If you have a drop-in range in your kitchen, you may need to move it during a home renovation. Rearranging the appliances and countertops in your kitchen can necessitate moving the range, either permanently or just to another location in your kitchen. Fortunately, this process is quite straightforward, though it can require the assistance of a second able-bodied adult.
What Is a Drop-in Range?
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A drop-in range is one that typically was designed to replace another range in a kitchen and is built without a bottom drawer. In most cases, drop-in ranges are so-called because they are dropped onto a base cabinet, to which they are mounted.
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Confused as to what a drop-in stove vs. a slide-in stove is? According to Yale Appliance, a slide-in stove can fit between two cabinets but has a bottom drawer. In most cases, these drawers are used to store pots and pans. Most ranges that are purchased are made in the slide-in style.
Important Safety Considerations
Before removing your drop-in range, be sure that the gas is turned off, if applicable. You should be able to locate the gas knob attached to a hose behind the range. If you are not sure how to turn the gas on and off properly, you should seek the help of a professional for this project.
In addition, do not attempt to remove a range if it is still connected to power. Disconnect the range cord from the outlet before you do anything. You also might wish to turn the power off to the unit at the circuit breaker box, just to be on the safe side.
Ranges and other appliances are very heavy and pose a tipping hazard. If you will be moving one, do not try to do it alone. Seek the help of another adult to lift the drop-in range off its base cabinet. Ideally, you could use a dolly or other wheeled cart to get it out of the house. If you must carry the range, definitely invoke the assistance of friends or family who can safely carry it.
Removing a Drop-in Range
Your drop-in range may be attached to the counter on either side with screws or mounting brackets. If you can slide the unit away from the wall at all, you should be able to access these and remove them. The mounting brackets may also be right on the countertop. They may also be located within the cabinets that are adjacent to the range.
Once the drop-in range is no longer connected to the surrounding counter, you are ready to remove it. Lift it off its mounting and then slowly and carefully set it on the ground. You can then move it elsewhere in your kitchen or take it elsewhere for recycling or disposal.
If you are replacing your cooktop with a slide-in range or changing out your drop-in range with a slide-in version, you will need to remove the base cabinet on which the old version was mounted. In the event of a cooktop that was mounted on the counter, you will also need to cut away the countertop.