How to Install a General Electric Cooktop

Securing the Cooktop into Position

• 1

  Clean the counter surface of all grease and dirt using paper towels and liquid soap. Wipe dry.

• 2

  Peel the protective paper from the back of the foam strips or gasket supplied with the cooktop. Press the strips or gasket onto the rim of the mounting hole on the top of the counter. Whether you have foam strips or a single rectangular gasket depends on your GE model. Both styles work the same way.

• 3

  Attach the two metal brackets supplied with the cooktop to the underside of the left and right edges using the mounting holes in the cooktop and the supplied bolts and nuts. Tighten the slotted bolts with a screwdriver.

• 4

  Lower the power cord and gas hose, if installing a gas model, into the mounting hole. The other ends are attached to the underside of the cooktop.

• 5

  Hold the cooktop in position over the mounting hole with the controls turned in the direction where you will stand when using the appliance. A helper may be needed to hold the heavy appliance while you lower it onto the counter. The edges of the cooktop should rest on the foam strips or gasket.

• 6

  Secure the cooktop to the underside of the island or cabinets with the metal brackets and supplied screws. Tighten with a screwdriver.

• 7

  Turn off the circuit breaker to the power outlet below the countertop or inside the island.

• 8

  Twist together the bare wire on the black insulated wire from the cooktop to the black wire in the outlet. Twist the white wire from the cooktop to the white wire in the outlet. Connect the remaining wire to the ground wire in the outlet. Twist a wire nut onto each of the threaded connections clockwise to secure. Continue to the next section to complete the installation of a GE gas cooktop.

GE Gas Cooktop Connections

• 9

  Apply gas pipe sealant around the bullet-shaped valve stem on the gas line below the countertop or island. Most sealant products include an applicator brush attached to the underside of the screw-on cap.

• 10

  Push the coupler on the end of the hose from the cooktop onto the gas valve treated with sealant. Twist the coupler clockwise to lock on the gas hose.

• 11

  Mix liquid soap and water in a bucket until foamy. Soak a sponge in the foam.

• 12

  Turn the handle in the gas valve until it is parallel with the hose. This releases gas to the cooktop.

• 13

  Squeeze soap suds from the sponge onto the connection and watch for bubbling. If you see or smell gas, twist the valve handle 90 degrees clockwise and start over with the gas connection, then retest.