DIY range hood/microwave combo

Do-install-yourself: Save labour costs by installing your new appliances

By Adrian Jones

microwave

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Suck up the smells of dinner, then heat up the leftovers later–all using the same appliance. An over-the-range microwave is a space- and money-saving option, freeing up your counter space and allowing you to buy one item instead of two. Measure your opening before you buy a unit. Most microwave/range hoods are built to fit a 30"-wide space, but you can buy filler kits if your opening is wider.

Before you begin any appliance installation, take out all the items in the box and become familiar with their size, shape and quantity.

1. The appliance should come with a template that takes the guesswork out of where to drill holes. Carefully tape the template in place and check that any holes you drill won’t interfere with the ductwork. Drill the required holes through the cabinet bottom using the bit size required for the included hardware.

 

 

 

step22. Install the aluminum mounting frame below the cabinet. You need to anchor into at least one 2x4 wall stud or two 2x3 wall studs.

 

 

 

 

3. Find a helper and carefully lift the appliance into place. Be sure to feed the electrical wire through the previously drilled hole as you go. The unit should attach easily and securely to the mounting plate.

 

 

 

 

step44. Drive the final screws through the predrilled holes and into the top of the microwave. Then plug the unit into the electrical socket.

 

 

 

 

Picking a range hood

Everyone loves a good meal. But not many of us enjoy smelling that same meal hours later because the cooking odours are lingering in the kitchen. Improve your indoor air quality by properly exhausting fumes.

When shopping for a new range hood, you need to keep a few factors in mind. The first is noise. This element doesn’t effect how efficiently the unit exhausts air, but if it’s loud, you are less likely to use it. The second factor is how well the unit does what it is supposed to do: move air. To test a range hood, hold a tissue up to the grill. If the running fan holds the tissue, it is venting air well. If the tissue falls, there isn’t enough power to grab those stinky fumes. The Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) has created standards for noise and efficiency, so look for their labels on the package. Also, look for Energy-Star logos on the box to be sure the units are energy-efficient.

It’s important to note that your house needs to both inhale and exhale, so to speak. If you buy an industrial or oversize exhaust hood, it can cause backdrafting. This dangerous situation occurs when combustion exhaust gases from your furnace are drawn back down the chimney and into your home. If you choose to install an industrial range hood, be sure you have sealed combustion heaters or an air-supply fan to match the exhaust.

Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) recommends looking for a unit that moves air at rate of 50 to 140 l/s for the average home.

Project by Dave Paul


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