Range hood vs microwave reddit. I cook a lot and I want a vent that will actually work.

Range hood vs microwave reddit They are more expensive than counter top ones, have multiple features that are typically never used, and they break. We have decided on a double 30" wall oven that has a traditional single door on the bottom and a upper french door. That's 100% bullshit. In truth the hood should be one size larger than your range. We installed a true range hood with exterior ventilation. I have read a bunch of reviews and I still can't tell what the difference is between the $300 ones and the $3000 ones. Dec 26, 2024 · Range hoods can be noisy when operating, especially at higher fan speeds. If you want to switch to electric than you might have to get 240v run to kitchen if it's already not there and that's not cheap. The builder on our house put the microwave above the range and we have a double oven. Need some advice, for a DIY, removing an existing (probably 1980's) over the range hood, with a new microwave oven. Is it possible to put a stand-alone range hood unit beneath a microwave over a stovetop assuming there was enough clearance? If so, how much clearance would be needed? The OTR microwaves generally don't have the desired suction power for clearing steam and smoke, and if they come close, they're much louder than the better stand-alone range hoods. Anyone have much experience with these microwave+vent over the range units? Even though my range and hood are the same brand, if I’m understanding the manual my range is supposed to be vented outside. You want it to have a cavity to capture the smoke, not just a perfectly flat surface. A powerful ducted range hood is non-negotiable for me. We had a high end dedicated hood installed when we moved in. I love it. There are rules about how much space you need over the range. Scratches are always an issue. I took a chance and bought 4 ZLINE appliances for my kitchen remodel and all have worked flawlessly for over a year. Get the most CFM you can afford/fit, it’s worth it. I bought an over-the-range microwave months back for our kitchen renovation. Is it necessary to have both a range hood and a microwave? It depends on your cooking habits. Think long and hard about putting in an above range microwave. But it doesn't really change the hood vs microwave comparison either. Microwave vs hood Tl;dr: took out the microwave above our stove 2 years and now finally getting to the remodel and can’t decide if we should install a microwave w/ vent or hood above the stove. The microwave’s control panel kept shorting and overheating due to the heat of the gas stove underneath it. I want to at least put in a ducted range hood 400cfm. If your cooking gets too hot, the hood vent will automatically turn on (low setting) to prevent damage to internal microwave parts. The vent didn't remove moisture, it just recirculated oils and spread them into the kitchen. If you put a microwave where a range hood used to be, you usually have to adjust the upper cabinet so it is shorter, thus allowing the minimum clearance to the cooktop. We used to have a vent platform over the range that held the microwave oven. This sub-reddit is for almost anything related to appliances. Everyone has their own bad luck. We have an electric stove and the room is 190 sq ft. Microwave hood combinations are installed below your kitchen cabinets above your stove or range and function as a vent, surface light and microwave oven. Grease sticks to every surface in the kitchen. We already had an electrical outlet from the previous microwave, so plugging it in was no problem. I bought a pre con condo and paid for an upgrade that converts an over the range hood (no microwave) to a hood range microwave combo for 2660$. We are not relocating the microwave at this time, so that is why I'm looking for an over the range microwave. We cook almost daily and use all burners. Thank you so much for reading, and thanks for any advice! Range hoods with filters don't work. Sold our over the range microwave, adding a stainless steel range hood and having contractor duct it to outside, thru the garage. If you have space in your kitchen or don’t need the dual function of a microwave hood, range hoods can provide the following benefits compared to microwave vents: More venting strength If the outlet on the microwave is 3. I'd ask your landlord if they'll put a nonvented hood. If you cook on your range a lot you are going to be putting a lot of grease into your microwave circuit board. So for that alone you want a metal barrier or some sort between your oven and cabinets / ceiling. It moves a lot more air. Is your range on an exterior wall? If so, venting a hood fan is a decently do-able job for a diy-er. But, it is a pita to replace an over the range microwave. Range hoods are usually a better choice over microwave vents when choosing how to ventilate your kitchen. Range hoods are more Is an over-the-range microwave recirculating vent totally useless, or is it better than nothing? I live in a small Manhattan apartment with a crappy 20" wide stove, that I actually do a fair amount of cooking on. Base mode Frigidaire