Buying new cooking equipment can an exciting endeavour for foodies and those that spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Unfortunately, getting rid of the old equipment to make way for the new can be notably less fun.

For those that own a small car, disposing of an old appliance can be a real pain in the boot. Meanwhile, if you have no personal transport at all, it can be nigh-on impossible without a helping hand and four helping wheels.

Luckily, as always, Cooker Spare Parts has you covered. If you have old kitchen equipment in need of shifting, save yourself a headache with this handy guide on how to dispose of appliances.

Recycling Old Appliances

The best way to dispose of any kitchen or household appliance is, of course, to recycle it.

This not only ensures you are safely disposing of the item in a responsible manner, preventing pollution, it also benefits the environment by enabling the materials to be reused.

To make this fact abundantly clear, the WEEE Directive was implemented in the UK in 2006 as a means of reducing waste products and cutting down on littering, fly-tipping and land-fill waste.

Focussing on waste electrical and electronic equipment (hence WEEE), this directive eventually became law in 2014 and allows for the safe disposal of most electrical items.

Despite this fact, government figures estimate that there are still around 2 million tonnes of WEEE items needlessly discarded in the UK every year.

What Appliances Can Be Recycled?

In a nutshell, you can recycle pretty much any electrical item that has a plug or requires batteries (within reason).

From fridges, washing machines and oven disposal to microwaves, toasters and iron clearance, you’d be surprised at just what you can recycle.

This even extends to a myriad of other electrical items, ranging from TVs and computers to games consoles and musical instruments.

If a product isn’t recyclable, it will usually be distinguishable by a small logo of a wheelie bin with an X through it. When in doubt, consult Prof. Google for further clarification.

How Do I Recycle Appliances?

To make things extra easy, there are actually a number of ways in which you can recycle your old electrical appliances.

We’ve listed the most common and popular methods of recycling appliances below for you – so there are no excuses for any of them ending up in your bin come collection day!

Collection on Delivery

If you have bought a new appliance from a high-street store or online supplier, you may be in luck right away. Many stores and suppliers offer to remove your existing piece of equipment on delivery of your new one.

This service is often offered in exchange for a small removal fee, typically starting at £15 for a large item. Meanwhile, some may even dispose of it free of charge if you bring it into the store.

However, it’s worth noting that this by no means a universal service, so be sure to check its availability beforehand.

Council Collection

If such a service isn’t on the table, an easy alternative is to simply put in a request to your local council.

Most councils operate a collection service of electrical items, including bulky items like ovens, fridges and washing machines (provided you let them know in advance).

This is also a great option if you are simply looking to get rid of an appliance that is faulty or beyond repair.

That being said, it’s worth noting that some councils will also charge a small fee for this service, so make sure you read the small print before you book.

Recycling Centres

If you’re mobile and would rather go down the independent route, there’s nothing stopping you from taking the proactive approach and disposing of it yourself.

Now, to be clear here, we’re in no way suggesting you load up your fridge in the back of a van a dump it in a shady layby. That, ladies and gentlemen, is fly-tipping and very much illegal.

We are, however, very much endorsing the use of local recycling centres. Simply take your item to your local recycling point and follow the instructions accordingly.

To locate your local recycling centre quickly and easily, follow the link and enter your address details to find a centre near you.

If you would like to know more about appliance disposal, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 02920 452 510 or click the button below to get in touch via email.

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Are you searching for a new cooker but not sure which type to go for? The cooker you choose will depend on the previous cooker you have used and, of course, your personal preference when it comes to cooking. This blog highlight’s the pros and cons of gas and electric cookers, to inform you of which cooker is suitable for your needs. While both of these style cookers do a great job, they both have advantages and disadvantages.

Which is cheaper to run?

Both gas and electric cookers cost money to run, but they do differ greatly in how much they cost. If you use an electric cooker, you will use less energy but as electricity costs are more than gas per unit, you may end up paying slightly more for an electric cooker.

If you were to use your cooker for around five-hours per week, tests have shown an electric cooker will cost you on average £40 per week while a gas cooker will cost around £17 per week. Not to mention, gas cookers tend to retail cheaper also. While we understand, it’s not always about how much it will cost you, this will influence which cooker you purchase.  

Advantages and Disadvantages; Which cooker is best?

Gas Cooker

Advantages

1. Gas cookers are great for simmering food as they offer quick and easy-to-control heat temperatures. Overall, the cooker hobs provide even heat for the base of your pan. Therefore, you spend less time preparing your dinner to get it cooked properly.
2. They are also cheaper to run, compared to electric cookers. As a result, you’re going to save more money if you cook with a gas cooker.

