Combination wall oven/microwave

16 years ago

Is this combination a good idea? It seems to me that the microwave would tend to die after a few years and then the whole appliance would be useless as the microwave could not be switched out.

Would it not be better to get a separate wall oven and microwave? Or is the combination better for some reason?(like saving space or cost)

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Comments (5)

texaskitchentoo
16 years ago
Definately a consideration... I've been looking at a combo also. The advantage of a combo, maybe the only one, is that it does save some space. The space savings comes from a combined control panel (which means no control panel for the lower oven) and minimal space between lower and upper oven. This means the top control panel can be more at eye level for shorter people. But there are not that many nice looking combo's. Whirlpool makes a nice looking combo in thier own name, Kitchen Aid and Jenn Air brands. But I've read some who had issues with hot air blowing out of them and noisy relays. E'Lux is about to release their combo. While it is probably just their oven and micro in the same chasis, thier micros aren't known to be the best. So a tough decision.
pvel
Original Author
16 years ago
Agree it is a tough decision. I like the look of the combos but fear that the micro would conk out later, leaving me with a piece of junk and the need to buy a separate microwave, as I don't think I would switch out the whole appliance just for a dead microwave. Am I being paranoid? Or realistic?
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nerdyshopper
16 years ago
We have an older GE profile narrow oven-micro combo. The micro is the most powerful and fastest I have ever used. The oven stinks. We have error messages that mean disassembly and costly parts. Only wish the oven worked as well as the micro.
funnymercials
15 years ago
We have a Thermador that was purchased in 1978 -- oven with built-in microwave. It still works!
Have had the micro serviced once or twice -- can't kill it.
funfarm
15 years ago
I can tell you that I considered a combo unit as well when I was first selecting appliances. I fairly quickly abandoned the idea for the very reasons you stated in your original post. I know different people have had different experiences, but I have had less-than-stellar luck with microwaves (except Sharp). For this remodel, I went with a Bosch single wall oven and a separate Sharp microwave with a trim kit. They won't look exactly like a combo unit when installed and it does take some more thought and planning when designing/specifiying cabinets, but I'm too afraid of the future hassle that might be encountered to go with a combo unit.
Assuming you are going with stainless and are afraid they won't match exactly, you could go with the same manufacturer for both units.

Good luck, Dean