and ge microwaves that age are both actually the same midea made microwaves with different panels. In instance like yours, I'd recommend the homeowner purchase a microwave with recirculating vent that they like aesthetically and have that installed. A dedicated range hood is shaped to draw air in evenly across the base of the hood. If he removes that range hood, and installs that microwave under the cabinet , it's going to be 6 inches above the range burners. Can I use a range hood instead of a microwave? No, range hoods are not designed for food heating. For one, it can vent outside either by a top duct or rear duct so that's one requirement met. I see that there are a few microwaves+ ducted vents with that level of cfm. The filters don't remove grease from the air, just blow it back inside. Of course that comes with other complications, like you need to install a make up air system if it's over 400 CFM. The technology behind the airfry in the oven is a lot more old school (reliable) than that of a microwave. This is actually the second type of this product I have owned. I've only lived in one NYC apt where that was the case. Depending on your budget you could get a drawer microwave to install in your cabinets. >Realistically, when should I be turning the range hood fan on? For best air quality, you basically want it on low when the range is on, and high if you're searing/broiling/etc. I just got a new over-the-range microwave to replace a broken one. There are low and high models of both. Would it look better to remove the cabinets above the microwave and install an exposed hood or keep the cabinets and install an under cabinet hood? The house is still under construction with Ryan Homes. The thing that makes this a proper hood is the pop out mechanism, the hood can extend out to fully cover the range and the back will extend down. Even now, in my shiny condo with big vent hood and full laundry, it only recirculates it. Thank you!! I recently replaced my over range hood microwave with a hood that vents outside. Help, please!! I'm looking for a way to get my OTR microwave to vent air better, probably using an extension. Unless you're regularly filling your kitchen with smoke. A range hood is way more efficient to pull smoke, steam and smells out of the kitchen but as a microwave in many cases has become a standard kitchen appliance it has a place above a stove in many kitchens. Do microwave vents that are diverted to outside of the house work well? It's always a good idea to have a range hood weather stove is gas or electric. Now that we're waiting on the city for our kitchen renovation permit, I'm thinking that we probably should use a range hood instead (we do a lot of frying and the microwave only vents 300 CFM). If I had a choice, I’d rather have 1 oven, 1 microwave and an actual hood over the stove. My house currently has a range hood wired into the same circuit that the garbage disposal is on, no outlets, just wired straight in. Microwave vents are generally quieter than range hoods, as they do not require as much airflow. I bought a house with an over the range, but mostly use the countertop for convection rather than the range. This is the only appliance I would recommend replacing with Samsung. Posted by u/hamsterying - 124 votes and 143 comments Over the range microwaves are not a substitute for a good hood. A combo typically just draws from one back corner. Even if we duct it, it's not an ideal setup for the cooktop and the amount of cooking we do. The microwaves travel through a wave guide and pass through a stirrer, which is sort of like a fan blade that deflects the waves in different directions as they enter the oven cavity. The problem is that I cannot have a ducted ventilation system as it would be really complicated and expensive to set up for me so I can only have a recirculating A hood, unlike a microwave, is shaped to direct air towards the fan and allow it to be sucked out. The magnetron is stationary, just like in a normal countertop or over the range unit. However, if I had to go with one I personally recommend the lg 1. Unfortunately, because our kitchen is sort of in the middle of the house, there's no easy (or not super expensive) way to vent either the microwave or the range hood outside. I'm looking at a hood model that has a compatible duct adapter to what my microwave uses, and moves about 860CFM. Every time. I wanted to look for something that had decent airflow, but also didn't want it to sound like a jet plane in the kitchen. This applies to range hoods as well. It involves removing it from the wall, installing a vent to the outside, removing a panel at the back of the microwave, and then redirecting a couple of parts inside of the microwave. For this, get something that has a higher CFM rating. How has your experience been with either or both? Also open to other brands. These systems typically use grease traps (and charcoal filters? Not sure) to mitigate smells and smoke, definitely not ideal. The cost for a range hood isn't an issue, but if it isn't going to be better in recirculating mode than a microwave, I figure don't even bother. The rethinking is in respect to trying to find an OTR microwave that exhausts 400+cfm, trying to leave the cabinet above the stove, or finding a hood with the cfm number you have apparently picked out of the sky which will match the same stove setup you have, where that level of hood will be conceived for an entirely different cooking station My partner and I, after research, decided microwave vents are not efficient enough and we will just get a countertop microwave and install and actual range hood. Could someone advise what are the first things/steps I should look for, for removing an Over the range hood? After the removal, I may just ask Home depot to buy and install a hanging Microwave. 