Disadvantages 

1. Gas hobs are a lot slower than electric hobs, meaning they take longer to warm larger volumes of food. If you’re planning on cooking large meals each night on your gas hob, we recommend you safe yourself some time and go for an electric cooker.
2. Gas hobs can sometimes be harder to clean as they have raised burners and pan supports. Trying to clean them does become slightly trickier and time-consuming. As gas hobs have raised burners and pan supports they are more susceptible to collecting dust and excess food from spillages.
3. A gas cooker has less even heat distribution in the ‘oven’ compartment compared to electric ovens, making it harder for the heat to circulate around the cavity of the oven. This means the heat will stay at the top of the oven, rather than the bottom. While this is seen as a disadvantage for some, others utilise this element as they cook different foods, with different cooking instructions, at the same time!
4. Conclusively, installation of a gas cooker can also be a tricky one and you are required to have a qualified professional to install your appliance – this does cost, so bare this in mind if you are thinking of purchasing a gas cooker.

Electric Cooker

While there is no definite answer to which cooker is best, as experts, Cooker Spare Parts can advise you of the advantages and disadvantages of each cooker, to make sure you’re buying the most suitable cooker for your home and your requirements!

Electric cookers have a few more advantages than they do disadvantages and this is why;

1. Electric cookers evenly distribute its heat, this is because they have fans, which help circulate hot air around the cavity. This means your food will tend to cook evenly and will take less time (this is a great benefit if you are cooking large meals or are looking to cook a meal quickly).
2. Electric ovens also tend to have different heating elements that you can utilise to your advantage. With this element, you can cook multiple meals at the same time. For example, using your grill and fan to cook different meals (perfect for families with children or those with different food preferences).
3. If you tend to cook a lot, have a large family or, are a messy cook (this is not a bad thing), then an electric oven would be the cooker we would recommend. Electric cookers are much easier to clean and take less time to clean – so, if you’re in a rush or cooking a lot, it saves you a lot of time and stress when it comes to the deep clean.
4. If you purchase an electric cooker that has ‘induction cooking’ you can speed up cooking times; induction cookers heat up faster which is great if you’re in a rush and are looking to whip up a quick meal.
5. Finally, it has been proven that electric cookers are better at grilling food to that of gas cookers. So, if you like to grill your food then we’d recommend an electric cooker.

Disadvantages 

1. Electric cookers cost fractionally more, so your energy bills will be slightly higher if you opt for this cooker style.
2. Electric cooker hobs tend to take longer to cool down as they retain heat after they have been switched off – be careful if you have little ones, as they can be very hot to touch after they have been switched off!

Cooker Spare Parts can inform you of the types of cookers available and how they can work for you. However, it really depends on your cooking preferences as to which cooker is best! Both gas and electric cookers do a great job at cooking but they do have different functions so, make sure before buying, you are aware of their pros and their cons.

If you do have any questions about which cooker is best, don’t hesitate to give our friendly advice team a call or email; you can find their contact details here. Additionally, at Cooker Spare Parts we stock a range of gas and electric cooker replacement parts so at any time you find your cooker in need of fixing, we can help too!

If your oven has stopped working or you have noticed a fault, then carry on reading. This blog post targets common oven problems and how they can be fixed. The majority of problems that occur among most ovens can be fixed independently and it doesn’t take too long either. I bet you’re thinking – “what oven parts do I need?” Well, think no further! Cooker Spare Parts provide a range of oven parts that help make fixing your oven that little bit easier and, a lot quicker. This post will explain the different replacements you will need if certain parts of your oven have stopped working and require replacing. 

1. Not heating up

Firstly, if you have noticed your oven is not heating up how it should be, there’s no need to panic - this could be an easy fix.  

Gas oven:

If you have a gas oven, the issue could be down to a faulty igniter. In order to find this out, you can test one of the gas stovetops to see if it ignites. To check the temperature and turn on the gas of your oven, you more often than not press down on your dial, hear a few clicks and then the stovetops ignite. If this does not happen for you, you might want to consider replacing the igniter.

To replace the igniter, you can simply turn the oven off by disconnecting it from the main power socket. Remove your oven door so it’s easier for you to access your cooker’s igniter; remove the screws holding the igniter in place, and disconnect the wiring connection; connect your new igniter and then put everything back together – it’s as easy as that.  

If you’re still finding that your oven isn’t heating up as expected, you may have a problem with your thermostat. Your oven’s thermostat controls the amount of gas within the oven and allows the oven to reach a desired temperature (and of course, stopping it from under or over heating). If your thermostat is faulty, this can stop your gas oven from heating up correctly.

Electric oven:

If you have an electric oven, often, due to constant use, the heating elements can wear and stop working. You can often tell if an oven element is faulty if it doesn’t fully glow red/orange, or from its physical appearance. Visual indications are bulging; bright spots; or obvious cracks. If you notice any of these faults, then this is normally a sign that it’s time to replace your heating elements. Changing this only takes a short amount of time if you use the correct replacement part, and by following this step-by-step guide.

2. It’s not heating to the correct temperature

It can sometimes be frustrating when your oven suddenly stops heating to the correct temperature but these appliances don’t last forever, and it is important to keep checking regularly, to make sure your oven is doing its job.

Gas oven:

If your gas oven isn’t heating up to the correct temperature, it may be because you need to change your oven thermostat. However, it could be simpler than that, and the part that could be causing you trouble could be as simple as a door seal. Heat may escape from your oven door and therefore, resulting in your food not being cooked properly.

