Someone posted about this awhile ago and I can't find it, but it seemed that there had to be a minimal space between the two. I would check with the manufacturer to make sure.

The design of the ranges would be very important. I'd want to go with something that had grates that extended as close the the edge of the unit as I could to help minimize the visual discontinuity of having two separate appliances acting as one.

Gizmo, how are your appliances installed? Are the drop in, slide in, or freestanding? Was there any unusual cabinet/counter work required?

Country smile- I love the exterior of that house! I agree with you on the placement of the two side-by-side wall ovens. It seems kind of weird.

Thanks for your help!

Doing 2 ranges seems like a less expensive choice from the outside, but once you take into consideration all of the requirements for the setup, a single 60" range might actually be less money.

The venting and the utility connections will be the expensive part, not the ranges. If you're choosing gas, that will be 2 separate high demand hookups. That may require a brand new supply from the meter to the range location or it may require a new supply from the utility itself depending on the BTUs of the ranges you choose and the amount your utility is able to supply. If you choose electric, then you'll need 2 240 volt 40 to 50 amp circuits, which if you're in an older home, won't work with the traditional 100 amp service. It would be difficult with a 200 amp service if other major home items are electric as well. It will definately need new wires run from the breaker box to the range location, and it may need new wires from the pole to the service entrance and new breaker boxes as well. It's best to get a professional electrician/plumber to give you an estimate NOW at the planning stage before you've sunk too much time and hopes into a configuration that will be too difficult or too costly to work.

Then, there's the venting. While I suppose you could just use 2 freestanding vent units over the ranges for economics sake, it's going to look really strange if you do that. If you choose 2 inserts united by a single decorative hood, that hood surround will be custom for sure, and it can be a pretty penny with the 2 inserts. That will mean 2 holes through your roof or 2 exits through the side wall of your home. Or, if you go with a higher powered single insert capable of covering the 2 ranges, you're talking about a higher dollar choice, but the roof penetrations and hood cover would at least be more "stock".

2 ranges is a great idea from a functionality standpoint, but don't think it's really going to save you money.

Those are some very important points that I overlooked. Thankfully, we are upgrading just about all of the utilities in the entire house as a part of the remodel. For example, 75% of the house has knob-and-tube wiring. We're pulling all of that and replacing with upgraded wiring. We are also installing a furnace in the attic space right next to the kitchen and I think we have space to stub in dedicated gas lines for the appliances. We are currently on a 200 amp panel. Beefing up our electrical service as a part of this remodel isn't out of the question. We are also having the whole roof redone so popping a new vent shouldn't be too much of an issue.

I can see that if one were to consider this approach as its own project these issues would make it a no-go. Even in my situation it still may be a no-go. We'll see what the contractors think!

Thanks for the reality check Live Wire!

The venting requirements are the same whether you have a single 60" range or 2-30" ranges, aren't they?

The venting would be the same.

We have two Ventahood liner units, covered by a stainless steel "hood" constructed by a local sheetmetal shop. The shop also did a SS backsplash behind the cooking area, "hood" over the cleanup sink, & SS countertop. The range is freestanding, and the pullouts below the cooktops are wood cabinets clad in SS on the front.

I've seem it done by people who were keeping kosher and didn't want to confuse the help. I think there had to be a dividing area between the ranges, but then old ranges got hot on the outside and I think new ones are better insulated. One way I've seen it is with a large, mantel style custom hood for the whole area. That one had something like 12"-15" between the ranges which they used for small cooking appliances, like a deep fryer. Actually, it might be a bit wider. I'm going from memory. And I'm not sure all code would allow the outlet. Another one had obtuse angled walls with a filler in the corner where the ranges met. Each had it's own hood. You could only use one at a time, but, being kosher, they only needed to use one at a time.

I don't think I've seen one with the ranges right next to each other, but if the manufacturer and building code don't mind, I don't see why not!

Well, the venting wouldn't be exactly the same. The reason given for the choice is driven by budget rather than doing something custom because of certain needs. Two budget type ranges (Say, $1500 each, so 3K total) wouldn't need the ventilation requirements as would two prosumer type ranges. However, because of the size of the two, only a prosumer type custom vent setup would work, say 3-5K for venting with the inserts, blower, and vent cover. You couldn't just put two standard $150 under cabinet 300 CFM vents above the two budget ranges. Well, I guess you could, but it wouldn't be an attractive look unless the two ranges were in separate locations intentionally rather than butted together.

Using two budget ranges and having to go to custom hood inserts and covers defeats the purpose of using two budget ranges. So, if budget is the consideration rather than increased utility, two ranges is a less budget friendly choice than a single $6K 48" 2 oven range with a 1K good quality hood. You wouldn't need the complication of the additional insert or roof vent or upgraded service then, so overall, it'd be cheaper.

