Electric Oven Replacement Cost Calculator
Electric Oven Replacement Calculator
See how much you could save by hiring a licensed electrician versus the potential costs of DIY replacement.
Replacing an electric oven isn’t like swapping out a light bulb. Even if the new unit looks identical to the old one, the risks aren’t worth cutting corners. Many homeowners wonder if they can handle it themselves to save money. The short answer? Electrician is the right call - and here’s why.
Electric ovens run on 240 volts - not your standard outlet
Most homes in New Zealand use 240-volt circuits for large appliances like electric ovens. That’s double the voltage of a regular wall socket. A standard 10-amp plug won’t cut it. You need a dedicated 15-amp or 20-amp circuit, wired directly to your switchboard with a special isolator switch. If your house was built before 2010, the wiring might not even support the load of a modern oven. Old circuits often use 10-amp wiring, which overheats under the 3.5 kW to 5 kW draw of today’s ovens. Overloaded circuits can melt insulation, trip breakers constantly, or worse - start a fire.
Wiring mistakes can kill
Electricians don’t just know how to connect wires. They know how to test them. Before installing a new oven, they check for correct earth bonding, polarity, and circuit protection. A reversed live and neutral wire might make the oven work - but the metal casing could become live. Touch the door handle, and you’re in serious danger. One electrician in Auckland reported a case where a homeowner wired an oven backwards. The oven worked fine, but every time someone touched the door, they got a shock. It took two weeks to trace. The fix? A full rewiring job. That’s not a DIY project.
Building codes aren’t suggestions
In New Zealand, the Electrical Safety Regulations 2010 require all fixed appliance installations to be done by a licensed electrician. This isn’t about bureaucracy - it’s about safety and insurance. If you install your own oven and something goes wrong, your home insurance won’t cover fire or damage caused by unlicensed work. That includes water damage from a faulty element, or a house fire from an overloaded circuit. Insurance adjusters check for compliance. If they find unlicensed work, they deny the claim. You’re left footing the bill for a new house, a new oven, and lost belongings.
Even if it looks easy - it’s not
You might think, “I replaced my toaster. How hard can this be?” But ovens aren’t plug-in appliances. They’re hardwired. That means disconnecting live wires behind a wall, pulling new cable through joists, and securing the circuit in a breaker panel. You need to know how to turn off the main power, lock out the circuit, and verify it’s dead with a multimeter. Most people don’t own one. Even if you do, misreading the display can be deadly. One wrong setting and you think the power’s off - when it’s not.
What about the old oven? What if it’s still working?
Old ovens often have outdated wiring that doesn’t meet current standards. If your oven is over 15 years old, the cable feeding it is likely rubber-insulated - which cracks and becomes brittle over time. Modern ovens use heat-resistant silicone or PVC. If you try to reuse the old cable with a new oven, it won’t handle the heat. The insulation melts. Sparks fly. That’s how fires start in kitchens. A licensed electrician will remove the old cable entirely and install a new one rated for the oven’s load. They’ll also check the switchboard for space and capacity. If your panel is full, they’ll advise on upgrading it - before you even buy the oven.
What’s the cost difference?
DIY might seem cheaper. But here’s the real math. A licensed electrician in Auckland charges between $150 and $300 to replace an electric oven - including removing the old unit, installing the new one, testing the circuit, and issuing a Certificate of Compliance. That certificate is legally required. Without it, your installation is invalid.
If you DIY and something goes wrong? Repair costs can hit $5,000 or more. A single fire in a kitchen can cost $20,000 in damages. Even if you avoid disaster, you’ll likely need to hire someone later to fix your mistake. That’s double the cost. And you’ll still need the Certificate of Compliance. The electrician won’t sign off on work they didn’t do.
When is DIY even allowed?
The only time you might handle part of the job is if you’re replacing the oven with an identical model, on the exact same circuit, and you’re confident the wiring is modern and safe. Even then, you still need a licensed electrician to test and certify the installation. You can unplug the old one and slide in the new one yourself - but the final connection, testing, and sign-off? That’s the electrician’s job. No exceptions.
What about gas ovens?
Gas ovens are different. Those need a gas fitter - not an electrician. But if you’re replacing an electric oven with a gas one, you’re not just swapping appliances. You’re adding a gas line, a vent, and possibly a new power point for the ignition system. That’s two trades. Don’t assume one person can do it all. Gas and electricity are separate regulatory areas. Mixing them without proper certification is illegal and dangerous.
How to find a qualified electrician
Look for someone with an Electrical Worker Licence and Electrical Contractor Licence issued by the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB). Ask for their licence number. Verify it on the EWRB website. Don’t hire someone who can’t show proof. Check reviews on TradeMe or local Facebook groups. Ask if they’ve done oven replacements before. Good electricians will show you photos of past jobs. They’ll explain the process, not just quote a price.
What to expect during the job
A professional will:
- Turn off the main power and lock the switchboard
- Remove the old oven and disconnect the wiring
- Inspect the circuit for damage or outdated components
- Install a new cable if needed - usually 6mm² twin and earth
- Connect the new oven to the correct terminals
- Test for earth leakage, polarity, and insulation resistance
- Issue a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) - this is mandatory
Most jobs take 2 to 4 hours. No mess. No guesswork. Just a safe, legal, working oven.
What happens if you skip the electrician?
Some people get lucky. But luck isn’t a strategy. You might avoid disaster for months - or years. Then one day, the oven sparks when you turn it on. The circuit breaker trips. You reset it. It trips again. You ignore it. Then - boom. Smoke. Fire. Insurance won’t pay. You’ll have to pay out of pocket. And if someone gets hurt? You could face legal liability. In New Zealand, homeowners have been fined for unlicensed electrical work that caused injury. Don’t gamble with electricity.
Bottom line
Replacing an electric oven isn’t about saving a few hundred dollars. It’s about protecting your home, your family, and your finances. The cost of hiring a licensed electrician is small compared to the risk of doing it yourself. It’s not just a recommendation - it’s the law. And it’s the smartest thing you’ll do this year.
Can I replace my electric oven myself if I have electrical experience?
Even if you have experience, New Zealand law requires a licensed electrician to perform and certify the final connection. You can help move the oven or prep the space, but the wiring, testing, and Certificate of Compliance must be done by a registered professional. Insurance and safety regulations don’t make exceptions for DIYers - even skilled ones.
What if my oven is just broken and I want to replace it with the same model?
Even if you’re replacing it with the exact same model, the electrical connection still needs to be inspected and certified by a licensed electrician. Old wiring can degrade over time, and the circuit may not be up to current standards. A professional will check for corrosion, loose terminals, or undersized cables - things you can’t see without the right tools.
Do I need a permit to replace an electric oven?
You don’t need a separate permit, but you do need a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) from a licensed electrician. This document proves the work was done safely and legally. It’s required by law and must be kept with your home’s electrical records. Without it, your installation isn’t compliant.
Can I use the same cable for a new oven as the old one?
No. Older ovens often used 2.5mm² or 4mm² cable, but modern ovens require at least 6mm² twin and earth cable to handle the higher current safely. Reusing old cable risks overheating, insulation failure, and fire. A licensed electrician will always install new, code-compliant wiring.
How long does it take to replace an electric oven?
A typical replacement takes between 2 and 4 hours. This includes removing the old unit, inspecting and upgrading wiring if needed, installing the new oven, testing the circuit, and issuing the Certificate of Compliance. If the switchboard needs upgrades or the wall needs patching, it could take longer.