Electric oven:

If you notice your food is coming out of the oven partly cold; or it’s not heating up at all, this is normally a sign that the temperature sensor inside your oven is broken. Before replacing your temperature sensor, make sure to check that your sensor is not touching the inside wall as this affects your ovens capability of measuring the temperature. If you find your oven is still not heating to the correct temperature, you can use an ohmmeter to test your sensor. Replacing the temperature sensor is also an easy job!

Both ovens:

If you have changed your temperature sensor and thermostat, and your oven still doesn’t heat correctly, one common problem is that it needs to be calibrated. To check that your oven knows when and how to heat up, you must test it by using an oven thermometer. Preheat your oven to 176°C and take the temperature reading after twenty-minutes, and every twenty-minutes or so for the next two-hours - make sure you write your temperature readings down as you go along. After your final reading, add up the total temperature heating and divide this by the number of readings you took. If you’re findings are different to the average 176°C, this will indicate that you need to adjust your oven’s temperature dial. Hopefully this will fix the job!

3. It doesn’t cook food evenly

Another common oven problem is that it doesn’t cook your food evenly! If you have recently cooked some meals and noticed that they are cold in some parts and boiling in others, then this tends to sign that you have either a faulty heating element and thermostat, in your electric oven or thermostat and igniter, in your gas oven.

This problem can be easily fixed. All you have to do is preheat your oven and see if your heating elements light up (electric oven) or ignite (gas oven) and check that the temperature of the oven is the same as the temperature’s sensor. If after this diagnostic test your oven still isn’t working as desired, both heating elements and thermostats should be replaced, for electric ovens or thermostat and igniter, for gas ovens.

Additionally, if you are using baking trays or other trays whilst cooking, give them a clean or replace them. As trays are reflective, if they are not clean, the heat cannot bounce off them and therefore, cook your food as well. 

4. Door won’t close properly

Lastly, the easiest fix and an extremely common oven problem is that your door doesn’t close properly. If you find your oven doesn’t heat up as well as it used to it may be because your oven has a loose door. As we use our ovens daily, the hinges; catches and seals can become faulty, especially if we open and close with some force. This is probably the easiest fix and can be done in minutes. All you need to do is replace the hinges and/or door catch/pin; and your oven will be as good as new! For help replacing your oven door hinge, check out this easy to follow guide.

There are many common oven problems that you encounter, but most of them are a really easy fix! All of the products advised to change faulty parts of your cooker are from Cooker Spare Parts. If you encounter further oven problems and would like guidance or advise, don’t hesitate to contact the Cooker Spare Parts support team.

Note: before ordering any parts, make sure they are compatible with your specific oven model/type. Your model type and details can be found on your oven and we have a search bar that allows you to directly search what you are specifically looking for.

There’s nothing worse than getting home from a long day at work to find your electric oven has broken – there go your dinner plans! Luckily for you, we can save the day with our powers of damaged-electric-oven-diagnosis (…think of us as a more practical superhero). So, from minor oven faults to an oven which has completely cut out, we have the ‘problem + solution’ equations to get your electric oven back up and cooking.

Know Your Elements (no, not the periodic table kind)

Faults with heating elements are a pretty common problem with electric ovens. If you’re finding that the light or fan still come on, but your oven isn’t heating up properly, you probably have a faulty heating element. In the majority of cases, the best way to fix this is to identify the damaged element in your electric oven and replace it. You can find all our oven element replacements here.

Burnt Grub

If your oven is still cooking food but doing its job a little too well –  i.e. burning everything to a crisp –  the issue is likely down to the thermostat. You probably won’t be surprised to hear that a thermostats job is to manage the temperature of your oven, when it breaks or becomes dirty the temperature becomes unstable. A quick tip for checking this is to take the temperature of the heat inside your electric oven manually – if the reading is higher than the temperature your oven is set to you can be sure the thermostats to blame – browse this page for a replacement.

Black Out

The dreaded electric oven cut out. If it appears that your oven is completely broken, it understandably causes a bit of panic – while it’s hard to diagnose the exact oven fault without knowing the specifics, there are a few common oven issues we can outline for you. One possible problem is that the power from the mains has cut out due to a blown fuse (luckily, this is easily fixed). Alternatively, you may have an issue with the thermal switch or cooling fan. If you’re concerned, we recommend getting in touch with us – we can help whatever your electric oven problem.

Too Much Heat

We all like some warm weather, but if you find that your oven door or knobs are very hot to the touch – or even that other utilities in the kitchen are heating and burning you may have a broken oven door or faulty cooling fan. A damaged oven door allows the heat to escape and consequently can burn furniture around the kitchen. Once you’ve identified whether the fan or oven door is the issue, you should look into cooling fan and oven door replacements.

If we didn’t identify your electric oven fault here then fear not, you can give our team a call on 02920 452 510 so we can help diagnose the problem and recommend quality parts to get your electric oven fixed. For those of you already in the know, you can browse all our spare electric oven parts to find what you need for excellent value for money!

3 Button Oven Clock and Timer

Electric Oven Timer

Electronic Zanussi Oven Timer