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Okay right here we’re, let’s discuss this stunning elephant within the room. Our new range which is a refurbished Cream 4-Oven AGA cooker. It has been a very long time to get up to now, and there may be nonetheless a lot work round this area and this cooker, however I couldn’t wait till the complete kitchen was buttoned again collectively, and since we’re taking fairly a little bit of the renovation right here on this area and some others, it may very well be months earlier than all of it comes collectively. I’ve dreamed of this cooker for a few years as I pined over outdated English cottage kitchens I’d examine in books & on-line that every one had a model of this cooker in them. So let’s get into somewhat QA sort of weblog to reply a number of the questions you could have about this cooker, and the way we will got here round to deliver it to the farm.
What’s an AGA
Should you don’t know what an AGA cooker is or solely acknowledge them from a number of kitchens, let me provide you with a quick run down. AGA cookers have been first invented in 1922 by a Swedish physicist named Gustaf Dalén. Dalén was blinded in an accident whereas working with stress vessels, so he got down to create a cooker that didn’t require fixed consideration. He got here up with the thought of utilizing forged iron to retain warmth and constructed a cooker that may very well be left on on a regular basis with out the necessity for adjusting the temperature. Your entire unit is insulated with a number of totally different layers from throughout the physique to the gaskets on the door.
When wanting on the oven every door has a pre-determined temperature, give or take a number of levels, when the cooker is introduced as much as operating temperature. High proper is the Roasting Oven, backside proper is the Baking Oven, prime left is the Simmering Oven, and the underside left is the Warming Oven. The middle door is the place the burner meeting is situated. There’s a little variable right here however roughly the roasting oven is about to about 450-460 diploma, the baking oven at 350 levels, the simmering oven is near 250 and the warming oven is nearer to 150 diploma. I intend on utilizing a laser temperature reader to learn totally different areas however typically talking these are good temperatures to reference when cooking.
The highest has a warming plate, that’s fairly sizzling. You may faucet it along with your hand however you may’t actually depart it on the waring plate. The middler is the boiling plate, the most well liked a part of the cooker, and the far proper is the simmering plate. The very cool factor concerning the simmering plate is you may cook dinner immediately on it, so we’ve got already finished grilled cheese and cheese quesadilla for Copey.
Okay let’s get into the QA for this magnificence.
Aren’t They Costly?
Lets get the massive query out of the way in which. The value. We bought this Pre-Owned– sure, Pre-Owned. There may be really a reasonably substantial marketplace for pre-owned AGA’s that brokers and installers have on-hand right here within the US, in a position to be shipped to your own home. We had no thought this was a risk so we assumed we might by no means have the ability to personal an AGA cooker, however someday with some willpower we found this world of used AGA cookers & so we wished to share that with all of you in case it’s been your dream to have on as effectively. We bought ours from Chef Cargo (hyperlink) and had a beautiful expertise. Matt gave us an inventory of installers in our areas in addition to comply with on steps after we bought that began us on our planning journey. A fast google search will present you that Model New Forged Iron AGA’s promote for north of 3ok, I can completely guarantee you that we didn’t pay that, Pre-Owned AGA’s promote for a spread of 70-75% off new worth factors. After ours have been shipped, we fell proper inside that vary of 70-75% off model new costs. And for a number of the Ranges we have been , the extra typical ones, we have been on the similar worth level.
Learn how to you go from on-line buy to completely put in?
So as soon as you buy your AGA on-line or in-person, I like to recommend you discover an installer to see if you may get them to come back onsite forward of your set up and look over your area. We didn’t do that, and I misplaced plenty of sleep over this, however over the cellphone and thru using a digital copy of the producers specs and dimensions to get our area constructed out for the cooker.
We’ve got an Open Flute 4-0ven AGA, which required a B-Vent put in to vent out by way of the roof. There are two variations of those Cookers, the Open flute, which is the uncovered vertical black pipe going up an out of the home, and direct vent, which isn’t uncovered. Fortunately we had a pre-excisiting venting for our earlier hood, that we used to route our new B-Vent comparatively simply. This did require a separate skilled to put in the vent. Whenever you name round you realized this isn’t an excellent frequent equipment, we discovered that wooden range and hearth installers have been probably the most knowledgable for this utility.
The AGA tough peak is 33 1/2 inches tall. We constructed somewhat platform to lift it as much as our counter peak. This appears to be regular follow in most kitchens so somewhat step up platform almost certainly can be required. We constructed ours into our Range Cove with lumber and plywood. We lined the highest with factor aluminum sheeting and confronted this step up with full bricks that our masons put in.
The installer did point out that the perimeters, again, and backside must be a non-combustable materials. So we had cement board, our brick veneer, and prime plated the step with a skinny layer aluminum nailed in place.
