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Help! Over the Range Microwave Venting Scenario

5 years ago

I would like to get a GE OTR microwave that I will vent to the outside. The cabinet to which it will mount under is 15” deep And has “legs” which will extend down along sides of microwave. (trying to cover as much of the microwave box and leave only the door exposed). GE installation instructions say that it should not be mounted to a cabinet more than 13” deep due to top venting grilles. (And a bump out mounting should be used if cabinet depth exceeds 13”). However I would like the microwave box to mount flush with 15” cabinet which means those top venting grilles will be covered by the cabinet above. Is it ok to cover the top vents since I will be venting to the outside or do those vents need to be exposed for another purpose? Thanks for any ideas on how to get a OTR microwave as flush with surrounding cabinets as possible!

Featured Answer

DIY2Much2Do

5 years ago

With most OTR microwaves, I don’t think flush mounting is possible. Not because of the venting, but because of the the door swing. Typically, the hinge side of the door requires space beyond the 30” opening. On mine, the hinge projects almost 3/4" from the left side of the unit when opening, beyond the 30" width. Check that yours will open if it's recessed more deeply than usual between the cabinets. Below is a photo from above of the microwave door projection. The door thickness is just about the same depth as the top vent. If you recessed the top vent, the door wouldn't have space to open. Different models may have a better hinge setup.

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Comments (7)

brindlebean
Original Author
5 years ago
@DIY2Much2Do thank you for the input and photo. I wasn’t thinking the venting was over the door only so I think that may work. In your pic I am wanting just the black box of mw to be flush (with maybe just a bit showing if needed for door swing). In your pic would the door still open ok if cabinet came to edge of box Or does the door/hinge actually end up going back some when opened?
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Shannon_WI
5 years ago
What's the big deal with not having it flush? It's not supposed to be, because of the door-opening issue mentioned above, and so that it covers at least a little of the front burners. I think you are worried too much about it being flush. It will acutally look odd for it to be flush than for it to be mounted the way it's supposed to.
DIY2Much2Do
5 years ago
The door doesn't go back behind the block body when opened. You'd probably be OK with just projecting the cabinet body 1/4" or so from the face of the cabinets. The door must be installed fully forward of the adjacent cabinets. At least with this model.
PRO
User
5 years ago
Please post the whole plan.
Sammy
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Is it ok to cover the top vents since I will be venting to the outside or do those vents need to be exposed for another purpose?

Those grilles are used to ventilate the microwave, so, no, it’s not okay to cover them.

Edited to add that I should’ve prefaced my comment with “Perhaps,” and that, when in doubt, consult the manufacturer to be sure that what you want to do is okay.
DIY2Much2Do
5 years ago
On both my former OTR microwave (the Whirlpool in the photo above) and my current Bosch, the door depth and the top vent are the same dimension. Since the door must be mounted forward of the adjacent cabinets, the vent is also projecting. This assumes the cabinets to the sides of the microwave are the same depth as the cabinet above. If all cabinets are the same depth, your top vent will likely be exposed automatically when mounting accounting for the door. I suspect they are designed that way intentionally.

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