Our new one has vents on the top the part that sticks out further than the cabinet.

It seems that “over the range” microwaves are less attractive to buyers now so, there are fewer models available. Most manufacturers have created more sleek versions. As long as your microwave is clearly designated for an “over the range” installation, it’s what you’ll need. You must install with the required venting clearances. I know my last replacement failed early as the microwave couldn't handle the heat output

Thank you. I actually respectfully disagee. I see many many over the range microwaves. It's just that they are no longer made with front-facing vents. And I'm concerned about proper ventillation and overheating. I think Janet pointed out that the vents are now at the top of the over the range microwaves at the part that kinda "sticks out" from the cabinet. If that is the case, I think I should be ok.

That is correct. Just be sure whoever installs it, makes sure then vent is blowing up through a vent tube into the attic or out of the house, and not using the top/front vent which just directs the hot air up into the kitchen making the kitchen hot. Poor design for small kitchens with low ceilings if you ask me.

Bought a new microwave last month and most of the major stores had very few models of any type available in my smaller town (Reno, NV). It’s the Covid factor and because of so many renos in our area.

So Basilio, are you saying that I won't be able to install a new over the range microwave without making additional rennovations? I don't see anywhere where my old microwave has a vent tube going up into the attic or out of the house. Is that possible?

Many people just install them for the convivence of saving counter space. Actual venting is a far after though. Those vents just blow the cooking particulates back into the kitchen as opposed to putting them outdoors where they belong. I am not an OTR microwave expert but I imagine those vents also provided the necessary ventilation to the microwaves operations as well. So basically if it was designed to go in that space don't worry about the venting for the actual microwaves basic function. If you were not vented before, just re install a new one and carry on with life. If you want to do it correctly get a contractor and have the proper ductwork installed to vent into the attic space or preferably outdoors.

Makes sense, Kevin. I just don't want to have an overheating situation causing a fire.

"How do I ensure that there is adequate ventilation so that there is no overheating?

You just have to make sure that the cabinets surrounding the oven are not too deep. If they were, the top vents would be blocked and you would not be able to open the door because the adjacent cabinet blocked the hinge. For example, the cabinets must be between 12" and 14" deep to fit the CR recommended Whirlpool WMH53521H according to the oven's specifications.

"Do I need to renovate the kitchen to have an exhaust installed that goes to the outside of my home?"

No. For example, the Whirlpool model above is set to recirculate by default. It can be modified by the installer to support venting to the outside.

@Sharon Fullen: "It seems that “over the range” microwaves are less attractive to buyers now so, there are fewer models available."

No. Home Depot has 88 OTR microwaves on its website. Best Buy has 170.

We are in a condo and our kitchen has no proper exterior vent and adding one requires way more time and patience than I personally currently have (committee approval following a very complex application process that requires architectural blueprints etc). When we moved in we replaced a 17 year old Bosch OTR microwave with a brand new KitchenAid - both can be installed as either recirculating or vented and both work great, no issues with overheating or anything like that. People on here tend to be pretty anti-OTR, but in some kitchens (like our tiny galley with minimal countertops) they really are the most practical option.

So Best Buy's installation services just left here and here's the scoop. In this situation (i.e. there is a cabinet directly above the microwave with no venting and there is no venting structure directing the air to the outside), you cannot simply replace an older microwave with vents facing front with a newer style one where there are no vents out front.

You must either sign up for an expensive rennovation to create a venting structure to the outside, or you have to find a microwave that has front vents (which don't exist) or one that janetmm59 above has where there are vents on the top part of the microwave that "sticks out" horizontally from the cabinet. I don't know how easy those are to find.

janetmm59, can you tell me your make and model?

GE model JVM6175YK2FS I got last year has venting at the front edge on top. The grill area above the controls is an intake for cooling the magnetron during microwave operation. The sections above the door is outflow for both cooling and exhaust.

Surely there are other models designed the same.

Thank you. The question is ... whether that venting at the front provides ventillation for the magnetron or is it just for the exhaust fan. I can't believe how complicated this is turning out to be.

We have the whirlpool low profile one - kitchenaid also has one but it’s more expensive.

It sounds like there was some kind of misunderstanding or the person you were speaking with was… making things up on the fly.

