How do you like your Jenn-Air downdraft range or cooktop?
k9fan
12 years ago
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palimpsest
12 years agoRelated Discussions
Possible to disable downdraft in duel-fuel Jenn Air range?
Comments (7)Oh I know about the parts tucked all over the house! I have a grill and griddle and several spare ceramic hob thingies (it's electric) strewn about. Apparently it can do all sorts of things if I'm willing to ignore the fact that it's not ducted and just dumps vapors into the crawl space... I don't know who you'd want to repair it--probably an appliance guy--but it does sound a little bit sketchy. If you could find a serial number sticker somewhere, it might have a date and you'd be able to find a manual. It's probably worth dropping a little money on, just to be sure you're not about to get electrocuted. My JA range is actually pretty good (although I'm not a huge fan of electric cooktops). The oven is really good....See MoreJenn-air cooktop with Dacor downdraft?
Comments (5)I haven't looked at current specs or installation instructions but I did my downdraft install and duct design. First, your inline blower set off sirens in my head. Please have Dacor mail you their specs and confirm that their current spec permits the inline blower. For me it was 6 weeks from receiving specs from them until I purchased the unit and installed the ILB. They changed specs without notice (I found out accidentally) and then it took a lot of calling and arguing to get them replace the ILB with a remote blower. When I did my install, the cutout for the dd adjoined (and was narrower than) the ct cutout. The dd does not come apart. It was lowered straight down through the counter cutout and screwed to the bottom of the cabinet. Mine is in a standard depth cabinet in an island. I ducted through the back of the cabinet and down between the floor joists and then a run to outside to the remote blower. I then installed cabinets behind the island on a platform raised 9". In the 9" space is the ductwork curving into the floor, the gas shutoff valve, the junction box for the oven (undercounter next to the cooktop). All wrapped with house matching panels. So the counter must be installed first. You need to be able to access the front of the unit to anchor it to the cabinet floor. You have to plug it in to the outlet. (My outlet is installed in the far back floor of the cabinet.) You have to be able to access the side that you are going to be attaching to the ducts; I vented through the back but my unit had more than one option. You need the right tools. I had a couple of very large drill bits and what I believe was an electric coping saw to cut the cabinet backs as necessary. You need to be able to access it for servicing. My island back cabinets with house matching panels fit together like a puzzle but removing 4 screws lets you move a cabinet (with attached panels) to expose the the duct attachment. (Removing one screw from a panel for the gas shutoff, another screw from another panel for the oven junction box., I have 18" drawers (standard is 21") under the cooktop that all come out to allow access to the unit....See MoreJenn-Aire Cooktop with Downdraft JGD3430W
Comments (4)When we purchased our house 5 years ago we replaced the Jenn Air electric cooktop with downdraft vent with the gas version [I think after Googling your model number you are considering the gas cooktop]. One major warning a friend gave me was the vent "pulled" the gas flame. After talking with another friend who had the same model, her comment was, "With the gas it will be so much better than what you've had, you'll love it". OK, so she was partially right; I eventually felt like I cooked on a habachi griddle, I would move the food around to cook on the hotter or cooler portion of the pan. I did not realize how noisy & ineffective the vent was (low speed [2 speeds]) until we just remodeled & replaced with a Kitchen Aid 36" gas cooktop & Zephyr Island hood (42") -- amazing!!!! Now, I understand you may not be able to go with an island hood -- we removed the sheetrock & vented through the joists on 2nd floor out to our deck. If you can't do that research the telescoping downdraft vent. It may still pull the flame, but it will be more effective than the 2-speed Jenn Air. Also, this Kitchen Aid cooktop was some type closeout or special purchase at BrandsMart (Atlanta & other SE locations) for $300 last fall!!!! It is working so beautifully we are amazed & giddy. You also mentioned the Jenn Air finish. That was also odd for us. We paid extra for "stainless steel" & all that was stainless was a 1" border on black enamel/porcelein trays. The stainless was to be cleaned "with the grain" which was wiping 1 inch all the way around -- I felt very frustrated trying to clean up. Additionally, we purchased (or perhaps received at a reduced price) the griddle. Since this was 4 burner, it was not a module we would leave in all the time, but even when we used it (TWICE!!!) it forced the vent & the gas temperature to be on high & was unbearable to listen to & cook with/burn with. Perhaps newer models have improved, but definitely don't pay extra for the griddle. My friend was correct, the gas was much better to cook with than electric, but I'm glad I no longer have this Jenn Air cook top....See Morejenn air downdraft range with gas pulls flame sideways
Comments (4)Well Maytag was worthless but a local appliance servicer called me back and said that the old "factory fix" for this evidently common problem was to restrict flow at the outlet. He said: drill a hole through the cap over the flapper, stick a 3 or 4 inch bolt in backwards (bolt head inside the cap) with a nut on the inside and a nut on the ouside. Adjust the protrusion of the bolt to hold the flapper partly closed when the fan is running. Fiddle with the bolt until you have a nice balance of exhaust vs flame pattern. Pretty good trick, thought I'd share it with any other sufferers....See MoreString
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