Problem with installing PHS920SFSS GE Slide-in induction range

11 years ago

Hi all,

Has anyone installed the GE PHS920SFSS slide-in induction in an island application? We just did and our installer found a problem with the rear part of the cook top- the vent cover- not being long enough to span the space that the installation guide prescribed for installing. See photos here:

http://tinyurl.com/GE-slide-in-gap

This part is called the Trim and Deflector (GE Part # WB07T10710)

Any ideas? We're thinking of:

1. Fabricating and installing a strip of stainless steel somehow to act as a flange.

2. Same, but in a dark elastomer, like rubber. Think of a gasket.

3. Filling the gap with silicone caulk.

4. Inserting a thin plastic piece on both ends as a gasket to cover.

Any suggestions welcome. Looks like this wasn't designed to bear the scrutiny that an island application permits. Against a backsplash, this isn't a big problem.

Featured Answer

jwvideo

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

I have not installed a PHS920 but, seeing that nobody else has responded, I'll suggest that you look for what GE used to call a "slide-in range Island Installation kit." I've seen them at the likes of Home Depot. (It might have been for a slide-in gas range but it could work for your situation,)

I think you want to avoid options 2 & 3. Seems to me that both will be hard to keep clean-looking, may start looking grungy in short order, and the GE's manual probably tells you not to caulk the range to the countertop, anyway.

If you can't find or don't like the looks of the available island trim kits, I think option 1 would be the best choice. If it were my stove, I'd be inclined to make a collar that wraps the back and both sides. I'd adjust the feet to raise the stove a skoonch and make a template on paper or thin cardboard to take to a metal shop with a plasma cutter.

With your nice-looking countertops, I think Option 4 should only be used as a temporary stopgap.

Also, there may be some after-market kits, as well. I think I've seen some discussions here or at chowhound about a company with a name like Microtrim. You might try a search on them.

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Comments (11)

tsesung
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks- very helpful. And I think I found it on Home Depot's website. Just wondering if it'll fit. and I did in touch with Microtrimm- very responsive.
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blubird
11 years ago
How about having a piece matching your countertop fabricated to fit? If you'll do a search for cloudswift's kitchen, completed several years ago, I believe you'll find a similar solution.
Michelle Ho
11 years ago
Hi, what did you end up doing? We're running into the same problem
tsesung
Original Author
11 years ago
Well I ordered the part from HD online only to be contacted a few days later that it's not available by itself but must be bought with the appliance. The first of two parts stores I contacted couldn't find it on their system; I have a question to GE tech support to see if this piece (GE model # JXS81ES) will work on the PHS920SFSS; and I'll call the 2nd parts store tomorrow. No literature on either the range or this part suggests they'll work together; but the kit is for the GE Profile Line, of which the induction slide-in range is a member.
Michelle Ho
11 years ago
was this the one u looked at?
http://m.homedepot.com/p/GE-Slide-In-Gas-Range-Island-Installation-Kit-JXS81ES/205824742

I was looking at the specs for the trim, it looks like it's width 35.5 in, which seems big for 30" range. any luck via microtrim.com?
tsesung
Original Author
11 years ago
@blubird our countertop fabricator/installer said bonding a piece of marble (which is what our counters are) won't be a good long term solution- it'll just fall off after awhile. I'm hoping the GE trim kit will do the trick. Otherwise I'll pull the trigger on Microtrim, which, at ~$60+s/h, 5 day delivery, is turning out half as much and faster than the GE piece I'm looking at.
tsesung
Original Author
11 years ago
@michelle, I think that might be the external dimension (which is still a bit large: the cooktop is something like 31.25" wide, with the range itself at pretty much 30.0" width). So I don't know. GE Tech Support didn't know. I'm thinking I might just have to order it and try it, possibly returning it. Microtrimm seems very responsive, but I haven't pulled the trigger yet. I have some reservations about it as a solution, which is actually hard to describe in words. Suffice to say I'm not sure it'll create the look that we want, given the way the vent sits low. That's why I was hoping this GE part might help- it's traded as a GE Profile item, of which I believe the PHS920 is a member. Anything more on your end?
PRO
User
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Contact us at TrimKits USA, we'll gladly fabricate whatever you need.
tsesung
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
To wrap things up, I thought to mention that we went with a custom solution with Microtrim. Excellent customer service, and so far we're happy with the solution. They essentially made us a U-shaped piece that rests on the countertop. The vent cover then rests on top of it.

I've uploaded some photos to the folder linked in my original post above if you'd like to have a look, i.e., http://tinyurl.com/GE-slide-in-gap

A couple notes.

1. To make this work, you have to remove the vent cover- the silver piece that's causing the problem by being designed too short. It's attached by 2 screws. The screws go through two tabs on the vent cover. In order for this to work, the vent cover needs to be able to move up a bit with respect to the back of the stove where it's attached by the screws. This way, the vent cover rests on top of the trim piece that Microtrim made for us. And this is how you get a neater look.

2. In order to do that, you have to use tin snips or some such to cut a slot out of the screw holes in each tab. I haven't done this, but plan to use fender washers (washers that are thick- that is, they might be 1" diameter, but the hole in the center might be 1/8". Think of a metal disk with a hole in the middle.) It's tricky, and this hasn't been on the top of our to do list. Right now, it looks good, but it's not completely secured. The front edge of the vent cover hooks under the rear edge of the cooktop.

3. Be careful: the vent cover is pretty sharp, and can scratch the fine finish of the trim piece. Remember, it's resting right on top of it.

Hope that helps!

PS: big, big, big caveat: moving the vent cover like I did may void your range's warranty; and there may be some non-insignificant change to the risk your stove poses to your home, so do all this at your own risk! :-)
vince_badagnani
11 years ago
Do you have any information on what the dimensions are of the custom piece you had made?

I have the same range and the same issue.

Thanks.