance of a successful outcome?

Ta

 

[JohnW2]

The problem for me is throwing good money after bad. I will have far greater chance of a SOGA "conviction" if I pay an independent engineer to assess the hob. Question is; if I get nowhere with the reseller (and there's always the small claims court, too) then that's more money down the drain.

Yes, I can understand that thinking. However, if you could produce evidence (even if only from the Internet!) that it was a 'common early fault', is it not possible that you could win the argument without the need to have your hob inspected/assessed? There is also the possibility that the mere threat of getting an engineer to assess it might be enough to influence the retailer.

As I wrote to BAS, I haven't got a clue as to how often these sort of claims under SOGA succeed, so I'll also be interested in anything that anyone can tell us.

KInd REgards, John

 

[skotl]

Thanks John - good point re empirical evidence; I'm going to put the initial letter together tonight so that will help crystallise my thoughts.

As you and b-a-s suggest, it seems difficult to imagine that they would have a defence...