shallow cabinets - vent hood help!

14 years ago

Hi,

This is my first post at garden web and I need help. Last week my 15 year old over the range (OTR)microwave refused to heat up any more food.

I bought a replacement OTR microwave and then discovered that microwaves have gotten deeper over the years. Unfortunately, my cabinets are only 12 inches deep and the microwave stuck out so much from the cabinet, it became the focus of my kitchen.

I researched and found that companies stopped making 14 inch depth microwaves. So, I decided to return my OTR microwave and go with a vent hood.

Now, I am having a REALLY hard time finding an under cabinet vent hood that will also not stick out too much and be the focus of my kitchen. I am considering a slide out option but the GE slideout wants my cabinet depth to be 12 1/8 inches in order to put the blower in. I will call Broan and Kitchen aid tomorrow to find out their required dimensions for a slide out as well.

Are there other options for me? I have older cabinets that are a distinct pickled oak yellowy color and I can't paint or replace them at this time.

Any ideas on an unobtrusive vent hood for 12 inch depth cabinets? My oven is 30 inches across and I would like any amount of CFMs. Can I wall mount a vent even with some cabinets above it?

Featured Answer

SparklingWater

14 years ago

Here are pictures which show what I mean. Some vent hood sizes require forgoing cabinets due to size and result in a matching piece of shallow cabinet wood or a pull up shelf above the hood.

Btw, your vent hood and duct are very similar to mine. I have two 3 1/4" x 10" centered vertical ducts next to one another under the 42 inch hood. Rectangular ducts are less efficient in venting than round ducts, reducing cross section area from almost 50 square inch (7" diameter round duct) to around 36 sq inch for a 3 1/4" x 10" vertical duct. No wonder the original owner put in two (70 square inch total).

Since your system is rectangular and vertical prior to its 90 degree turn, it may help if you measure the 'long' side (side facing cabinet and through soffit) and 'short' side vertical height (side on wall) to review with the vent hood company or HVAC company. There are specifications or exact requirements for each hood (specs). My vertical height is 52' long (directly behind the cabinets)and 30' vertically on the wall side (prior to the first large 90 degree turn).

It's a tad more complicated to get all right with our rectangular duct design.

Here is a link that might be useful: [Link:[(https://www.houzz.com/products/range-hoods-and-vents-prbr0-br~t_442)

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Comments (8)

beekeeperswife
14 years ago
You can find a vent hood that slides out when in use, and goes back when not.

Keep in mind that the reason it needs to come out over the range is just to make it more efficient at its job, to vent the smoke, smells, steam out of the kitchen. Is your vent recirculating or does it go to the outside?

Here's a picture of a GE Monogram hood. Not sure if you want to find another place for a microwave, and do something like this for your vent:

[Kitchen Hoods And Vents design[(https://www.houzz.com/products/range-hoods-and-vents-prbr0-br~t_442) by San Diego Kitchen And Bath Jamie Goldberg, AKBD, CAPS
SparklingWater
14 years ago
I have 12" cabinet uppers and have been researching the vent hood and venting for quite some time.

Yes, if you spec it right, you should be able to mount a wall vent with wood above it. I say wood because it depends on what you choose as to whether that will be a lateral "filler" piece or full cabinets.

It would help if you describe your vent type where the microwave was? Is there a vertical duct to the outside or was this a recirculation (I don't know much about microwave OTR vents).

Best, Broan, TradeWind (now a new name but can still google it), Zephyr all come to mind for your situation. I believe I saw a couple which were 19" in depth total, meaning 12" under the cabinet and 7" extending. Keep in mind you wish to maximize coverage of your stove burners to capture effluent.
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Fori
14 years ago
You might be able to cut away the back of the cabinet and some drywall to squeeze in something.

I know you said that slideouts don't fit, but the one BeeKW linked is also installable as a chimney hood (no cabinet) so it might be skinnier.

A slideout will leave you with a lot of new backsplash exposed--any hood will, really. Is that OK? I guess it's not a bad thing. It's a "Decorating Opportunity"!
seastar1
Original Author
14 years ago
Hi,

Thanks for the replies!

Yes, I did find another place for my microwave - in the corner, behind the fridge, where it is not visible :)

The microwave vent vents vertically up through the cabinet (14 inches high) and then through a 12 inch soffit where it appears to take a 90 degree turn to be vented outside.

I am completely OK with doing a new backsplash because I was choosing a new countertop material and tile when my microwave broke. I am so lucky it didn't happen after I installed the backsplash!

Can you explain what this means: "Yes, if you spec it right, you should be able to mount a wall vent with wood above it. I say wood because it depends on what you choose as to whether that will be a lateral "filler" piece or full cabinets. "
What is a lateral filler piece? I cannot add extra cabinets because my wood is a weird finish (pickled oak I think).

Thank you sooo much for the replies - just last week I didn't know what a vent hood was!
SparklingWater
14 years ago
Oops typo above, meant 8" diameter round duct.

To figure common common round duct size and area the formula is PI x R squared.

So, 8" round duct: 3.14 x 16 =50.24 square inches.

The more commonly found 8" round kitchen duct provides about 350 CFM of free-flow fresh air. So to get to 600 CFM's, you would need two 8" round ducts.

And since we have the 3 1/4" x 10" rectangular system which provide about 226 CFM each at a cross section of 35 square inches each, to get to 600 CFM well we would need to increase the vent outlet size so as not to be so restrictive and/or provide MUA to avoid negative back pressure.

Just notes to ponder when choosing CFM capacity of your new vent hood.

Hope this helps.
seastar1
Original Author
14 years ago
Just found out for the slide out vent, my cabinets above the hood are too short (13.5 inches) for GE, Broan, and kitchen aide models :(.
badgergal
14 years ago
Most upper cabinets are only 12 inches deep so the majority of vent hoods do stick out. They actually should so that the hood is completely above the cooking area of your range/cooktop to capture steam, grease, smells etc.
I went fromn a OTR microwave to a vent-a-hood and it did look huge at first but you will get used to the look. And you will soon appreciate how much better the ventilation is.