[AnneCBrodie]

Today my microwave was humming when I closed the door but hadn't yet pressed Start. It didn't LOOK to be running (no interior light, nothing showing on the display) but I could hear it. And sure enough - I put a piece of cheese in, closed the door, heard the hum, and the cheese was melted. I turned the breaker off and figure on replacing as this one's original to the 2009 build.

Home Depot has them on sale and I'm looking for: 1) Advice on installation service and approximate cost. 2) The 1.7 cu ft GE is $269. Same with convection/air fryer is $699. I had a convection microwave that I enjoyed but surprised this is more than double the cost. Anyone use these features?

[retiredguy123]

Personally, I would buy the Whirlpool from Best Buy for $230 and pay them $140 to install it. They seem to do a good job at installing microwaves. If you want an air fryer and/or convection oven, I would buy a countertop Cuisinart.

[Stu from NYC]

we bought one from appliance direct over a year and they installed it. Installers were pros and in and out quickly.

Problem with a more complicated unit is more possibilities of something going wrong.

We prefer separate microwave and air fryer

[villagetinker]

I have installed a few microwaves some words of caution:
1. Does your microwave discharge out the front slots or through the wall? If through the wall, the new unit will typically need to be setup for this, most units ship to discharge out the front.
2. If you decide to change brands (or a different model), and your unit exhausts through the wall check where the exhaust vent opening on the new unit is located. The ductwork in the wall typically cannot be moved.
3. If you change brands, the wall mounting strip will need to be removed and a new one for the new unit installed. This may interfere if you had a backsplash installed.
I generally tell people to stick with the same brands, and then check with the manufacturer if ALL of the dimensions are the same between the units.
If you decide to have the unit installed, make sure the installer is qualified to handle the above concerns if they arise.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to send a PM if you would like to discuss over the phone.

[Worldseries27]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

personally, i would buy the whirlpool from best buy for $230 and pay them $140 to install it. They seem to do a good job at installing microwaves. If you want an air fryer and/or convection oven, i would buy a countertop cuisinart.

i went with home depot a few months ago with their people to install it. The other one gave out after 5 years here. I also got the 5-year warranty. Why fix it.

[JRcorvette]

The typical price to install a Microwave is between $125-150. It can be tricky if your unit vents through the wall. Look to see if there is a vent outside. If your kitchen is on an outside wall it likely vents outside and that is really the best.

[AnneCBrodie]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

I have installed a few microwaves some words of caution:
1. Does your microwave discharge out the front slots or through the wall? If through the wall, the new unit will typically need to be setup for this, most units ship to discharge out the front.
2. If you decide to change brands (or a different model), and your unit exhausts through the wall check where the exhaust vent opening on the new unit is located. The ductwork in the wall typically cannot be moved.
3. If you change brands, the wall mounting strip will need to be removed and a new one for the new unit installed. This may interfere if you had a backsplash installed.
I generally tell people to stick with the same brands, and then check with the manufacturer if ALL of the dimensions are the same between the units.
If you decide to have the unit installed, make sure the installer is qualified to handle the above concerns if they arise.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to send a PM if you would like to discuss over the phone.

Thanks, Villagetinker. It seems to vent out the top front. I've been looking at GEs because that's what the old one is and the others are slightly different sizes.

[AnneCBrodie]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Personally, I would buy the Whirlpool from Best Buy for $230 and pay them $140 to install it. They seem to do a good job at installing microwaves. If you want an air fryer and/or convection oven, I would buy a countertop Cuisinart.

Good to know about Best Buy - hadn't considered them. I like the Whirlpools but forgot to specify in my original post that the old one is a GE. The specs on the Whirlpools are slightly larger.

[AnneCBrodie]

Originally Posted by JRcorvette

The typical price to install a Microwave is between $125-150. It can be tricky if your unit vents through the wall. Look to see if there is a vent outside. If your kitchen is on an outside wall it likely vents outside and that is really the best.

I think it uses "recirculation." The kitchen wall is interior (floorplan basically the Colony Villa) and there is no vent going through the cabinet above.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by AnneCBrodie

Good to know about Best Buy - hadn't considered them. I like the Whirlpools but forgot to specify in my original post that the old one is a GE. The specs on the Whirlpools are slightly larger.

You can buy a GE at Best Buy. But, it sounds like you will not be connecting to an outside exhaust system, which makes buying the same brand less important. Best Buy can tell you if the microwave you buy will fit into your kitchen space. I would definitely prefer to do business with Best Buy as compared to Home Depot.

[Nell57]

Best Buy will also price match any of the big box stores…just ask.
I stopped buying appliances with upgraded features. Appliances haven’t been the same ever since all of the new Energy Efficiency features have been integrated. They just burn out sooner. Keep it simple.

[AnneCBrodie]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

we bought one from appliance direct over a year and they installed it. Installers were pros and in and out quickly.

Problem with a more complicated unit is more possibilities of something going wrong.

We prefer separate microwave and air fryer

Good point. Reminds me of the old TV/VCR combos people had.

The reason I'm tempted on the convection is I lived in a place with one, and it was nice to: 1) combine microwaving and baking for texture/time, 2) bake when I had something in the big oven on an incompatible temp, and 3) use metal pans and foil, which was great if leftovers were in those.

However, I've been doing fine without all that. Wondered if others found convection to be a game changer but so far haven't heard from anyone that even uses it.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by AnneCBrodie

Good point. Reminds me of the old TV/VCR combos people had.

The reason I'm tempted on the convection is I lived in a place with one, and it was nice to: 1) combine microwaving and baking for texture/time, 2) bake when I had something in the big oven on an incompatible temp, and 3) use metal pans and foil, which was great if leftovers were in those.

However, I've been doing fine without all that. Wondered if others found convection to be a game changer but so far haven't heard from anyone that even uses it.

Never found convection feature worth very much other than adds a bit of noise

[kingofbeer]

Originally Posted by AnneCBrodie

Today my microwave was humming when I closed the door but hadn't yet pressed Start. It didn't LOOK to be running (no interior light, nothing showing on the display) but I could hear it. And sure enough - I put a piece of cheese in, closed the door, heard the hum, and the cheese was melted. I turned the breaker off and figure on replacing as this one's original to the 2009 build.

Home Depot has them on sale and I'm looking for: 1) Advice on installation service and approximate cost. 2) The 1.7 cu ft GE is $269. Same with convection/air fryer is $699. I had a convection microwave that I enjoyed but surprised this is more than double the cost. Anyone use these features?

You should have unplugged your microwave and plugged it in again.
Lots of answers on google for this issue.

Today my microwave was humming when I closed the door but hadn't yet pressed Start - Google Search

[Topspinmo]

I replaced my over stove microwave with same GE brand, the bracket, mount holes, and where the cord came out was different. I had to drill new hole for cord and measure the new bracket which wasn’t big deal. Only problem I had was with was with thin paper template, working up side down leaning over stove and flimsy template wasn’t easy. I made template out of cardboard worked much better. My old one was 2002 model, I would not bet on just cause keep same brand it will be easier? If you measure the width most all brands are same? Usually only the height and depth inch or so different? Which could be more problematic if you have trim/tile under microwave?