25 x 10 it's not a good idea to reduce it to 4 inch round. Even a 500cfm microwave fan vented to the outside does next to nothing to clear smoke. These units are already not the greatest as range hoods because they don't move nearly as much air as dedicated hoods. ft. In the duct above my microwave I've got a silent backdraft damper and an attic-mounted centrifugal range hood fan sucking through the over-the-range microwave. That's less than 10 cubic feet. That gives designers and non-culinary spouses conniptions though. Ideally the hood should be larger than your range (so if you have a 30” range you want a 36” hood). It also specifies a minimum 500cfm hood (I think) and mine is 300cfm. The most depth, width and height you can get, the most air the hood can "hold" before the blowers evacuates the air. The top reply here is saying under 400CFM will be a disaster. Both will have (suboptimal) recirculating options with some kind of filter in there you can clean/replace. Range hoods are installed above the stove and typically have a duct that vents the air to the outside of your home. Over-the-Range Microwave Oven with Cooktop Lighting and 300-CFM Exhaust Fan The oven/range is located against an exterior wall of the house. We downsized to a condo at the beginning of the year coming from a house which had a nice cooktop hood that vented to the outside. Ductless vent hoods are going to work about as well as any other ductless system, with or without microwave. 7 cubic foot OTR, at 300 cfm. GE 1. Want roaches? Get a filter range hood. Any Asian store recommendation. A good range hood will really extend the amount of high-heat cooking you can without setting off fire alarms/making the whole house smell like steak. Would 6" round ducting be the way to go as I transition out the roof? Is that the most common for most household range 20 hours ago · 1. These are pretty crappy just like the new basic ones from those brands I would buy a Samsung or whirlpool microwave in the $400-500 range. FWIW, I have a OTR microwave with 400cfm ducted exhaust and while I’m sure it’s not as good as a range hood, it does suck out steam and exhaust it outside. Due to how big microwaves are and the location of the ducts, it doesn’t work as w As for the outlet, microwaves pull much more power than range hoods, so you'll need to be sure the circuit can handle it. Looking at 400-500 CFM under counter range hoods. Capture area is the area on the bottom of the hood before the blowers. To be effective the hood needs to be larger than the cook surface where microwaves just have one or two small fans. If you've got plenty of counter space you'd be better with a range hood. Rather than post somewhere like r/appliances I thought I'd ask people actually cooking. Thry do cost a bit more, though. If I tried to reheat food, I would usually ruin it. Currently, I don't have any openings cut into the side of my house for an external duct or range hood to exhaust air from the range to the outside of the house. We have a small kitchen so saving countertop space by using an over the range microwave would be ideal but I've noticed that over the range microwaves don't list sone levels. I’ve been trying to purchase a new range hood but the ones at Home Depot are not that great. Reply reply Our new house has an over range microwave that isn't ducted. Coverage ensures that effluent reaches the hood itself and not surrounding cabinets/room space. 2. 5-33. So he's not burning stuff in his microwave. That microwave is 17 inches tall and it goes from the countertop to near the bottom lip of the cabinet. Microwave hoods also don’t really work as well as dedicated hoods, so that’s something to keep in mind. It was all installed by my builder back in 2019. The new model, Whirpool WMH54521JZ, is pretty good but doesn't vent ai. Consider the space between your range and your microwave. When you buy the refrigerator you get the hood for free. Roaches love grease. That would look odd and not be very ergonomic or usable. I cook a lot and I want a vent that will actually work. When we moved into our house, we swapped the microwave hood out with a Kobe brand range hood that fit under the cabinet and used the existing duct. Fingerprint/dirt issue aside, unlike "classic" stainless steel surface scratches cannot be buffed out (or sanded out). We purchased this hood to replace a microwave we had installed about our cooktop and have been using it about 1 month. Do yourself a favor and