Afternoon!

Very keen to install a dual-fuel range.

I will be getting a sparks in to do the electricity bit... I was just wondering what the deal was on the gas installation? We don't have mains gas, so I was planning to pop a 35kg bottle outside in a little atelier with a pipe through the wall. Can anyone advise whether there is a French equivalent of 'Corgi Registered' or is a DIY approach acceptable?

Many thanks in advance, as always!

M

I haven't come accross gas bottles that size for domestic cooking. Most people use the smaller size that we would put inside a portable gas fire in the UK. The French happily put their gas bottles under the sink or even inside the cooker.

However, they do take some care. Whilst looking at a burst pipe, my plumber gave me a row for having a coonecting gas pie which was more than 4 years old (they're dated).

remember to change the gas jets if you use bottled gas

You will be amazed to learn that there are lots of rules and regs about using gas in France - no storage of propane inside the house (butane allowed up to 13kg), if two cylinders connected together then should be done by a professional, etc. - there is the equivalent of Corgi in France (Qualigaz, I think...)

Spend a little time searching the web for 'Installing and Using Gas Heating and Appliances in France'...

And yes, do make sure the jets are for propane/butane, and they're adjusted correctly! I fitted our (very simple) arrangement with no problems - changed the jets, adjusted them, sited the butane in a wee cupboard next to the cooker, and used a life-time warranted flexi-hose with appropriate regulator on the bottle. Works fine.

But do a search - it's all there.

I hope L'Acajou (a friend from the same village) won't mind me quoting her input on a similar thread a short while ago :

'To my great delight, we bought a dual-fuel Rangemaster when we first arrived in France. The 5 burners run on a 13kg Butaine bottle, bottles last us about 4 months and are about 28€ a time. We were told that bottle gas is cheaper than mains. The ovens, grill and warming plate run on electric - we had the electricians in to wire it in. I think Rangemaster is part of Aga and is now "Falcon" in France.

Happy cooking

Sue'

I have enjoyed some splendid meals, and wonderful baking off this Rangemaster, and can confirm that Sue is still very happy with it!

Hi Luke, thanks for that! Nice to be appreciated My lovely range cooker sits in what used to be a fireplace, it originally had a bread oven in the back. The 13kg gas bottle is cunningly hidden high up in a little cupboard kindly fabricated by some friends when we first moved in - genius! You have reminded me that I need to arrange for the cooker to be serviced, after 8 years of heavy-duty cooking it could use some technical TLC. I know I can arrange this through our local Leclerc who sell Falcon cookers.
One thing though, we did have to upgrade our electric because as soon as I switched on both ovens at the same time, the electric tripped out. I'm sure Luke can explain about that, way too complicated for me

Sue