To put in the AGA you have to to discover a licensed/licensed AGA installer. The AGA when shipped is available in two crates and it’s assembled in place. I believe roughly the AGA weights about 1200 lbs, so as soon as its put in its not sliding wherever. This isn’t a kind of, “solely licensed installer” eventualities, like connecting gasoline strains, or putting in a water heater, the place owners with some frequent sense can deal with the duty, that is a completely no approach round it, skilled installer required.
We used Rob from The Aga Studio (Hyperlink), fortunately he’s from Michigan, however he has been referred to as to put in from Georgia to Mackinac Island, and all over the place in-between. The set up takes about 1 1/2 days and had a beautiful time studying concerning the set up, elements, anticipated service and upkeep, in addition to some ideas and tips as he owns a number of. Rob additionally does refurbish and resell pre-owned AGA’s as effectively with some very-very aggressive costs as effectively.
The place can I discover one?
The dealer we used was Chef Cargo, and our Installer has some as effectively, The AGA Studio. We’ve got discovered some on Fb Market as effectively for wherever from $5k-9k. Additionally normal on-line looking is a good suggestion as your space could have them on the market in different capacities too. My suggestion can be to look to see if in case you have an installer close by and see if they’ve one on the market, or know of anybody promoting. We discovered that some individuals buy a house with an AGA that don’t need them, so that they name an installer to take away them or attempt to promote them. If there aren’t any present purchaser the Installers will take away them and buy them and hold them readily available. One of the best half about this, is there may be much less fingers within the course of, and the installer sometimes will refurbish them as soon as they’ve them.
Are you able to Change the Shade?
Sure and no. The enamel prime and entrance will be recolored and re-glazed, nevertheless our installer was not conscious of anybody in the USA and solely an organization within the UK. The value would value to ship it approach and ship it again can be near the price of a pre-owned AGA of a unique coloration.
Why Cream?
We have been going between a cream and a white unit. We chosen the cream for a number of causes. We felt it complimented a brick veneer higher, in addition to begin are transition into bringing somewhat extra coloration into this area. We additionally cherished that cream was the ORIGINAL coloration of the AGA cookers so it has that historic attraction to it. We could have no different home equipment close to this area so we additionally had no different equipment colours to work round.
What Prep work did it’s worthwhile to do?
- We began with eradicating the outdated kitchen cupboards we had in place.
- Then we eliminated the stone wall that was beforehand put in once we bought the house.
- Recognized the range cove have been the AGA was going. Decided the help beneath, which we had a full block wall beneath to help the beforehand put in stone wall.
- My brother, Johnnie Debruin Builders, corrected some structural points and get a brand new header in place that was probably inflicting a number of points within the ground above. He created a step as much as deliver the AGA to our present counter peak and framed the cove and cement boarded the inside partitions to be prepared for the masons.
- There was some electrical ran within the cove that wanted to be re-routed and repurposed, in addition to creating a brand new change plate finding for the brand new pantry.
- We added a water line for a future pot filler and area of interest to be put in within the cove.
- We then had our masons, Brixstone Masonry, set up brick veneer.
- As soon as the AGA installer was onsite we decide the very best inlet and placement for the gasoline, and put in a model new 1/2 inch line beneath.
Does it make your Kitchen Sizzling?
I learn someplace that it was so effectively insulated you may’t actually really feel any warmth. I don’t suppose that’s solely true. Whenever you get a number of ft from the AGA you may inform its on. The warming plate does kick out a little bit of radiant warmth. A number of seasoned AGA homeowners make the most of this to assist dry garments, moist boots, and different issues. Our house is fairly extensive open with plenty of home windows, we’re all the time catching breezes, as well as we’ve got a beefy attic fan that will get air transferring. We should see if it creates any un-comfort this summer season, however at this second it isn’t making the complete area hotter, however subsequent to it you may really feel its heat. The doorways, and Hob covers (sizzling plate domes) do hold in a ton of the warmth. Once more we are going to shoot this so you may see how how it’s open, closed, close to and much.
What’s left for across the AGA?
We’ve got water ran to the area of interest above we simply want to select a backsplash tile for the again of the area of interest wall.
We bought some vintage ceiling tin that we plant on putting in.
We are attempting to find out our lighting state of affairs if we want one thing over prime or not.
The flooring in entrance (and all through the kitchen) goes to get up to date as effectively.
Have you ever Cooked on it but?
Sure we’ve got. As soon as it was put in it took a few 2 days to get to temperature. We’ve got solely had it for lower than per week now, so we’re nonetheless studying the method, however we’ve had household spaghetti, grilled rooster fajitas, and quesadillas. Burgers, Salmon, and Hen are on the menu within the subsequent few days. As soon as we get extra comfy with it, I’m so excited to do a full Turkey or some bigger gadgets, in addition to discovering some wholesome baking recipes to do frequently. Copey is obsessive about baking so we’re on a mission this summer season to make this a routine– he’s actually good with remembering the directions and its simply a lot enjoyable.
You may see extra concerning the AGA cooker as we go & extra of our kitchen Renovations [HERE]
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