just get a countertop microwave and build a cubby in the cabinetry to hold it if you don’t want it on the counter and get a really nice vent hood I have the KitchenAid microwave hood you are looking at. Getting a real, ducted hood would require moving the gas range. Ductless range hoods (including microwave/hood combos) are basically worthless IMO. I’m hesitant to vent the current hood unless a replacement would utilize the hole in the same spot because of the facade on the exterior. The problem with over-range microwave vents is that they tend to suck from the back of the range and don’t have enough CFM or flow-hood airflow management to get fumes/vapor from the front burners captured and vented before it wafts up into the air. If you're not getting a Thermador hood you can get the microwave for free instead dedicated range hood if at least 400cfm. I assured him I use a kitchen way more than most people (you all know) but he still said that a standard microwave hood would be good enough. It's an over the range microwave mounted above the oven with a venting assembly on top of it to vent the steam/smoke from the stove out of the front. I almost never use the highest fan setting, and I do a lot of cooking. A year ago and two replacements later, we switched back to a hood and a counter top microwave. Over the range microwave vs range hood, are microwave's more noisy? We are trying to decide between an over the range microwave or a range hood. It has wifi, which I think is utterly stupid but it can be turned off. Benefits of over-the-range microwaves. Ever since we started cooking we noticed grease getting on the cabinets above the microwave. The dang microwave vent combo is freakin’ useless. The second massive issue is the fact that most microwaves are not vented to the outside and they just recirculate the air. If you have an electric range, then you have a bit more flexibility, depending on how you cook. Also, given the relatively high CFM, are there any risks to being too low, or at the minimum height above the range? I'm wondering why it wouldn't be better to just take out the microwave and put the range hood under the existing cabinetry. Going to be mounting a nice, much better flowing hood vent soon! The big microwave is great as a microwave, but horrible as a vent. We have replaced 3 in under 20 years. Look at the picture of the microwave sitting on the counter in the OP's original photo. Of course, that microwave pictured looks really short, maybe it's okay. There’s some evidence of cost cutting if you look closely but I’ve been overall thrilled with the decision. I’m in the process right now of repairing drywall where our microwave was mounted above the range. My initial intent was to get a countertop convection microwave, but I’m wondering if there are any other alternative appliances I should be considering. I personally prefer a range hood, with a separate countertop microwave. If you have a gas range, then definitely get a hood. He's burning stuff on the stove or in the oven. Disagree all you want, it just plain doesn't really matter than much. So with a 30” range you should have a 36” hood. While the fan on a microwave isn't going to be as powerful as one on a range hood it should be sufficient given that you will be venting it to the outside. Installed directly over your stove-top much like an under-cabinet range hood, microwave range hoods typically I can’t help you on the range hood but I did end up with the Fotile 5 burner gas range and I’ve been thrilled with it. They are a high end Chinese brand as you would expect but they’ve been good in my book. Nov 27, 2024 · Microwave range hoods are built directly into the underside of your microwave unit. Make sure you have the required clearance above the range top. We do cook a lot at home but also want extra counter space that comes w/ not having to worry about placing microwave elsewhere. Sep 16, 2022 · Whether you are purchasing a brand new range or embarking on a massive kitchen remodel, you will inevitably have to make some important decisions about ventilation. The biggest decision you may come to is whether to buy a range hood or an over-the-range microwave vent. 6 cu. If you frequently cook dishes that produce strong odors or moisture, a range hood is recommended. Whenever I do any cooking with that range, it's pretty much always guaranteed to set off the smoke detector. We switched from a hood to a microwave over the stove about a decade ago. We usually cook Asian cuisine so we do need a power and quiet range hood. The current microwave exhaust is pretty useless. In your own personal cooking experience, would you choose an under cabinet range hood or a wall mounted range hood? A ductless hood is way way better than nothing. A hood is also generally the same dimensions as the cooktop, so it can capture emissions from cooking more effectively. Some background: When we bought this house the microwave was mounted way on a shelf way too low and close to the stove and was called out in the I need to purchase an under-cabinet range hood and considering the Hauslane PS18 and PS38. First question, I would like it to be somewhat