What is a recirculating vent microwave?

A recirculating venting microwave, or ductless range hood, is a built-in ventilation system that recycles air through the microwave vents. The recirculating ventilation pulls the air through charcoal filters or other types of filters.

Over the range (OTR) microwaves may save space, but they are often not the best option to maintain a home’s indoor air quality. While many OTRs can provide ventilation because they have a fan, they often do not provide the effective capture that a range hood is designed to achieve.

The short answer to their question is, yes, you can replace a range hood with an over-the-range microwave.

A microwave with a range hood should be placed right above the range cooker. Microwaves with a range hood have the intakes placed in the front and the bottom. The exhaust can be at the back or the top of the microwave. Microwaves with hood ranges are great space savers in small kitchens.

Ducted or vented microwaves feature exhaust fans that vent air outside of the house. Recirculating, non-ducted or updraft microwaves filter air then push it back into the kitchen. Convertible microwaves give you the option to select your ventilation type.

Ducted or vented microwaves feature exhaust fans that vent air outside of the house. Recirculating, non-ducted or updraft microwaves filter air then push it back into the kitchen. Convertible microwaves give you the option to select your ventilation type.

If the microwave vents out of the house, this will be hooked up before the microwave is slid into the brackets. If a vent installation is required, you can expect to pay anywhere between $150 and $500, depending on the complexity of the project.

A vented option will remove these fumes and vent them to the exterior of your home. A recirculating OTR microwave uses charcoal filters to neutralize air before it is pumped back into your kitchen. Ducted range hoods connect to ductwork to pump air outside your home.

Do range hoods have to be vented outside? No; range hoods without a duct, or ductless range hoods, can recirculate air back into your kitchen. However, to clean your kitchen air most efficiently, purchase a ducted range hood. Rather than relocate the cooking exhaust, it will evacuate it from your home entirely.

Available in a range of sizes and wattage; usually over 800 watts. Different venting options: External venting sends the smoke through an outside exhaust vent, whereas a recirculating venting microwave pulls air through a charcoal filter then vents it back into the house.

Built-in and countertop microwaves function only as a microwave, while over-the-range models double as a hood vent for kitchen stoves. Each configuration offers different advantages based on your kitchen and cooking style, and understanding these advantages can help you find the right option for your home.

In many cases there are visible vents at the top of the microwave face frame, or a top panel that opens as a flap when the exhaust fan of the microwave is activated. In either example, the cooking by-products are filtered through the filter medium, which is important.

Venting your range hood into the attic essentially defeats the purpose of having a ducted range hood. Not to mention that over time, the grease buildup may damage your attic. If you’re venting your range hood out of an exterior wall, you don’t need to worry about venting your roof.

According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), the bottom of a microwave should be no more than 54 inches above the floor. This allows 18 inches of clearance above a typical range/counter height of 36 inches.

For an external exhaust the vent is located on the back of the top of the microwave to vent out the roof. If you are venting back into the room it appears to come out of the top at the front.