Moving a Gas Cooker and Cylinder: A Household Checklist

The cooker is the last thing in the kitchen, and the cylinder is sitting beside it with the hose still attached. Everyone else is already carrying boxes down the stairs. It is tempting to pick both up and put them on the vehicle.

Slow down on this one. A gas cooker is just an appliance, but the cylinder is the part to treat with respect. A little care makes the move safe for the driver, the helpers and your new kitchen.

Before moving day: switch off and disconnect

1. Close the cylinder valve fully the night before and again on moving morning.
2. Turn off every burner and let the cooker cool if it has been used.
3. Disconnect the hose from the cylinder only when the valve is closed, in an open and well-ventilated space, with no flame, cigarette or generator running nearby.
4. If you are unsure how to disconnect it, ask the person who installed it or the gas supplier. Follow the manufacturer's guidance for your regulator and hose.
5. Cap or cover the regulator outlet if your cylinder has a cap, and keep the regulator and hose together in a bag.

Never test a connection for leaks with a flame. If you smell gas, open windows and doors, keep away from switches and flames, and get help from the supplier.

Preparing the cooker

Wipe the cooker clean and let it dry. Remove loose parts such as grates, pan supports and trays, then wrap and pack them in a carton. Tape the oven door shut or secure it so it cannot swing open. Protect the glass lid and knobs with cloth or cardboard.

If it is a standing cooker with an oven, empty the oven and bring out any racks. Check the base and feet. If they are loose, tape them or pack them separately.

Heavier cookers need two people, or a trolley if the route has no steps. Lift with your legs, not your back, and do not drag the cooker, since that scratches the floor and loosens the legs.

How to carry the cylinder

Keep the cylinder upright, always. Do not roll it, lay it on its side or drop it. Carry it by the handle or collar, not by the valve.

On the vehicle:

• stand it upright, in a corner where it cannot fall
• wedge it with a cloth-wrapped carton or tie it with a rope so it cannot move
• keep it away from the generator, petrol cans and anything hot
• keep the load covered or shaded so the cylinder is not left in strong sun for hours

If you are moving a large cylinder or more than one, tell the driver when you describe the job so they can plan space. Our post on moving a generator safely deals with a similar safety problem, since fuel and flames do not belong together.

Where it goes on the vehicle

Load the cooker upright if it is a standing model, with the glass facing inward. A pickup van or a truck should carry it low and against the side, with a mattress or blankets between the cooker and the next item. Put the heavy items such as the fridge and the cooker in first. Our guide to moving a fridge or freezer covers the fridge side of the kitchen.

Do not stack boxes on top of the cooker. Do not put the gas cylinder where someone has to climb over it.

At the new place

Set the cooker where it will stand before the cylinder arrives, and check that the floor is level. Reconnect the hose and regulator in a ventilated room and check the connection as the manufacturer or installer recommends. If you are not sure, ask the supplier or a qualified person to connect it.

Do not light the burners until you are sure the connection is secure and there is no smell of gas.

How to do this on Sphere

1. Choose a pickup van for a small home, or a truck for a larger one.
2. Add the pickup and drop-off, including the floor and whether there is a lift.
3. Describe the load, and mention the cooker and the gas cylinder.
4. Propose your price. Nearby verified drivers accept it or send a counter-offer, and you choose.
5. Agree loading and offloading help with the driver before you accept an offer.

See house moving in Lagos for more.