future proof against possibly putting in a proper range hood some day. Sort of. Do I get a over the range HOOD or go w/ OTR microwave with vent combination. A microwave remains a convenient appliance for The only way you could have a true range hood is if the range abuts an exterior wall so the vent could be mounted there. Source: am a landlord, own a dozen kitchens. Grey stainless and white are just more forgiving and easier to fix The 375 we found is just an extra $50 but what we like about the 300 cfm hood is that the buttons are on the underside and we're thinking of maybe (down the line) DIYing a range hood cover with plywood. But I’m considering the ZLine oven range combo and then also having the double wall oven so I can cook full large meals all at once. Just curious if there's that big of a strength difference between the 2 models, or of it's just an aesthetics thing. I used to only use my microwave to reheat coffee or cook popcorn. We bought a Panasonic Inverter microwave oven and a trim kit and mounted the microwave in a cabinet above the wall oven. Actually this particular microwave is a really good range hood. This house is about 60 years old, and has no ductwork to vent the kitchen to the exterior of the house - and I'm not in a position right now where I can afford to get that done anyways. The microwave has an option to vent externally, though. Can't wait to use the new exhaust fan. Planning to put in a ducted range hood, and I'm looking for recommendations of good brands to go with. When it comes down to range hoods vs. You probably have a 30" range in 24" deep counters with less than 24" separating the range and the microwave. On paper, this seems like a worthwhile upgrade, but i'm not sure if that's really going to move enough air to make it worth it. At 34. My range hood is 385CFM on it's highest of three settings, over a 30" natural gas cooktop. Now that we’ve gone over the different types of venting systems let’s compare range hoods and over-the-range microwaves. Yes, a range hood will be much more effective than a microwave hood. The microwave I have found is 400 CFM. Some day in the future (5+ years) we will probably remodel the whole kitchen and get a ducted hood at that point. microwave hoods, your choice will likely depend on how much ventilation power you need and the layout of your kitchen. 5". A dedicated range hood typically moves way more air, ours is 700 cfm and a combo unit 300 cfm or so. Looking for a middle of the road hood, hoping not to spend more than about $500, and aiming for 500-600 cfm. A restrictive exhaust will make it even less effective and also probably noisier. The microwave/hood fan combo is convenient, but not exactly good at moving air (lots of internal 90° angles, underpowered fan that can even lower speed when the microwave is running). Often this can mean a dedicated circuit for that outlet (either due to load, code, or both). So first choice: hood bigger than range. The walls and cabinets around the range are absolutely coated in polymerized oil from stir fried and the like. The noise level of a range hood is typically measured in sones, with a higher number indicating a louder sound. Over Range Microwave Venting. I have an induction range, with an OTR microwave, and I would replace it with the same. I have a common range/microwave over the stove set up that does a terrible job dealing with smoke when I'm cooking with high heat. There is no venting in the condo kitchen and we had to replace the existing microwave as it was dead (owner disclosed this) and we replaced the range with a newer induction/convection unit. I agree with this. If I was you, I would get a nice range hood, vent it out and get a table top microwave and keep the same stove. I've heard that in general, range hoods should be anywhere from 24" to 30" above the cooktop. We currently have a recirculating range hood (very shitty) and a microwave that lives on the counter. But then again scratch is a scratch. Double wall oven and dedicated stovetop w/ range hood. 5" from cooktop to the underside of the cabinet, Fotile recommends a 4" decorative plate above the hood to get the distance down to the preferred range of 29. I'm currently shopping for a range hood and I came across one we like with 'remote motor' which means the fan and motor are in the attic reducing noise which sounds awesome because it's a 700cfm hood and we are going from a 400cfm recirculating over range microwave which is stupidly loud. I just bought a 1920s house with no range hood. A good hood should have a wide lip and large cavity to capture smoke and steam and particles rising from your pan. The wall behind the stove & microwave is outside facing so ducting should be fairly easy. I mention Kobe only because it was reasonably priced and it's worked pretty well. I never thought anything of it, just made it a habit to wipe them down more frequently. I have a countertop Samsung convection microwave I bought 3 years ago when a rental I lived in didn't have a built-in microwave. I am wondering where you purchase your range hood from. My recommendation of Range hood reddit is KOBE INX2936SQBF-500-1 