Is it possible to hang a microwave oven above a gas stove: safety requirements and basic installation rules

A large kitchen in a standard apartment is rare, so the issue of saving space is always relevant.Photos of interior projects are full of interesting ideas on this topic: zoning, redevelopment, corner furniture and others. In some photographs we see an ambiguous solution - placing the microwave above the hob. But is it possible to hang a microwave above a gas stove?

The trend of such an attitude came to us from the American side. Many microwave ovens in the USA, and in Europe too, are mounted this way. In the article we will look at what is written about this in Russian technical documentation. We will understand the accepted standards and requirements, the consequences of hanging a microwave above the stove, and options for the location of the device.

General rules for placing a microwave oven

You cannot place the device in any free corner. The ventilation openings must not be blocked, so you need to leave free space between the device and other equipment or cabinet walls.

To ensure accessibility and ease of use of the microwave, it should be installed at a distance of 0.6-1.5 m from the floor.

If the appliance is placed higher, the user may get burned when removing hot food. If it is lower, there is a risk of spilling liquid when straightening the body. But do not forget about the growth of all family members.

The most suitable places for a microwave are: on a work surface, in a niche in a kitchen unit, or suspended. Installation above the hob has its own nuances

It is practical when there is a tabletop at arm’s length from the device. It is convenient to immediately place dishes on it without getting burned.

It is permissible to install the stove near the refrigerator. But make sure that both items of household appliances do not come into contact with each other.

Some housewives use the surface of the stove as an additional shelf. But there are models with a top ventilation strip and getting liquids or crumbs inside the structure can lead to a fire

You cannot place a kettle or coffee maker on the top panel of the device. And lastly, it is necessary to provide space around the device for the door to open freely. If you are not sure, immediately choose a model with the ability to hang the door on either side.

Features of the ventilation system in the kitchen

In addition to the correct location of the microwave, owners of a gas stove need to take care of ventilation. It is vital for the health of all family members: frying foods is accompanied by the release of carcinogenic substances, cooking provokes the release of steam, which leads to increased humidity.

According to SNiP, the ventilation system must provide an exhaust air of about 100 m³/h. The air exchange rate should be equivalent to 12. The installation allows you to ensure these indicators hoods over the stove.

Such indicators in most cases are achieved by organizing ventilation of a combined type, when the natural channel is supplemented by a hood installed above the slab

Thus, it is forbidden to completely block the natural ventilation channel with an exhaust hood, as this may affect the entire system. Natural channel prevents formation reverse thrust and works when the hood is turned off.

It turns out that if you exclude the hood from the ventilation scheme, it is still necessary to organize a forced duct.

Consequences of hanging a microwave above the stove

The instructions for the microwave oven include a recommendation not to install the device in a hot or damp place. For example, next to a kitchen stove or heating radiator.

If you contact the gas service, the technicians will begin to dissuade you from this installation option.

And that's why:

1. Fire. Constant exposure to high temperatures on the surface of the stove is fraught with ignition and a full-scale fire.
2. Deformation. The same reason as in the first point can lead to melting and bending of the bottom of the device.
3. Corrosion. In addition to hot air, steam will also enter the microwave, which can cause rust spots to appear on the surface of the device.

Exposure to moisture also negatively affects the internal mechanisms of equipment. This significantly reduces its service life.

An extractor hood is also needed in the kitchen. There will be no room left for it after installing the microwave oven, so there will be increased humidity in the room. This will negatively affect furniture, appliances, wall and ceiling decoration

Warranty service is also lost if the instructions in the instructions were violated when installing the microwave.

Organization of safe operation

If the above precautions do not outweigh the need to install a microwave oven above the stove, the equipment will have to be separated with a protective screen and the appropriate model of the device must be selected.

Selecting material for the protective screen

The material for making the protective gasket can be a laminated chipboard, MDF - a budget option, but short-lived and unsafe.The wear resistance of the film is low; such a layer will last about 5 years.

