How to Convert an Induction Cooktop at Home into a Gas Cooktop

Customer concerns:
As an Asian family, the client finds the induction cooktop at home not powerful enough and wants to convert it into a gas cooktop. Happi Plumbing is responsible for the gas system remodeling work.

Step 1: Assess the Route for the New Gas Line and Verify Feasibility

We proposed two options for the client to choose from:

Option 1: Dig a trench from the gas meter outside, going around half the house (about 150 feet) to reach the exterior wall of the kitchen. Drill through the exterior wall to bring the gas line into the kitchen. This route passes through the backyard patio and will significantly damage the landscape, which will require hiring a separate contractor for landscape restoration.

Option 2: Drill through the garage and bring the new gas line indoors. Open the drywall from the garage to the attic, run the gas line through the attic to a point above the kitchen, then open the drywall to bring the gas line down into the kitchen. This plan would require opening a large amount of drywall on both the first and second floors, and all drywall repairs would need to be handled by others.

Option1:

The client did not want to open up walls throughout the house and chose Option 1, the outdoor trenching route.

Step 2: Apply for a Permit from the County

Step 3: Call 811 to Mark Existing Underground Utility Lines

We had the underground lines marked on the right side and backyard of the house.

Step 4: Trenching

Before beginning excavation, we discovered that there was a thick concrete slab beneath the patio tiles. The client did not want to destroy this entire slab.

We decided to design a new route to avoid the concrete slab by trenching around the swimming pool.

Near the pool, we found an existing gas line that serves the pool equipment. We branched a new line from this existing gas line to the kitchen, which significantly shortened the route. The pipe size is 3/4 inch, which meets code requirements.

Step 5: Indoor Wall Work

We opened the drywall behind the kitchen, drilled holes through the studs, installed black iron gas pipes, secured them to the studs, and re-covered the drywall.