Built-In/Insert Range Hood, 36". If someone wants to use the fan control on the microwave, that works with its internal fan, if I want super control of humidity and odor (when canning or boiling down) I can activate the The microwave is probably 400 cfm? You can find the specs by looking up the model number. I had the Whirlpool version of this microwave hood installed in my old house. The microwave will still be louder and less efficient clearing fumes and smoke. Ideally I’d like to keep the double wall oven and then my drop-in gas range. Trim around the top of all the uppers to hide the vent. However, anything in the 350, and up CFM range is fine for both types. Just get an over the range microwave or get the hood and put the microwave somewhere else. Dishwasher, built in microwave/oven (this one is particularly great), range hood insert, and dual fuel range. It looks great, but long term maybe only for a range hood or over the range microwave. Aug 16, 2022 · Range Hood vs. Though standard range hoods offer an array of benefits, over-the-range microwaves offer similar venting power with the additional functionality of Any overhead vent hood that vents outside is generally going to be better than a microwave hood that vents outside, and a microwave hood that vents outside is way better than a microwave hood that vents past a filter back into the kitchen. We just want to replace the above stove microwave to a counter top model, and get a new fan in place, not buy a major appliance! I'm trying to keep it under 1k and am currently looking at Zephyr and Victory brand hoods but I'm absolutely open to other suggestions. The model for microwave is 24” Over-The-Range Microwave/Hood Fan Combination from Whirlpool (UMH50008HS) But then later they say that model got discontinued and they couldn't secure it. You’ll have to look at the CFM (cubic foot per minute) rating of the microwave vs a range hood. Found a brand called Cosmo at Home Depot that has an usually high number of 4 and 5 star ratings. Thinking of pulling the trigger on this yet to seemingly be reviewed item, but ultimately it is a $150 fan with filters inside of it. Heat from gas stove can melt low flow range hood wheel, even not at max. Even if you have the required clearance, it still may seem low for use. In particular no hood is a fire risk and you'll eventually warp any cabinets above the range with steam if you are boiling water a lot. So $$$$. The microwave has vent ducting to the exterior of the home. I would recommend getting a single purpose range hood. And has a air fry setting which is nice. You want the most depth and width you can get. I have been looking to replace the microwave with a range hood that vents outside. I looked into converting the hardwire into a plug, but also read that doing so could cause issues such as the appliance not getting enough voltage, not being NEC compliant I have a GE JNM3163RJ3SS Microwave mounted above my gas range. The best solution for strictly venting would be a over the range hood vent but it's costly and you'd be relocating the microwave which may not be at all practical The only kind of microwaves that I'm aware of that can vent to the outside are the over-the-range types that have built in range hoods. Gotcha you could vent it through the upper cabinet into the attic and then properly exhausted outside. OTR microwave with built-in ventilation Vs Recirculating under cabinet range hood? Hello, so I am renovating my kitchen and I want to have a ventilation system over my range. The microwave hood we are getting maxes at 300 CFMs and the range is a standard 30, gas. I once tested a 400 cfm with a 5000 btu oven with the four burners at medium high (boiling water, not simmering, not full boiling) and the temperature protection starts after 15 minutes and the wheel melts after 20, scrapping the hood. Is it safe to remove the range hood, install an outlet on the circuit above the oven, and use that outlet to power an OTR microwave? The circuit is on a 20 amp breaker. When you buy the range you get the dish free or upgrade for little coin. (On that note, for anyone with experience with hood covers, are those things giant grease collectors or manageable?). The suction is not that high and the models are outdated. Twotall88 is correct, ductless range hoods are essentially the same as the recirculating vents like the one under your microwave, just minus the microwave component. Also, the shape of the hood has as much to do with how well it works as the CFM. From a design standpoint the Thermador gray glass matches better together vs another brand microwave. The Sensor Cooking is a really nice feature, and I actually use my microwave now to reheat food. I bought a range hood to replace a microwave/fan combo and found out that the range hood needs to be hardwired (the microwave plugged into an outlet above the stove). Sidestep this entire problem and get a range hood that's a little under 400CFM. So I want to remove the microwave and install a hood. Prices were pretty drastic as well, from $100 to $3000 for a basic range hood (with light). ahvosy dgwu jdcsh nilibnp fnzie mrgks rhkf rxubhi bsll inrgpp