I think yours is a smart idea and will have to end up saving money, depending on what ranges you choose. I've just bought the TOL Maytag Gemini (I'm not much of a cook) and two of those would absolutely save money over any 60-inch range. And the likelihood of both going out at once would be super minimal, so you would always be able to cook. I would say go for it.

LWO, I see what you are saying, but since the OP didn't say anything about using "budget" appliances, my assumption is that he is comparing within the same brand. Two 30" pro ranges vs a single 60" pro range. I don't think you can find a 60" range for $6k, but you can get two 30" pro-style ranges for that.

At one point I was considering a 60" range, but couldn't believe how much more expensive it was compared to the same brands of 30" ranges. Clearance for getting the 60" range into the kitchen is also a consideration.

Laran

Click on the link below -

Google Shopping 60" pro gas range

Here is a link that might be useful: 60

2-range kitchens are pretty common around here -- I live in a religious Jewish neighborhood. We have 2 ranges (30" and 24" Bluestars) in our kosher kitchen, located on separate runs. In my kitchen design business I've specced multiple ranges several times, but never right next to each other because in a kosher kitchen you don't want meat juices to splatter onto milk, or vice versa. You would want to check with the manufacturer to see if you would need any clearance if you want to put them side-by-side.

Our venting costs were high due to the placement of one of the ranges on a peninsula. We did not have to upgrade the gas, and our antiquated electrical would have need upgrading no matter what we did.

While I agree with LWO about putting two below cabinet hoods next to each other--it would look pretty bad--I have seen standard, chimney hoods put next to each other on TV (I think on one of those contest shows where they do have a series of ranges in a row) and it didn't look bad. The ducting would need to be worked out, but the hoods can be had in the range of $1000 each.

Such an outpouring of support! Thanks so much for all the input. I didn't even consider the kosher inspired demand for dual cookstation kitchens...

There are some 60" ranges that aren't too expensive, but I thought that getting two 30"'s would be more bang for the buck and eaiser to manhandle. Ventilation for the dual 30"'s would be treated as ventilation for a single 60".

I think for us it may be best to look into the 60" units. The twin 30"'s sounded like it might work, but, then again, it might not. For only a few thousand more we could roll with a 60" unit and not have to worry about anything....

Gizmo- NICE SETUP! =)

Well, you don't have to have separate stoves to keep perfectly kosher. It's just a lot easier than constantly kashering.

The 60" is a good idea. :) But one advantage of your dual 30" idea is that if one of them were on the fritz the other might still be working... :)

We're having a house built with 2 ranges side by side. The tricky part is that most slide-in's have that stupid lip to cover the seam with the counter top. You cant put 2 of these together without creating quite a gap. There are only 3 ranges (not in the pro range) we could find that have neither the lip NOR the ugly back control monstrosity of "free standers" : kitchenaid (KSDB900ESS), Jennair (JDS1450DS) and a GE Café. As to the advantage: these, being not in the PRO series, cost significantly less at around $3000. Two of these would therefore come in at significantly less than any 60" PRO style range. And you get a lot more oven space, more burners, the ability to mix and match electric and gas if you so desire, The only drawback on paper is that the max output on these non-PRO's are 19k btu (but you get 2 from the 2 ranges), whereas in the PRO lines you can get 20k btu burners. But, hey, with the 2 ranges you get 10 burners. Personally, I find all of the PRO lines of home ranges to be a royal rip off. So am more than happy to thumb my nose at them with this 2 range setup. (Just one of my pet peeves with respect to "designer" kitchen appliances that dish out more price than function, regardless of looks. Don't even get me started on counter-depth fridges)

Which one did you go with @issac wong?

I thought about this, the possibilities are endless, I wouldn't just put two regular 30" ranges next to each other, I would do one with a griddle and or grill and then a 4 or 5 burner unit for the other side..

I thought about this because when looking at ranges, it seems you can buy 2 30's for what a 48" costs...

If you put a cabinet in the middle (12 - 15") then you would have a place to lay cooking utensils, etc.

cabinet in the middle is nice, but then the hood would have to be HUGE...

huger, lol. Geoffrey, truth be told, how often will you use all 10 burners at once? The luxury of the side by side is having the space to spread out so the pots and pans aren't nudging each other off-center on all the burners. I use the movable griddle to place utensils on, and that works great.

I'd also like to put 2 side by side and would like to see a closer pic from Isaac Wong if possible please

My mother in law had that for years. She had one gas stove and one electric range. I thought it was brilliant.