"In this situation (i.e. there is a cabinet directly above the microwave with no venting and there is no venting structure directing the air to the outside), you cannot simply replace an older microwave with vents facing front with a newer style one where there are no vents out front."

This is simply not true. You can replace your current oven with another one as long as the depth of the surrounding cabinet meets the requirements of the replacement oven. For example, maximum cabinet depth of the CR-recommended LG LMV2031ST is 13" as shown in the Clearances guide. If the surrounding cabinets are 13" deep or less, the oven will be able to expel the air from the top (when set up for recirculation) and the oven door will not be blocked by the adjacent cabinet.

You do not have to buy one of the Whirlpool or KitchenAid low-profile ovens.

"The question is ... whether that venting at the front provides ventillation for the magnetron or is it just for the exhaust fan. I can't believe how complicated this is turning out to be."

It's not complicated and you don't have to worry about that; the oven manufacturer figured that out. You only have to make sure the vent at the top of the oven is not blocked.

So I just got back from Lowe's and a local appliance store. Lowe's told me that all new microwaves vent from the rear and that I cannot install a newer style microwave without making rennovations to create an exhaust system because the microwave sits flush against the wall. The local appliance store told me that I can install a newer style microwave (LG LMV2031ST happens to be the one I am considering) and it will vent from the top of the front that sticks out from the cabinet. He told me that is NOT an ideal situation - the ideal situation is to have the exhaust going to the outside - but that it gets the job done i.e. the magnetron is "cooled" at a "lesser level" but it's good enough.

Your salesman is wrong.

The GE I have is listed at Lowes as available. I didn't check any other brand/model but I'd bet many, if not all, have the same capabilities.

On my GE, the venting function (cooktop exhausting) is a separate fan and airflow path from the magnetron cooling airflow. Magnetron cooling always pulls air in from the grill above the control panel and blows from the grill at front above the door.

The cooktop exhaust function can blow into an outdoor exhaust duct located at the top/rear (vertical) or back/rear (horizontal) if it's configured for outside venting. It exhausts from the top/front (as mine) when configured for indoor/recirculation venting.

The dual squirrel-cage cooktop exhaust blower assembly is removed, rotated accordingly, and set back into the unit for which direction the output is to aim ... to the outlet port at top/back, at top/rear, or front grill above the door. There's also a plate that fits to cover one of the outdoor duct port directions according to which of the three exhaust methods is configured.

This is a link to the installation instructions for the GE. There are three sections that describe how to orient the exhaust blower assembly and install the unit for which of the three exhaust direction/method is needed.

GE JVM6175YKFS Installation

"Lowe's told me that all new microwaves vent from the rear and that I cannot install a newer style microwave without making rennovations to create an exhaust system because the microwave sits flush against the wall."

This is false. For example, the Whirlpool WMH53521H is set to recirculate by default but the blower can be modified to exhaust through the wall (rear) or through the roof (top). The LG LMV2031ST is set to exhaust through the roof by default but can be modified to exhaust through the wall or to recirculate.

"...it gets the job done i.e. the magnetron is "cooled" at a "lesser level" but it's good enough."

Aw jeez. Regardless of how the air is exhausted, air enters the oven the same way: from the bottom. How the air is exhausted is adjusted by simply by rotating the fan housing before the oven is installed.

So thank you to everyone who responded here. Having your input has been extremely helpful and I really appreciate it.

I think the most likely answer is that even with no vents facing out front, if an over the range microwave has venting on top in the very front, as long as those vents (which are not necessarily easy to see on display in the stores) have clearance in front of the cabinets above the microwave, you should be ok. That should provide input air and exhaust air for the magnetron. That is my current theory based on what I've heard so far. I'll let you know, because I intend to order one and have it installed soon.

Many thanks again!

Good riddance to my over the range microwave. i have one in white for sale with exterior venting., In my book, a range hood or over the range microwave that doesnt vent outside is useless . All they do is distribute the grease , odors, smoke CO and CO2 and moisture around your kitchen . In my new kitchen i installed proper exteror vent range hood . it is even more important with a gas cook top to get the combustion by products out of thr indoor air. Even with exterior venting the fans in an over the range microwaves are so small they cant move enough air to vent properly .

Fair enough, Jim. I just ordered a new one because I don't have a choice. If/when I remodel my kitchen, if it doesn't add too much cost, I'll consider doing what you did.