You will simply improve the air quality of your home by venting fumes outdoors. ProTip Takeaway: A vented to the outside range hood provides better air filtration to keep the air in your home fresh and odor-free. "A hood is the absolute best way to go.
Many people replace their over the range microwave with a ducted or ductless range hood. Range hoods are the much more flexible and versatile option when it comes to ventilating your cook space, compared to microwave hoods.
Hood Vents Provide Better Capture
Microwaves are designed to tuck right into the space between your cabinets. This means that the front burners of your stove are not usually covered by the vent. A significant amount of smoke or fumes may escape.
Over-the-range microwaves are great at siphoning out small amounts of steam, heat, smoke, or oil from your cooking surface, but it's not nearly as powerful or quiet as a dedicated vent hood.
Can You Replace a Range Hood with Over-The-Range Microwave? While you can certainly replace your range hood with an over-the-range microwave, I wouldn't really recommend it. That's because a range hood provides you with more versatility and several benefits that microwaves don't.
There is no requirement that your Over The Range (OTR) Microwave be vented to the outdoors. All OTR microwave ovens can be set up to either allow the fan to recirculate the air back into the kitchen or be vented to the outdoors.
All current over the range microwaves and Advantium ovens can be installed over gas cooking products up to and including 5 burner stoves. As long as the 66" minimum from the floor to the top of the unit is followed there will be no performance or warranty concerns.
Over-the-range microwaves
If your microwave is installed above the range, the manufacturer will recommend that you keep a distance of at least thirteen inches between the base of the microwave and the top of the stove. But some manufacturers might call for this distance to be a minimum of eighteen inches.
Do I need a range hood for a gas stove? Yes. Gas stoves produce intense heat and smoke, so you need a kitchen fan that can vent heavy cooking exhaust outside your home.
Most residential building codes do not require a range hood above a stove or cook top, but you'd be wise to ensure your locale is not the exception. Even if it's not legally required, you should think long and hard before forgoing a hood altogether.
Over-the-range microwaves also have exhaust hood duties. All over-the-range microwaves have hoods with fans that vent to either the interior or exterior of the home. These hoods feature charcoal filters for removing smoke and grease from the air before it is recirculated into the room or sent out an external vent.
Microwaves need adequate air clearance on each side, the rear and the top to function properly. This allows good circulation for the intake and discharge air vents. Countertop Models: 3" of clearance on both sides and the top.
Most major manufacturers recommend a distance of 30 inches between the top of the microwave and the surface of the oven. Depending on the height of the oven, this equates to roughly 14 or 15 inches between the underside of the microwave and the stovetop.
Nevertheless, a minimum of three inches of space on all sides of the oven will provide enough clearance. Leave three inches of space between the walls and the top, sides, and rear of the microwave oven. If you place your microwave oven inside a cabinet, do not push it to the wall.
While over-the-range microwaves have been stylish for years, the trend is on the way out in 2018.
At least one existing rule allows a minimum of 13 inches, but pro installers and others who know their way around kitchens argue that there should be 20 to 24 inches of clearance above the stove top.
Yes, you can stand a safe distance in front of the microwave. Microwave ovens are designed to keep in radiation. Against the glass, there is a protective mesh screen dotted with tiny holes.
They do a better job of extracting toxins and smoke (although not at the same level as a range hood). A vented option will remove these fumes and vent them to the exterior of your home. A recirculating OTR microwave uses charcoal filters to neutralize air before it is pumped back into your kitchen.
Microwave sizes are fairly standardized with most over-the-range microwaves measuring around 30" wide, 17" high and 15" to 18" deep with the door closed. Built-in microwave sizes also tend to match standard cabinet dimensions.
Built-in microwaves can be installed into a wall or cabinet for convenient operation. With a similar capacity to other microwave styles, the built-in design has the advantages of saving counter space and being able to be installed away from the range, allowing multiple people more space to cook together.
Over-the-Stove Ovens
Over-the-stove microwave ovens are mounted onto the wall above your stovetop. They are favored because they get the microwave off the countertop or island, giving you more counter space to work with and reducing the appearance of clutter in the kitchen.
Adequate ventilation, especially if the microwave is built into a wall of cabinetry, is a must.
Home Depot microwave installation cost
Over-the-range microwave installation from Home Depot costs $100 for replacements. Replacing an old range hood with an over-the-range microwave costs $400. Hauling away and disposing of the old microwave costs $25. Delivery costs $60* or is free with purchases over $400.