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Help with 5 in 1 microwaves and venting plz!

2 months ago

Can someone please explain what this situation is? What are those grates above the microwave hooked up to? I've been searching for ways to add venting to a microwave that doesn't have it built in or if it's even possible. We already have a vented microwave that goes up and out but I'd like to change it out for a 5 in 1 microwave but keep the ventilation system.

I just started wondering about it since I saw a reviewers picture of a microwave we were looking at that had the grates on top when the original microwave does not. Hope this makes sense tia lol.

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Comments (4)

wdccruise
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
It's the Viking VMOR506SS convection microwave oven. Like most over-the-range ovens it's "convertible" and can be set up to recirculate or exhaust air out the top or through the rear. Most ovens are designed to look sleek so they don't have a front grill like this oven. Instead, the vent is on the top of the oven in front of the cabinet to which it is attached and air is directed upward when the oven is configured to recirculate.

"We already have a vented microwave that goes up and out but I'd like to change it out for a 5 in 1 microwave but keep the ventilation system."

I don't know what a "5 in 1 microwave" is. Is it a convection microwave? If so, you don't have to spend $2250 for that Viking. For example, owners like this Maytag MMV6190FZ (Appliances Connection, Home Depot) and it's $490 at Home Depot. Like the Viking, it's convertible.
dadoes
2 months ago
All microwave ovens ... countertop models, built-in-the-wall, over-the-range ... require ventilation for cooling the magnetron. If the presumably over-the-range unit of photo has the cooktop/range hood function exhausted outdoors (open those cabinet doors above it to show what's in there) then the grill is the outlet for the cooling airflow during microwave cooking.
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I think the key word above is "appear" because to me these OTR microwave ovens look like they are not flush by two or three inches. From an earlier post: "If I can use the top vent [to] go up through the cabinet and resolve the ductwork above that cabinet, that vent will care for the stove venting and the magnatron venting, and I would not need a MW with a front-facing louver." In my view, neither this nor any other microwave oven venting scheme I'm even vaguely aware of will "care for the stove venting" because they move far too little air per unit time and the units do not overhang the burners sufficiently. Perhaps if a supplementary blower designed for higher pressure loss is used in the path taken by the this so-called ventilation to augment the flow rate, barely adequate air flow will be possible. But even then, capture area will be too small to have much effect on front burner plume capture. You can design for style and give up on having adequate ventilation, or design for adequate ventilation and give up on OTR microwave ovens. Your statement "For what it's worth, most of the cooking on our stove is boiling water or soup, scrambling eggs, or simmering an occasional kettle of sauce." suggests that you can get away with doing the former. In that case, provide manufacturer specified cooling paths for the magnetron, and ignore limitations of the mediocre or worse ventilation. And don't sear steaks on the cooktop before baking them in the oven.
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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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wdccruise
2 months ago
@dadoes: "If the presumably over-the-range unit of photo has the cooktop/range hood function exhausted outdoors...then the grill is the outlet for the cooling airflow during microwave cooking."

That Viking oven can be set to recirculate and is by default. The grill is to exhaust the air when it's configured that way.
ci_lantro
2 months ago
We already have a vented microwave that goes up and out but I'd like to change it out for a 5 in 1 microwave but keep the ventilation system.

The only part of the ventilation system you can keep is the duct work. You need to buy an oven that is designated 'over the cooktop'. Determine how the oven you now have is vented. One of these: out the top, out the back or recirculation. Make sure that the new oven can be set up to match the ducting that you have in place.

To find the information, you may need to dive into the installation instructions. Least ways, that is the case with GE's Monogram Advantium oven.

So, narrow your search initially to 'over the range/ cooktop ovens' and then check for venting options.

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