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Above range venting: hood or microwave options, or go without?

16 years ago

I'm rehabbing a house, and I just installed my gas range with convection oven. I hate those 30" over-the-range microwaves which look so gargantuan...I prefer a small counter-top one. My new appliances are black and I don't want a bulky black OTR microwave or hood...it's getting to be too dark. I also don't prefer hoods for venting and rarely use my current one. I don't think I turn it on more than once every month or so, but of course my current range is electric, not gas. I don't deep fry or even lightly fry foods much at all, and we don't cook meats at home (semi-vegetarian household). So we don't have much occasion to burn things in pans, overheat oil, etc. Do I really need to install an appliance for venting purposes above the range?

Comments (6)

teedup1
16 years ago
Venting may be a Building Code requirement in your area. Might want to check that out first.
weissman
16 years ago
There are a number of other threads on this topic here and/or the kitchen forum. The general consensus is that hoods are important to vent the heat, grease, steam, smoke etc. but there are people who forgo them. Generally, they are not required by building codes.
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As someone who currently has an OTR and *IS* 5+ years down the road from when we put it in with small kids that didn't use it at the time, I can say that it WILL become an issue when they're older. My son is now 10 and he does use it and it's a huge pain in the rear. Not only is he perfectly capable of using it but he has to lift anything WAY up and over the stove to put it in and then reach UP to push the buttons. I'm always nervous he'll spill whatever he's heating and then I'll have a huge mess on the stove. And if I'm cooking on the stove, he's not allowed to use it at all, which makes him feel "little". My six year old has no issues yet. But if the microwave was lower, I guarantee, she'd be perfectly able to heat some things by herself now, which would be very convenient for me! LOL! The door gets in the way if one of us is cooking and the other needs to access it. The venting is nonexistent. I hate hate hate that we can still smell a hearty meal in the house the next day. I'd NEVER put one in another kitchen unless I absolutely had to. IMO, your kitchen has plenty of room to have the microwave elsewhere, so that's my vote. In our build, we're putting a microwave drawer in our island. It's more convenient for everyone and out of the main view as well.
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Hi Kathy! So exciting! I think it'll be OK at 32", but you might want to check aesthetically what it looks like before installing & be sure to check the installation manual. Every hood is a little different, but they'll have a recommended mounting height listed in there. If you need to fill in some space, try to find a matching paint color or wood color to your cabinets and stick a little strip of filler in there. Venting through the wall should be easy peasy if you're on an outside wall. Your contract should be able to cut through any material. Brick or stone will obviously cost you a little more. If you're on an interior wall, I don't think you'll be able to do that without major renovations.
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chipshot
16 years ago
Building codes represent the minimum. My suspicion is that participants of this forum tend to do more.

Sometimes a hood is useful even if you're only boiling water. The house we're renovating came with a pull-out hood (made by Vent-A-Hood?) that appeared to be upper cabinets when not in use. Very cool, IMO. I don't know if it's still being produced but wonder whether it might suit your needs and wants.
carolbarrel07
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you to all...will check out Vent-a-Hood! You all rock!
chipshot
16 years ago
I'll put you a step closer

Here is a link that might be useful: Vent-A-Hood Tilt-Out
theknitter01
16 years ago
Just finished a kitchen reno. Before, a 30" range and an over the range microwave hood affair. After a 36" range with a Vent-a-hood over it.

My thoughts.....don't go with the OTR microwave/hood - had it - it was loud and ineffectual. Never used it and was unhappy at times about the smells that were left behind due to cooking when I did use it....

Now that I have the Vent-a-hood (and I not plugging this brand - you could go with others that are less 'in your face') - no/very few cooking smells in the house but lots outside :)

My DH was outside barbequing the other night as I was making some garlic rice - no odor in the kitchen but he said it was very noticeable that someone was cooking with garlic outside.

Having said all of that - I would definitely get one just not the OTR version. I do think it makes a difference even with your style of cooking....

Marion K.

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