Fireproof chipboard and MDF are also available for sale. If it is not possible to buy such material, you can contact a door manufacturing company to apply a special fire-resistant coating. In addition to its main property, it is also easy to clean with abrasives, scrapers

Metal will not work as a screen. It is too thin, heats up, and is difficult to wash off water and greasy drops, although it protects from fire. Porcelain tiles or artificial stone are problematic to install due to their weight.

A good material for a protective layer would be triplex (tempered laminated glass). You can order it to individual sizes or pick up a standard version from the store already with fasteners.

But you can’t just mount a substrate between a gas stove and a microwave. It is important to provide adequate ventilation in the room.

Which models are suitable for installation

If we look at the foreign experience of installing microwaves over kitchen stoves, we will see that this is only possible if you purchase an ultra-high-frequency Over-The-Range model.

The whole problem comes down to ventilation. All microwaves have a built-in recirculation fan, but on UHF units the blower can be positioned to direct the exhaust air up and out through the roof or wall. How this is done in practice is shown in the video below.

Some suitable models:

• GE JVM7195DKWW;
• LG LGHM2237BD Diamond Collection;
• Sharp R1874T;
• LG LMV2031ST;
• GE MICROWAVES 1029481.

These are exactly the models we see, placed above the stove, in foreign interior catalogues. Their average price ranges from 19-42 thousand.rub., to which the cost of delivery from an American or European store is added.

There are high-frequency devices in the Russian distribution network, but the features of their design (namely the parameters of the ventilation unit) need to be clarified with consultants.

According to safety rules, microwave ovens themselves do not need enhanced ventilation, but a similar design should be provided if the device is intended to be installed above a stove.

Good ventilation prevents grease from mixing with dust and moisture, which protects surfaces from contamination. But the exhaust power is greater than that of the microwave vent, so the latter will not work as efficiently

The distance between the bottom and the hob is from 75 cm. But here you need to take into account the height of the users: they should be comfortable cooking in dishes of different heights and see the microwave panel.

Before installing the microwave, it is necessary to calculate the sufficient distance between the wall elements of the kitchen unit. There should be a cabinet or shelf above the device if the device is intended to be suspended.

Most models do not exceed 76 cm in width, 25-45 cm in height, and 30-45 cm in depth, so the minimum parameters of the niche are exactly the same. We select the device so that there are gaps and at the same time the installation height is comfortable

If there is a large space between the walls of the cabinets and the microwave, it can be closed with filler strips.

We bring to your attention the article - Best Inexpensive Microwave Ovens.

Alternative locations for installing the device

The classic place is the countertop. Convenient, but the microwave takes up a lot of space. It is practical to place the device in a corner wall or on a low cabinet.Thus, technical standards are observed, and it looks neat.

Please note that a minimum distance of 15 cm is left from the back panel of the device to the wall. It is also possible that there is a TV nearby, but if there are no prohibiting instructions in the instructions for both devices

If you plan to hang the device, use special brackets or a stand. The most ergonomic places for such installation are above the desk or near the dining area.

Do not hang a microwave oven over a multicooker or steamer. This equipment can be placed on top of the microwave, if the latter does not have upper ventilation holes and provided that the simultaneous operation of two devices is excluded.

Some models can be used as built-in elements. The stove can be placed in a hanging cabinet or one side adjacent to the cabinet. In this case, everything depends on the design features: where the ventilation outlets are located and what the density of the metal frame is. It is also worth paying attention to the location of the doors of appliances and furniture.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Dismantling an incorrectly installed microwave above the stove: mistakes made by the performers.

The nuances of installing a microwave oven over a household stove:

Installing a microwave hood above the stove.

So is it possible to hang a microwave above a gas stove? The instructions for microwave ovens do not recommend this installation method. Reasons: lack of a full hood, violation of safety standards, creation of less than optimal conditions for the operation of the device itself. But if other options are not considered, it is permissible, based on foreign experience, to select the appropriate model and, in accordance with safety rules, install it above the hob.

Still have questions about installing a microwave? Or would you like to share your experience of using a microwave oven mounted directly above the stove? Tell us whether it is convenient for you to use the device and what disadvantages you have found - write your comments in the block below, add a photo of your microwave, ask our experts questions.