How to convert to a Double Combination Microwave Wall Oven and brands?

HU-183202974

3 years ago

Looking to replace both of the 21 year old defective GE Microwave and Wall Oven. What needs to be done to do the conversion to a combination double wall oven? When purchasing, are there any brands I should look into that’s reliable? My budget is between $2-4k.

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Comments (4)

venmar
3 years ago
The most cost effective would be to replace your presumably 30 inch wall oven with another single wall oven and with GE offering a guaranteed to fit promotion idealy with anorher GE, in stainless if you prefer, so no modification needed. My experience is that GE wall ovens are generally regarded as reliable. You already have a standard microwave with a built in surround kit so cheap to just replace the microwave, a little more if switching to stainless to buy the new stainless surround, and probably again no cabinet mods needed. The benefit to this two unit approach is that if one item becomes non repairable due to parts no longer available you are only replacing one appliance. I think in this case two appliances are actually cheaper than a combo unit.
HU-183202974
Original Author
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
The oven is 30 inches. I was considering GE Profile. However, the Ge Profile's single oven functions are touch screen only, which concerns me about long-term reliability. Their countertop microwave designed for built-in install seems to have many customers having issues with the control panel not working. I am considering Kitchenaid for the single wall oven (KOSE500ESS) and microwave (KMCC5015GSS with trim kit), based on my home's current value. My dishwasher is also Kitchenaid. I'm sure carpentry work needs to be done. Do you know if anything electrical would need to be done? The house is about 20 years old.
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It depends upon how you want to use that second oven. The microwave/convection oven requires you to choose between a glass base or a metal base, depending upon which process you're using. If you envision using the Advantium (I presume the other alternatives are similar in this regard) for an oven frequently and you also use a microwave frequently, I think you would find changing these out irritating. If, instead, you will only use it infrequently as an oven and frequently as a microwave, then it's easy enough to use. My Advantium preheats in roughly 5 minutes. It cools down very fast and I have not had any problem using it as a microwave right after using it as an oven. (I'm using it now on the countertop during the temporary kitchen phase. A real godsend!) If you go this route, you want to have a convenient location for storing whichever base isn't being used at the time along with the rack that isn't used during microwaving.
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My sink is a Bates & Bates. The grids came from the same company. They were expensive but we did our kitchen in 2003/2004 and I can't remember what I paid exactly. I think you will love this combination together. We still like it and it's 5 years old. We did light granite when *everyone* was doing dark, it seemed. We retrofitted new appliances and countertops in our existing 70s cabinets. LOL! They are well made custom jobs and we've never been sorry. It gave us a real updated look and allowed us to build in our refrigerator. At the time, we had only Viking and Sub Zero to choose from. Now others are making cabinet depth refrigerators. Still, we're glad we did what we did. Our entire 'update' cost around $14,000. We feel like we got a lot of punch for our DIY dollars. It's much better than the hideous floral wallpaper and harvest gold formica, sinks and appliances. (The kitchen was seriously harvest gold everything!) LOL!
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If you aren't willing to do a range + MW/Single Wall Oven stack, then I think the next best thing is the Advantium/Wall Oven arrangement as was suggested above. Get a convection oven for the lower oven and an Advantium for the upper oven. This way you combine the second oven with the MW. Unless...if you use both ovens a lot and use the MW at the same time (or plan to), then this will not work b/c when the Advantium is being used as a MW, it's not available as a second oven; when it's being used as an oven, it's not available as a MW. I strongly discourage you from getting a MW/Double Wall Oven stack. They look nice in advertising materials or static pictures of kitchens (like Houzz), but as others have said, the reality is different...the MW is too high and the lower oven is too low! The latter is especially bad as it completely defeats the purpose of wall ovens - to have them higher off the floor so there's less bending, not more! As to the MW, unless you & your entire family are very, very tall (like 6'6"+), it will too high to use safely. If you have children - it becomes even more dangerous if they have to use a step-stool or chair to access the MW. We had the same dilemma and solved it with a MW drawer in one location and a double wall oven stack elsewhere. We love the MW drawer! Even my 6'6" DS has no problems using it!
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I agree with Jpmom that you don't want a MW on top of a double oven - it's just too high. However, although she does not like a MW drawer, many people on this forum adore theirs (note that all MW drawers are made by Sharp, so if you decide to get one, no need to pay up for a different brand name, as it is just a rebadge). Is there no other location in your kitchen? Do you have a pantry where you could keep the MW? There was just a recent thread on this MW placement topic. http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3833699/placement-of-a-microwave?n=42 I am not a fan of the oven/microwave combos, as I think there are too many compromises in both in order to combine them. Just MHO. If you are doing a major kitchen remodel, you might want to re-think the cooktop in the island, mostly because how are you going to exhaust it. This topic has been covered a zillion times on this forum, but the upshot is if you care about good exhaust, you should have your cooktop on a wall, so that the exhaust capabilities are not hampered by trying to exhaust over an island setup. On the other hand, many people are absolutely fine with poor or no exhaust, and perhaps that is you, so never mind.
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awm03
3 years ago
That KitchenAid looks to be an LED display with "touch screen" controls, same as some of the GE ovens (see GE JTS3000SNSS, for example).

I'm in the same boat, replacing an oven/microwave combo. I'm going with a single GE oven this time, & will have a shelf above for a countertop microwave (presumably a Panasonic) minus any trim. Personally, KitchenAid ovens did not impress me: too many reports about flaking enamel & flakey electronics. Buying any large appliance is a gamble these days, but I thought the reviews for GE ovens -- despite some horror stories -- looked more promising than did KitchenAid reviews. A shame, because in retrospect the 17-year-old KitchenAid I'm replacing was a reliable & good performer. Hope I like my next oven as much.
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Joe Henderson
3 years ago
The microwave you have is a standard plug (110v) and the oven should be a 240v 20a circuit (that's what the likely spec calls for at least).

Check that the breaker for the oven is label 20A or higher. If it is, you will not need any electrical work to replace with another single oven and microwave.

If you wish to go double oven and forego the microwave, I know many ovens have come down in electrical usage. Current GEA double ovens will work on a 40A circuit for example. In order to change over that is what you would need. If you are lucky that entails changing the breaker if the wire gauge in the wall is sufficient. If you are unlucky that means changing the entire electrical run to new wiring.

As for touch screen reliability, it's not a huge issue. Products like this from many brands have been using them. They hold up pretty well overall. Just find one that you like the functions of and worry more about quality/support of the brand

How to convert to a Double Combination Microwave Wall Oven and brands?

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venmar

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How to convert to a Double Combination Microwave Wall Oven and brands?

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venmar

HU-183202974Original Author

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Joe Henderson

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