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Apparently, they don't normally vent the microwave to the outside because these are townhouses. It's not possible to vent interior units to the outside so it just recirculates. I have an end unit so that's why it's possible. This is not a standard upgrade that they offer--just something I asked for. In general, I think they have been fair about costs of upgrades and they have agreed to a couple of non-standard things for me so I'm not complaining quite yet!
We didn't have enough clearance between our stove and cupboards for an over-the-range microwave - I wanted a large microwave/convection oven, so this is what we did:
What kind of cooking do you do? We took the built-in vented to the outside out and replaced it with a commercial hood. I love it! Just for emergencies we put a dorm size microwave on a pantry shelf.
Replace a kitchen cabinet with open shelving and add a small microwave it you really use one.
What kind of cooking do you do? We took the built-in vented to the outside out and replaced it with a commercial hood. I love it! Just for emergencies we put a dorm size microwave on a pantry shelf.
Replace a kitchen cabinet with open shelving and add a small microwave it you really use one.
I do all sorts of cooking and a lot of it is stirfry/wok cooking so there is definitely a lot of steam, smell, etc. while I'm cooking. My options are either a commercial hood, a vent from the microwave to the outside ($500 extra), or a recirculating vent from the microwave. If I got the commercial, hood, I would have to place the microwave on the counter, unless I want to rip out a cabinet or two (which I don't--they're really expensive!) plus I don't want to lose cabinet space. I do use my microwave very often to heat up food so not having one very accessible is not an option. If you look at the picture of the kitchen in my first post, there aren't too many places to put the microwave outside of the built-in area and there isn't a ton of counterspace. I would like a range hood but at the same time, I don't want to lose the microwave. The house isn't going to be done for several more months...I guess I should start looking now for an even bigger house with a giant kitchen so I can have everything I want! :-)
IMO having done a couple of high end kitchens ANYONE who would give up a high volume EXTERNALLY vented hood over a microwave or a recirculating vent isn't serious about cooking .
I would rather have a counter top radio than a recirculating hood.....the radio is almost as noisy, it takes up less space and it scrubs the air just as well as the ventless hood.
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