Hi Issac Wong, when you use both stoves at the same time....does it heat up the kitchen super fast? what kind of range hood did you end up going with?

Thanks!!

Nope, no issues -- have used both ranges AND both ovens plus 1 warming drawer at the same time. I have a 60inch Vent-a-hood.

If I had the space, side by side wall ovens with separate cooktops would be the way to go. Bending down to get stuff out of the oven is a pain.

We're doing a new build and also considering the 2 ranges, or at least 1 range and a cooktop, side by side. The main reason is to get both induction and gas cooking surfaces. There are some instances where one fits what we are cooking better than the other.

Isaac Wong: did you have to have your vent hood specially designed?

I’m about to do a kitchen renovation and want to do a side-by-side like you for the same exact reason you shared.

What vent hood did you go with? Is your warming drawer part of the oven set up or a separate appliance?

Than you for sharing all those helpful pictures and updates.

@dondon70 did you end up doing two ranges? We want the same thing - ability to cook with induction and gas. Unfortunately Wolf doesn’t make a single unit so we are thinking of a 30” induction range next to a 30” gas range.

@jenniferflug No, we didn’t. Ended up with just an induction cooktop. For a number of reasons, we decided not to hook up a gas line to the house. All in on electric...

TO --- Ann-SoCalZ10b SunStZ22

If you read the through the thread (it is long) then you see that Issac Wong used a 60" Vent-a-Hood.

"Isaac Wong

4 years ago

Nope, no issues -- have used both ranges AND both ovens plus 1 warming drawer at the same time. I have a 60inch Vent-a-hood."

I'm pretty certain Isaac Wong used either:

1. 60" Vent-a-Hood PRH18460SS

or

2. 60" Vent-a-Hood PRH18M60SS which has less CFM than first hood

Here is a great list of Vent-A-Hood 60" wide options:

https://www.uakc.com/cooking/hoods/wall-mount-hoods/?resperpage=90&results=16&TYPE%5B%5D=wall-mount-hoods&Brand%5B%5D=Ventahood&CFM%5B%5D=1200+-+1300&Width%5B%5D=60&WADbSearch1=Submit

Installation instructions for island trim cooktops and ranges must be carefully read for any requirements for non-combustible walls behind them, as the term refers to the entire depth of the wall. Otherwise, for conventional construction (wood studs) backguards or risers are required.

These are traditional wall mounted Vent-A-Hood 60 inch Range Hood Exhausts:

1. Specs:

https://www.ventahood.com/index.php/products/application/wall-mounted?id=361&model=NPH18-460

https://www.ventahood.com/installpdfs/wall%20mount%20range%20hood%20installation%20instructions.pdf

2. Specs:

https://www.ventahood.com/installpdfs/prh18-m wall mount range hood specifications.pdf

https://www.ventahood.com/installpdfs/M%20series%20wall%20mount%20hood%20installation%20instructions.pdf

We are looking at a 60 inch wolf dual fuel but now considering two 36 inch wolf ranges... All will be expensive but having to mega ovens with the 36 inchers is definite advantage vs the 25.5 inch width on the symmetric 60 inch range.....

Any thoughts on two 36 inch dual fuel ranges together - clearly a big hood is necessary either way... Building new so electrical/gas hok-ups a non-issue

Your hood system and MUA system would have to be custom made or commercial for the best-practices width of about 80 inches. A large blower would be needed. You might find it more practical for component selection and ease of installation if the ranges were separated and two 42-inch hood systems were used.

For the commercial hood and MUA route, see @opaone's hood and MUA project comments:

https://bamasotan.us/range-exhaust-hood-faq/

Has anyone put two 24 inch stoves side by side? This would give 48 inches

8 burners & 2 ovens. Any thoughts?

2 SMALL ovens, and double the expense for the dual infrastructure is not a good end result.

I saw this article from Houzz today where this remodel has two Cafe 30” ranges side by side…I’m hoping they respond to my questions. I would really like to do this, as we are rural, have plenty of space, love to cook, and don't have sevice for good 48” ranges like wolf, thermador, blus star, etc. But we do have service providers for GE/Cafe. Plus, if one breaks, we still have something woking. I just want to make sure they can work at the same time, and it wont void the warranty. We would choose the induction tops.

Here is the picture of their remodel with the two ranges. I cant figure out how to add tye link to the article.

Houzz article with two GE Cafe ranges side by side

You will need to up your electrical service to 400 amps for the home if you are going to take half of a 200 amp panel for 2 ranges. Plus, the 72" hood, and the heated make up air system that is required. You aren't really getting any cheaper than a 48" range by the time you do all the custom things that need to happen.

