Microwave Clearance Requirements

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Paul1977

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#270172 26-Apr-2020 21:03

So I'm a little confused here.

In our new kitchen design we are having a microwave "cubby" above our 60cm oven - like a lot of kitchens have.

This thing is, every microwave I look at says they need anywhere from 7.5 to 15 cm clearance on each side. With your average microwave being over 50cm wide, how are you meant to put in a >60cm cubby and still leave enough ventilation?

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1410 posts

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#2471755 26-Apr-2020 21:12

It's probably why there's normally a vent void behind any cupboards above the microwave.

[edit] Just a thought, usually there's approx 2x 16mm pieces of cabinetry on each side in addition [on each side of the oven] so you'd get an additional 32mm overall - bringing it a bit closer to that clearance on each side.

1x 16mm on the inner part of the oven space so it can be screwed back, and 1x 16mm for the outer ends of cabinetry to clean it up (where the oven is) and just the outer piece where the microwave is, so there is an additional 16mm of space where the microwave is

This doesn't satisfy the 75mm rule but there's plenty of ventilation up the back usually - though the oven space isn't usually completely tight around it, so a 600 wide oven might have a 620 gap.. I guess it all adds up more and more. If this was the case, it would satisfy the 75mm minimum needed on each side of a 500mm wide microwave... just

(620 - 500 = 120; 120/2=60; 60+16=76mm each side)

Sorry, lots of edits, can't think right now!

Paul1977

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#2471765 26-Apr-2020 21:42

Thanks @snnet

But is this an issue? This seems to be a really standard design practice in kitchens to have microwave cubbies this size. What’s the worst that could happen with less than the recommended ventilation?

EDIT: Re-worded question.

snnet

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#2471766 26-Apr-2020 21:44

Possibly heat distortion of the materials around it? I haven't had any issue with mine and I know it doesn't have 75mm clearance on one side. That said, I don't "cook" with it, just use it to heat things up. It's probably on for a max of 5 - 6 mins at a time. It's not like putting a toaster in a cupboard with shelves above it (lots of fires caused this way)

timmmay

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#2471767 26-Apr-2020 21:49

I have a few cm around my microwave, works fine. If they break, buy another, they're cheap. Don't buy a Panasonic, really poor UI design - unable to turn the beep off, and you have to hit "clear" to start it if it finished recently.

snnet

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#2471768 26-Apr-2020 21:50

Have you got the proper kitchen design plans? with specific measurements? I've just looked thru several plans I've done jobs for and the sizes for 600mm ovens tend to provide 620-650mm gaps for microwaves / storage above

Paul1977

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#2471772 26-Apr-2020 22:03

snnet:
Have you got the proper kitchen design plans? with specific measurements? I've just looked thru several plans I've done jobs for and the sizes for 600mm ovens tend to provide 620-650mm gaps for microwaves / storage above

Plan says 600.

mattwnz

20164 posts

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#2471779 26-Apr-2020 23:55

I have found that the reason for the clearances tends to be steam venting, and the digital display steams up if it is in a confined space.

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Bung

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#2471784 27-Apr-2020 00:57

I've just been through making a space for our microwave. There was no problem at the rear and above but the microwave sucks air in on the side and vents at the back. As that side is adjacent to the fridge I've just cut a hole in the side panel that isn't seen from the front. Newer microwaves have no tolerance for heat and need the air flow.

Amosnz

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#2471830 27-Apr-2020 10:03

If its just a microwave sitting in a cavity you should be fine, the only time it becomes important is with some trim kits (eg entire face covering the cavity).

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larknz

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#2471836 27-Apr-2020 10:31

timmmay:
I have a few cm around my microwave, works fine. If they break, buy another, they're cheap. Don't buy a Panasonic, really poor UI design - unable to turn the beep off, and you have to hit "clear" to start it if it finished recently.

Nothing wrong with Panasonic. I have used them for years and I think that they are very easy to navigate

JayADee

2148 posts

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#2472422 27-Apr-2020 20:53

larknz:
timmmay:

I have a few cm around my microwave, works fine. If they break, buy another, they're cheap. Don't buy a Panasonic, really poor UI design - unable to turn the beep off, and you have to hit "clear" to start it if it finished recently.

Nothing wrong with Panasonic. I have used them for years and I think that they are very easy to navigate

timmmay is right though, pita compared to ones that don’t operate that way.

neb

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#2472775 28-Apr-2020 13:22

JayADee:
timmmay is right though, pita compared to ones that don’t operate that way.

My parents have one and it's a serious PITA. Having said that, pretty much every microwave that's button-controlled is a PITA, I don't want to spend ten minutes programming a micro just to warm up a cup of tea. And then they all use the cheapest possible materials for the controls, my parent's one has the plastic peeling and flaking off the touch pad and I've seen ones with buttons where the chrome on the plastic buttons has mostly worn/cracked off.

That's why we have a dial-controlled microwave, turn the timer dial to the time you want and that's all you need to do.

networkn

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#2472801 28-Apr-2020 14:13

Microwaves don't tend to get VERY hot unless you run them long times. We have had next to no clearance except at the back from our last 3 microwaves all that have lasted 5+ years.

Having said that, 10 minutes is about the longest we usually run them at a time, as we don't "cook" with them, only really reheat.

Dingbatt

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#2472821 28-Apr-2020 14:50

Our microwave sits in a 45x60cm cavity in the cabinetry above the wall oven. The space is open in the rear for ventilation. The microwave has a stainless steel trim kit fitted around it. The trim kit came with inlet and exhaust ducting/deflectors so that the microwave didn’t end up ‘smelling its own farts’. Without a trim kit I would assume you would need to still pay attention to the flow from the exhaust in relation to the inlet.

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mdf

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#2472834 28-Apr-2020 15:38

neb: ... my parent's one has the plastic peeling and flaking off the touch pad... <snip>

I had a similar issue after a good ~10 years of use. In my case, it turns out it was a factory fitted film that you were _supposed_ to peel off. 😄 Whoops.

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