range hood or over-the-range microwave?

[Numenorean]

don't you know, no one uses their kitchen anymore anyway

I do all the time. Also lots of cast iron cooking. No vent would suck.

 

[bfdd]

That's what I have, and it sucks big time. I like the old school vent system where there's a fan in the wall, and you pull a chain to open the flap, and start it. Might not be the prettiest thing, but they work great.

Same. It blows.

 

[Dirigible]

i have no choice. my range isn't anywhere close to anything that vents outside.

If you're not willing to install ducts it won't matter if you've got a hood or an over-range microwave. It'll suck either way.

How long you going to be living there? How high-end is the neighborhood? Do you care about cooking a lot and cooking smells/smoke/grease droplets? Things to think about if you're mulling over putting in ducting for a real external-exhaust hood.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

So install some new duct work

that means i have to cut brick walls.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

If you're not willing to install ducts it won't matter if you've got a hood or an over-range microwave. It'll suck either way.

How long you going to be living there? How high-end is the neighborhood? Do you care about cooking a lot and cooking smells/smoke/grease droplets? Things to think about if you're mulling over putting in ducting for a real external-exhaust hood.

i understand it's going to suck. just trying to find out what's the lesser of the 2 evils.

 

[TwiceOver]

that means i have to cut brick walls.

It's a lot easier than you think. You can probably have someone do it for cheap. Having direct exhaust is really the only way to go. If there's no source for escape you are just blowing fumes/smoke around. Might as well not install either then and save the cash.

 

[vi edit]

If there's no outside vent then a rangehood is useless other than looks. Personally I'd stick the microwave in there just to free up the counterspace. They aren't that hard to install. I did it by myself. You get a template for the cabinet above you drill through, then mount the bracket on the backwall. Drop the microwave into the bracket and then drop the screws through the cabinet and sink them into the microwave. The hardest part was balancing the microwave initially until you got two screws dropped in. Oh...and make sure if it's a venting one you set the flap to vent into the room.

 

[vi edit]

Oh and price wise they aren't that bad. An okay one is $200. Sure it's not an $80 GE junker but they are usually much larger and higher watt than the smaller counter ones.

 

[SunnyD]

I was going to get a microwave, except I found that almost all over-the-stove microwaves cost MORE than my stove did (granted, the stove wasn't terribly expensive, but still). Not to mention, after getting the hood, I realized that if I had gotten the microwave, the "work" area on my stove would have been cut in half and it would be a pain in the ass to cook effectively.

We ended up just getting a standalone microwave.

 

[nageov3t]

That's what I have, and it sucks big time. I like the old school vent system where there's a fan in the wall, and you pull a chain to open the flap, and start it. Might not be the prettiest thing, but they work great.

that's what I've got in my kitchen now... I'd trade it for a proper hood in a heartbeat, though. imo, it doesn't do as good of a job as sucking up the smoke.

but it gets the job done and the spacing in my kitchen is so weird that I don't think I could install a hood without it either looking terrible or ripping out all of my cabinets and remodeling the kitchen (the space where the stove is, between the wall and the counter, is abnormal... I bought the widest consumer-grade stove I could find and I've still got like a 6" gap)

 

[Drako]

Not to mention, after getting the hood, I realized that if I had gotten the microwave, the "work" area on my stove would have been cut in half and it would be a pain in the ass to cook effectively.

LOL, how low were mounting the microwave?

 

[sdifox]

why can't you vent outside?

 

[vi edit]

I have no idea what you guys are looking at for price but there are a lot of OTR microwaves for $250 and under.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Microwav...d=abcat0903001

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

If there's no outside vent then a rangehood is useless other than looks. Personally I'd stick the microwave in there just to free up the counterspace. They aren't that hard to install. I did it by myself. You get a template for the cabinet above you drill through, then mount the bracket on the backwall. Drop the microwave into the bracket and then drop the screws through the cabinet and sink them into the microwave. The hardest part was balancing the microwave initially until you got two screws dropped in. Oh...and make sure if it's a venting one you set the flap to vent into the room.

it's not the installation i'm worried about. if i can wall mount my 2 TV's, install my custom closet, i can mount a OTR microwave.

i just wanted to know if one was better than the other at recirculating (not venting) the air.
the concern was that OTR microwaves are much more expensive than a countertop microwave + range hood combo.

i generally don't like samsung products but that samsung microwave linked above is pretty cheap.
quite a few complaints about the useless 400 CFM fan though.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

why can't you vent outside?

have to apply for more permits (town and condo association) to open up an exterior wall.

 

[vi edit]

All recirculating ones are going to suck(errr...or not). There's no magic bullet there. There is no replacement for external venting. Cost wise...to me the extra $100-$150 (which in the grand scheme of a remodel is piddly) is worth the improved counter space.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

I have no idea what you guys are looking at for price but there are a lot of OTR microwaves for $250 and under.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Microwav...d=abcat0903001

http://www.lowes.com/pd_255460-83-JE...o=GE%20Profile

+

http://www.lowes.com/pd_39616-1621-E...nfo=Air%20King

is cheaper than

http://www.lowes.com/pd_44324-83-PV..._product_quantity_sold|1&facetInfo=GE Profile

also, with a OTR microwave, if just the fan or microwave breaks, i have to replace the whole unit.

 

[vi edit]

1) You picked a caddilac of OTR microwaves
2) That hood doesn't self vent (or doesn't appear to)
3) You don't have to go line for line of appliances and can mix and match so long as the stainless steel is similar.
3) Don't buy GE appliances. They are shit.

 

[sdifox]

have to apply for more permits (town and condo association) to open up an exterior wall.

condo doesn't have vent???

 

[Dirigible]

In your shoes, given what info I've read in this thread, I'd just get a less expensive over-the-range microwave. Don't think a hood that doesn't vent outside would provide any significant benefit and you would lose counter space. Even if you say you have plentiful counter space, I always want more.