Minardi, yes, I realize all of that, and it is very important, so thanks for posting it. It is just that I can‘t get service for the high end appliances, as I stated. Building rural is much different than being close to a city. I’d love to get a 48”, but Viking and AGA are the only companies that have a service provider that will come out to us, and they told me they would come(sounding very reluctant) for the two year warranty, then I would be on my own. And although I love the AGA, it gets mixed reviews, and the Viking 48” induction has only just come out, so there aren’t reviews I can find for that yet. So putting two 30” next to each other seems to be the next option, as GE Cafe does provide service to our area.

I miss my 48” range I had at our previous house, and I wish we lived in an area where we could get service for Wolf, Fisher Paykal, BlueStar, and other high ends, but we don’t and it would be a very expensive and risky purchase if it can‘t be serviced and something goes wrong. So I am just trying to hear from others who have done the two 30” side by side to see what their experience has been.

Bluestar is super easy to DIY, so there's that. It's the same Garland range that Julia Child used, and is in the Smithsonian, but restyled and insulated for the home. Also, if I were in a remote no service area like you say, theres' no way I'd have 2 induction ranges. Those areas tend to have dirty electrical and fry electronics. I'd do a Frigidaire induction cooktop and separate wall ovens, and see what that would do until the infrastructure improved. Wall ovens and cooktops are superior in ergonomics anyway.

If I recall correctly (its been some years), the requirement for service ampacity is that it meet some fraction of the calculated possible full current usage of the residence. This is because the NEC allows for the fact that not all the circuits will be at full power at the same time. Less than full power is generally true of ranges, not to mention all the other current draws that are significant. Even electric dryers don't pull full power over the entire drying cycle. Note that the actual draw on a 200A circuit should be limited to 80% or 160A.

If you have electric heating for a large house in a cold climate, or have to charge an electric car, then 400A may make perfect sense.

When I was doing my kitchen reno, my code enforcement officer tried to get me to take a bet that I couldn't draw over 94A. I have two induction cooking devices (cooktop and Cooktek wok), two wall ovens, refrigerators, dishwasher, electric dryer, washing machine, air compressor (3HP), two split cycle air conditioners, sauna, pool and pond pumps, etc. I didn't take the bet because I knew that while I could get to about 120A turning on a lot of stuff at once that wouldn't generally be run at the same time, winning would have been unwise.

To the OP: having two ranges has some modest reliability gain over one double sized range when the requirement is to be able to cook at least something.

Minardi, in our former home we had a 48” Blue Star, so I know they are pretty easy to DIY, however, we had gas, and I’m not sure an induction range would be as DIY. Also, you speak of induction ranges frying…does it help to have a generator(which we have)? And if induction is supposed to be bad in rural areas, then wouldn’t we need to steer away from anything induction? Otherwise, I guess we will need to get electric, which is what we have now(its what the previous owners had….we don't have gas access).

Also, why do you recommend Frigidaire? I’m not sure we have service for them. we might be able to get service for Jenn Air, but they do not get good reviews at all…for the product or the service.

Isaac Wong, Can you use both ranges at the same time? and it has been 9 years since you posted your picture…if remodeling again, would you do the two ranges as you did before?

The risk to all wired electronics is high voltage transients due to lightening strikes to power lines within some vicinity of one's residence. Vicinity may mean a mile or two. To minimize the risk, modules are available to suppress high voltage transients. A layered approach may be desirable where a breaker box module is wired in to a 2-pole breaker, as well as an exterior module at the meter or, if a generator is also present, after the transfer box, or even a local to the interior device module can be used. Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) can provide such protection for computer equipment.

Example, I only had breaker box modules at the main breaker boxes. A lightening strike about 1000 ft away (as the power lines fly) caused the following effects: Breakers that fed UPSs opened, the control system of my furnace had the arc suppressing capacitors across the relays burned. (This wasn't immediately apparent.) My Frigidaire 36-inch induction cooktop was apparently unharmed, but it was nominally off at the time. No PCs or networking appliances were evidently harmed (all were on UPSs). No transient suppression modules after the strike showed a failure indicated by changes in their tell-tale lights.

Since then I have added a commercial grade transient suppression box to the furnace power feed, and a larger such unit to the external circuit between transfer box and service entry breaker boxes.

There are myriad ways closer strikes can get into house wiring and cause havoc (or at least $$$ repairs or replacements). Where there is deemed a risk, even if only from induced transient currents, localized protection should be used. One has to consider probability of risk vs. cost of transient damage. My Frigidaire induction cooktop was only $1300, plus a modest warranty, so I accept the risk of not spending hundreds on extreme transient protection for the cooktop as the warranty provides the low probability of risk protection.