Kitchen ventilation
 

In my Gardenia kitchen, the microwave is above the stove (stacked) and has no outside ventilation, just blows back odors through inadequate filter. Whole house smells when stove is used for frying etc. Has anyone implemented any type of exhaust fan to outside or attic? Contractor?

I'd also be interested in this. I don't mind the smell so much as the noise that the exhaust fan makes any time that we do anything more extensive than bringing water to a boil. I've noticed that our oven is vented to the outside; I'm surprised and disappointed that the microwave is not.

It's possible, although unlikely, that the builder installed a duct from behind the microwave to the outside. If so, the microwave fan can be rotated 90 degrees to vent air out the rear of the microwave. I would check it out. If you don't have a duct, I would install a new vent hood and duct in the kitchen, not through the microwave.

Vent Hoods
 

I bought a resale in CDD 5 and it has both electric and gas connections, The existing microwave had a vent outside on the wall. When remodeling the kitchen I removed the microwave and installed a dedicated high velocity vent hood and just ducted it out of the roof. Works great, no more fire alarms going off while cooking.

I have a Gardenia also. I never noticed the problem you are having. How do we know if it is vented or not via microwave?

If the microwave exhaust fan doesn't vent to the outside, the air will come out at the top front part of the microwave through the vent holes. You should be able to feel the air with your hand when the fan is on.

If you do vent your microwave, make sure it is vented to the outside, never into the attic, that's a sure fire way to grow mold.

It would also be illegal. The current building code doesn't allow any exhaust fan to discharge air into the attic. Older codes did allow bathroom fans to exhaust into the attic.

I do some handyman work in my neighborhood. If I can't repair this for $50 (service call) there's no charge.

Thanks,

I’ll have to check it out when I return to TV. If it is vented, it would have to be vented through the roof since kitchen is in middle of house

We have 2013 vintage gardenia, and I have the house plans which specifically show a vent through the roof for the microwave. I have also notice cold air in the microwave in the winter on some occasions. I have no idea when or if the building codes changed, but I have heard storing of the cover plate on the microwave NOT being removed, which blocks the air flow the the vent. As for verifying if you have a vent, you should be able to see the rectangular vent from the attic access point, and you should be able to see the rectangular vent through the roof.

My Gardenia is a 2011 vintage.
Thanks for information!

Smoke detectors are not intended to be used as a "Kitchen Timer"...:icon_wink:

I keep having to remind the wife of that...:boxing2:

Our Microwave was set up to vent to the front. On a service call it was reset to vent out the back to the vent hole behind it.
Check to see if there is a vent to the rear available.

I always thought "5 Alarm Chili" referred to how many smoke detectors went off when I cooked it.