Where Bright Ideas
Come to Life!
Come to Life!
It's one of the most common questions we get, and the honest answer is: it depends on what's already there and what you're putting in. But let's give you some real numbers and explain what actually drives the cost, so you're not left guessing.
If you're swapping like-for-like — same type of appliance, same location, existing cabling in good condition — our prices start from around £127. That covers disconnecting the old unit, connecting up the new one, testing it and making sure everything is safe and compliant. That's a clean, simple job and often done within an hour or two.
Before we get started though, we always need to know two things: the wattage (kW) of the unit coming out, and the wattage of the one going in. This isn't just box-ticking — it's how we make sure the existing cabling and circuit protection can handle the new appliance. A hob or oven that draws more power than the one it's replacing can push the existing wiring beyond what it was designed for, and that's where costly surprises appear — either a job that's suddenly much bigger than expected, or worse, a safety issue down the line. You'll find the kW rating on the appliance data plate, usually on the side or back of the unit, or in the product manual. If you're not sure, the model number will do and we can look it up.
Where additional costs can come in is if the existing cable from the outlet plate to the appliance needs replacing. Cable deteriorates over time, and if it's not in good enough condition to safely handle the new appliance, we'll replace it. We'll also flag if additional fixings are needed — nothing hidden, we'll always talk you through it before we start.
And if you don't want to be left figuring out what to do with the old appliance, we can take it away for you. As licensed waste carriers registered with the Environment Agency, we dispose of old units safely and ethically — so you're not stuck trying to book a council collection or making a tip run. There's a small additional charge for this, but most customers find it well worth it for the convenience.
Induction hobs are where things can get more complex, and it's worth understanding why before you buy one.
A standard electric hob might run on a 6mm cable from your consumer unit. Many induction hobs — particularly larger or higher-spec models — draw significantly more current and need a dedicated circuit with heavier cable, typically 10mm, run directly from the consumer unit to a new isolation switch, and then out to the hob position.
Why does that matter? Because if your existing cabling isn't up to it, you can't just connect the new hob and hope for the best. Undersized cable is a fire risk. We won't do it, and no reputable electrician should.
This also means upgrading the circuit protection at your consumer unit — the breaker needs to be rated correctly for the new circuit. That adds to the job.
The other variable is distance. If your consumer unit is in a hallway, utility room or even a garage on the other side of the house, getting cable to the kitchen means feeding it through walls, floors or ceiling voids. That's labour, and sometimes it's straightforward, sometimes it's not. Every house is different.
For jobs like this, we'll either ask you to send us photographs of your consumer unit, your existing hob setup and the route in between — or we'll come out and do a survey. There's no point guessing when we can quote accurately.
If your oven is built into kitchen cabinetry, the electrical side is usually straightforward. The challenge is more physical — getting the old one out and the new one in when there's very little clearance either side. Kitchen units are built tight. We're used to it, but it's worth knowing that what looks like a simple swap can take longer than expected purely because of the space involved.
Here's something most people don't think about until they're standing in a kitchen with a new hob and a hole that doesn't quite fit: when the original kitchen was installed, the worktop was cut to fit that specific hob. Hob dimensions vary between manufacturers and models, and sometimes the new hob you've bought is slightly larger than what was there before.
In those cases, we may need to carefully extend the cutout by a few millimetres to get the new hob to sit correctly. It's not a huge job, but it does add time, and it's not something we can know in advance without seeing the hob specifications alongside the existing hole.
If you're planning to upgrade — particularly to an induction hob — it's worth getting us involved before you purchase. We can tell you whether your existing wiring is sufficient, what a new circuit would involve if it's needed, and give you an accurate quote so you're not hit with surprises after the new appliance is already sitting in your kitchen.
Send us photos, give us a call, or book a survey. We cover Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Crowborough, and we'll give you a straight answer without the guesswork.
We're NICEIC registered electricians covering Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Crowborough. Tell us how many fittings you need swapping, your ceiling heights, and the type of fitting you've bought.
We can for a small charge remove along with packaging of the old unit and packaging from the site in a safe and ethical manner. (We do need to know beforehand to ensure we have space in the back of the van!)
We are registered waste carriers (Registration CBDU288762 with the Environment Agency) for materials deemed waste during the course of our work.
For an accurate quote for replacing your existing lights, contact Karen at Bright Spark Electrical Services Electrician and we’ll be happy to advise based on your specific property and requirements.
To book a very helpfull & knowledgeable and qualified Bright Spark Electrical Engineer to carry out a Survey, and provide a Free of Charge Quotation, most times shuld you supply us photographs of the existing postions, and the new light fittings we can provide a price swiftly. Please fill out our simple form to visit your home. click [Click this Link]
For further Information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Telephone: 01892 531728
Karen arrived shortly after my phone call, all sorted. Very happy, thank you.
The two guys from Bright Sparks arrived promptly as arranged. Took their outdoor boots off before making their way to the job - a nice touch . Efficient, pleasant; I could not have asked for more. When the invoice arrived I was also pleasantly surprised. Overall a good experience 10/10
The guys did a great job yesterday – and were very accommodating too (putting things back in cupboards that they had to remove.) I gave them regular coffee / tea (and my wife made them a couple of Apple buns too) – and last night I gave them each a bottle of VERY good wine as a small thank you. GW - Hildenborough
Thank you for sending us Phil to restore light to all corners of our home. Most agreeable and efficient gentleman who didn't flinch visibly at the dusty mysterious corners where ancient wires lay in ceiling space and appliances wired from the dark ages.
We are very pleased with Phillip’s work. You’ve truly gone above and beyond to deliver what we had in mind for our front porch.
