kitchen exhaust systems

[jinker]

Has anyone converted their exhaust fans to allow them to vent outside or do you feel the microwave exhaust fan combination is adequate? What about the excess moisture when cooking?

[chuckinca]

We don't like the "exhaust" being blown right in our face and into the kitchen. Or the Microwave right above the stove.

Plan on fixing that when we have more than two weeks to spend in TV at any one time (like this winter - if my boss will let me get away for a few months like he said he would).


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[Lucko]

We went to Lowe's and they can order higher quality hoods with good light, more fan speeds and they are very, very quiet except on the highest setting which is way more powerful than the hood fans they stock. Cost is about 50 percent higher than the fans they show, but certainly worth the difference and the three day wait. And I'm not just blowing smoke !!!

[Russ_Boston]

Lucko - It still vents inside correct? I think the question is about whether to vent it outside or not. I never really understood the idea of venting it inside. All it does is disperse it from the stove area. I guess it traps any airborne grease better but you still have the fumes and steam inside.

[dgammon6]

Ours does vent outside. We have a Lantana. I didn't realize that some were setup to recycle the air through a filter.

[Just Susan]

A Kitchen Bath Designer for 20+ years...still accept jobs occasionally...my experience taught me this:

If an exhaust fan is not vented to the outside, it is blowing the grease around your kitchen, etc.
The most efficient venting is that which has the fewest turns and the shortest distance to the outside.
Microwave over Range exhaust is usually worthless and can be a fire hazard if the exhaust portion is not kept spotless...it is also visually and maybe physically in the way, if placed low enough to work well.
The quality and size of the exhaust fan is determined by the size and quality of the range.

[nanci2539]

I have a Lantana and the microwave is over the stove. I replaced the GE Profile range with an Electrox range. But I left the microwave. My husband was okay with replacing the stove as we cook alot and use to gas (we have electric in the Lantana). But he said that was it!

So do I understand that the microwave vent us useless??? I feel like I'm going backwards in terms of the obsolete appliances the builder puts into these homes. The kitchen (IMHO) is a bit outdated by today's standards.

[pqrstar]

Some microwaves vent to the inside, particularly in the villas.

Look to see if there is a vent on the exterior of your home near the stove.
It will be either in the exterior wall or through the roof.

You will see the metal vent on the exterior if it vents to the outside.

[Just Susan]

Nance, the microwave might be vented to the outside. Check and see. But I stand by what I said.

Now let me qualify my comments...

Many, many builders use micro over range as standard...it is one appliance that does the work of two and therefore saves them money.

Builders make a good % of their profit in the kitchen, with cheaper "builder" grade cabinets and appliances. How cheap depends on the builder. TV's new home kitchen quality is not great, but actually not too bad for the cost of the homes. I have seen much worse in much more expensive homes.

An exhaust fan vented to the outside is always better than an unvented microwave/exhaust combination, there is no getting around it.

Sorry, P. :kiss:

[pqrstar]

Your existing microwave can be made to exhaust to the outside if it isn't already.

There is a diverter in back of the microwave that will have to be turned; however, you must create an exterior avenue through your exterior wall or up through the cabinet and into the attic then through the roof.

Look at the microwave owner's manual, or you can download one for your specific microwave model from the Internet through the manufactures' website.