OTR microwave with Pro-Style gas range

8 years ago

In my previous apartment I had a 30" gas Viking range and the Viking pro-series OTR microwave with the built in exhaust. The MW was too high for comfort (I am 5') but it worked fine. I moved to a new apt where I am putting in a new kitchen - and it is too late to put a hood. I currently have no appliances but cabinets are installed, including a cabinet for above the OTR MW. I assumed I would get the same Viking combo as before. However the bottom of the upper cabinet is 30" above the place where the range top will be. Will this be enough for the Viking combo?

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Comments (9)

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Joe Henderson
8 years ago
That is sufficient for the code/specs but it will only leave you about 15" from the surface of the range to the bottom of the microwave. Its tight for any moderately tall pot. You can still use a hood in the place of the microwave without changing the cabinetry though...
sjhockeyfan325
8 years ago
I'd probably put in an under-cabinet type hood, and put a microwave elsewhere (I really dislike microwaves that a situated too high)
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I would be very surprised if 18" is sufficient clearance between a gas range and MW to meet any installation spec or local code. This is not a brand issue, rather an installation one. Since your wife cannot reach higher, you would be much better off to put the MW somewhere else, and install a vented hood as weissman suggests.
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tednv, we have this combo and it's on our "get rid of" list. Now, your situation may be much different than ours, but here's why we want things to change here: This kitchen was originally (when we moved in in December of 2006) on an over-booked electric box. We decided that taking some strain off of the box by splicing from the fireplace gas line was a great idea (which it was!). We even spliced again a few weeks ago to have permanent gas line for an outdoor grill because of it. But when keeping a small OTR hood/micro combo over gas? Probably not a good idea. See that window? Yeah, about that...it's the only window out of 29 in the house that was never replaced by the previous owners (not that there's anything wrong with that, we knew what we were getting into with this older home, but I digress...). That's an original 1930-at-some-point-painted-onto-the-window-frame window. It offers no other ventilation to the kitchen. Here's another thing: we cook. A lot. Stinky stuff. Things that would make your mother cringe (I KID!) We do, however, cook chili and Low Country Boils often for crowds (they, to put it delicately, stink to high heaven for days afterward). Oh, and yes, our OTR is vented to the outdoors. If ventilation is what you are looking for, then look into other alternatives. I (half-jokingly) said in another thread the other day that the OTR was good for two things: melting butter and keeping the time, and I kinda mean it. Hey, we had a combo in our townhouse and never had issues (of course, everything was on an electric system there). Personally, I wouldn't recommend it if you're remodeling or starting from scratch. I'd much rather keep the gas range and spend some extra dollars on a decent range hood that can handle the grease, heat and odors that come from a stove (especially a gas range), but that's just me. Everyone and every locale is different, though. What works for you and your bank account is what matters, ultimately. Here's my lovely OTR combo and (non-working) window:
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cpartist
8 years ago
I agree with the others.
Debbi Branka
8 years ago
Vent A Hood makes an under the cabinet hood that goes in where a microwave would go. It is shorter than a microwave, so you have more space between the top of the range and the bottom of the cabinet. I replaced my OTR microwave with the VAH cabinet hood when I got my Bluestar. Just be sure your backsplash goes higher up the wall behind your range than it would for a microwave (about 6" higher).
practigal
8 years ago
What do you mean when you say "it is too late to put a hood"?
pemfan
Original Author
8 years ago
The cabinets were already put in and there is no venting to the outside.
pemfan
Original Author
8 years ago
Correction - there are actually 36" from top of range to bottom of cabinet. If I get the "hated" OTR (e.g. Viking) there would be about 20 inches between the bottom of the MW and the gas range top. There is a window in the kitchen (but not next to the range). I sacrificed a counter to make an Eat In area. So I am sort of married to this OTR MW concept instead of a hood. I would like to have a pro style range, because it's what I am used to from my previous place. But with the MW clearance, I am concerned. I am not finding consistent clearance requirements from the Viking range and Viking OTR MW installation documents online. So, I should rephrase the question: is 36" between top of pro-style range and bottom of upper cabinets sufficient? Thanks!
rococogurl
8 years ago
You are married to a bad idea with a microwave over a pro range.

What folks are trying to tell you is that you can get a recirculating hood that will trap some of the gunk -- it isn't absolutely necessary to have the hood vent outside. Whether or not the cabinets are in that can be installed though it would have been easier before they went in.

In principle upper cabinets should not be installed above a pro range. That needs a hood of some type above and some protection i.e. tile on the wall behind the range. Specs for each range give the recommended height. When in doubt, call the manufacturer and ask.
jwvideo
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
While I agree with rococogurl's characterization of "bad idea," clearances from stove top to cabinets often assume that the you are measuring up to a wooden cabinet base. Some stove's install instructions will give a different distance if you have a non-flammable base surface or a hood (which is generally regarded as a non-flammable barrier.)

There have been some threads here in the past discussing the subject of OTRs and pro-style ranges. Although I'm sure that a search will turn up others, here are links to a couple that I recalled which involved OTRs over NXR ranges:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2306961/which-otr-for-an-nxr-range

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2251626/aargh-which-30-gas-range-otr-micro

OTR microwave with Pro-Style gas range

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Joe Henderson

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OTR microwave with Pro-Style gas range

Comments (9)

Joe Henderson

sjhockeyfan325

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