DIY Kenmore Gas Cooktop Installation

Determine the best location for the gas cooktop. Usually, the cooktop is located below a range hood to allow ventilation of cooking odors and vapors. Kenmore recommends that you allow a minimum of 30 inches of clearance between the top of the gas cooktop and the bottom of the wall cabinet. Allow at least 5 inches of clearance on each side of the cooktop.

Cut out the cooktop, if applicable, according to the specific Kenmore model installation instructions. If your instructions have a template for the cutout, use the template.

Remove the double-sided foam tape package supplied by Kenmore in the installation kit. Turn the cooktop upside down. Apply the foam tape on the underside of the cooktop, around the metal flange and 1/4-inch from the outer edge. Leave the protective tape on the exposed side of the double-sided tape for now.

Brush a thick coating of liquid pipe sealer or Teflon tape onto the small gas line pipe nipple protruding from the bottom of the cooktop.

Screw the gas regulator valve onto the cooktop gas nipple. Use an adjustable wrench to tighten the regulator firmly to the gas nipple.

Brush a thick coating of liquid pipe sealer or Teflon tape onto the end of the flexible gas line. Screw the flexible gas line onto the gas regulator with the adjustable wrench.

Remove the protective film from the foam tape installed on the underside of the cooktop flange.

Lift the cooktop and insert it into the countertop hole, making sure that the flexible gas line and electrical power cord go through the hole.

Go under the cooktop to secure it to the countertop with the supplied Kenmore brackets. Insert the offset part of the bracket into the slot on the underside of the cooktop housing. Turn the thumbscrew to clamp the bracket onto the countertop. Repeat for the other side of the cooktop.

Brush on a thick coating of liquid pipe sealer or Teflon tape onto the end of the flexible gas line. Screw the flexible gas line onto the gas supply line, typically located in the cabinet below the gas cooktop. Use the adjustable wrench to firmly tighten the connection.

Plug the cooktop's electrical power cable into the outlet.

Turn on the gas line shutoff valve by turning the valve so that it is parallel and not perpendicular to the supply line pipe.

Install the gas cooktop burner heads, burner caps and burner grates onto the top of the cooktop. Install the knobs onto the cooktop.