How to Install a Microwave Hood with Exhaust Fan | This Old House

[@tjam4229]

Nice! I like the fact that they showed a project that ran into some obstacles, and how to deal with them. In real life you usually end-up running into obstacles like they did here. Good job This Old House.

[@newmanfertig886]

I don't think this was sarcasm... It's true.

[@enkrypt3d]

they didn't show the 3 trips to the hardware store though

[@rmorales4605]

I'm installing microwaves but they don't let me exhaust them out

[@jessstuart7495]

My "obstacle" is the microwave is on an interior wall and I have to run about 20ft of ductwork. Sigh.

[@Itsshowtimecheer]

I just finished installing my range hood with the rectangular vent out the back. This video was one my main sources for help. Thank you.

[@michaeldose2041]

The port out the back left me with some questions. 1. It had a damper on the back of the microwave, I would have removed it because there was one on the outside did he leave it or take it off? 2. Does the outside duct slip over the inside? How does the outside vent mate to the microwave? Since siding or stucco may have different thickness did the outside duct need to be trimmed? 4. If it was a loose fit slip joint would a bead of silicone be helpful to seal the two ducts?

[@michaelzeis7712]

@@michaeldose2041 I've got the same questions, Michael. It appears that in this installation, both dampers are active, which probably cuts down on the efficiency of the exhaust fan. I worry about how the vent mates to the microwave. That seems to be a connection that won't be airtight. If you find answers, please share them.

[@michaeldose2041]

@@michaelzeis7712 I just finished installing mine. I made the decision to eliminate the inner damper as I see no useful purpose and possible future problems with it i.e. one less thing to go wrong/better air flow.

[@michaelzeis7712]

@@michaeldose2041 Thanks. So, about your Q 2 above, how do the two parts (outside vent, inside back of the range hood) mate up? Do you just push them close to each other? When the joint is accessible, as it is with a circular vent coming out of the top, people tape the joint to prevent air from escaping.

[@michaeldose2041]

@@michaelzeis7712 That's a great question and it is completely ignored in this video. The outside vent duct is made to fit over the vent flange on the back of the microwave. I got mine at the big orange box. I believe the outer duct it is intentionally made longer than you need so that you could trim to fit and accommodate different wall thickness. My house was stuccoed so I have an extra 1/2-3/4 material on the normal 2x4 construction. Mercifully, there was no trimming needed for me. What I did to get a better seal is put neoprene weather strip around the flange on the back of the microwave. I covered the weather strip with metal tape to give it more strength. When I put the duct from the outside over the flange on the microwave, the outer flange sunk into the tape/weather strip and gave me a nice seal. That might be overkill but it wasn't hard to do and I would prefer the inside of the wall not turning into a gooey mess in the years to come.

[@bclaydon1]

Many contractors would have skipped half those steps and you'd have a nice breeze coming in. That's a job well done!

[@tylercorbin8073]

0:41 It doesn’t matter that the electricians made such a big hole in the wall, cause I’m going to make a bigger one.😂😂😂

[@peterkonitzer4410]

No.1 comment.. you just made my day

[@pepsicolachao4537]

Lol! They do make holes sometimes

[@andrewbyers1555]

The smaller hole wasn’t even used such a waste of money

[@Well_possibly]

I like how he preinstalled the screws before putting the 2x4 pieces into the wall. I don't recall ever seeing anyone do that before, but it looks like a great technique.

[@deespag]

guy is a genius

[@parallelburrito]

That's a trick only experience will teach you.

[@jecarsepulveda8237]

Well possibly same here

[@parallelburrito]

Great video. Shows what actually happens when you do a project like this one. Nothing ever works out perfect.

[@romeoneverdies]

its not very accurate ... its missing the curse words :P

[@krazypolak1820]

Mannnnnnn so sorry for all this people

[@joker12892]

Sometimes it goes as planned

[@bloodclot]

@@romeoneverdies exactly!! I'm sure it's in the blooper reel 😂

[@kalijasin]

It was very badly done.

[@sigzor302620]

Wow, this is the most work I have ever seen Tom do on 1 of these house jobs. He's so skillful in everything he does. That lady is lucky he took over 95% of that job.

[@lbyrd832]

i agree about the showing of real life complications. Always excellent real world DIY advice from the class crew at This Old House. Thx Mr Silva

[@Banannaspot]

I like the way they show you how plans change mid job.

[@smckenzie1234]

i could watch this dude work hours.... just amazing...

[@Pete4875]

Everything seems to go so smooth When Tom does it. Even when he has a problem and it still only takes 10 minutes for him to do the job. Just put the two screws in from the top into the microwave he says. That took me two hours.

[@michaeldose2041]

In real life you don't get to edit the four trips to the hardware store.

[@xJamesxKingx]

An extra step if anyone's wondering why there's no seal where the microwave damper meets the vent, if you can reach in from outside, I used an extended/angled nozzle for my caulk gun and put a bead of metal silicon around the perimeter of the microwave damper this way when I pushed the vent in I got a nice seal.

[@zehuazhou3390]

I have the same question. I just got a microwave range installed from homedepot contractor. The vent is above the microwave. The contractor just puts it there without sealing between the microwave and the duct, and I can actually see a small gap between the microwave and the duct. Should I buy some robber seal and loosen the two mounting screws above, and seal it that way?

[@xJamesxKingx]

@@zehuazhou3390 yea thats why I did it. All that work...why not. Cold air gets in in the winter

[@danbasta3677]

I love this show very very much! Love Ask This Old House, great tv show.

[@rsquared007Trini]

Thus was really good video showing from start to finish what needs to be done. Often for TV steps are skipped leading one to think everything is easy and works out as planned and in done in minutes. Good to see no steps were skipped. I Have a project like this to do! THANK YOU!!

[@crumdoggy]

The blocking aspect turned this into a more complicated diy project. Tom’s commitment to quality and attention to detail is a dying art in this country.

[@robertf6344]

Not every contractor would have done all that I'm thinking.

[@edwardbain5391]

How about that 12 gauge wire that he pinned against the exterior wall is that code acceptable or should it run through that header 1 1/4 in minimum from the face of the 2×4 header? Maybe notch it in possibly?

[@aaronbays4]

I installed a microwave over the stove in my old apartment I rented. Loved that apartment except for the kitchen, microwave took up too much counter space. Ended up staying there for two years in Murfreesboro, it was right on their greenway. Buddy was remodeling his house and didn't want the old over the stove microwave, it was black, in good shape, worked. The way I secured it was through the upper cabinet with some big support lags and thru the back wall where the existing exhaust stove had been bolted, which was a stud. No outside venting though, but it worked great. Land-lord didn't give me a hard time either when I moved out,

[@haroldped]

Tom has more construction knowledge and skills than I will ever have. This is not an easy DIY job. And what a man, lifting the microwave in place alone. I would never work sideways on a step ladder, though.

[@tomcox9377]

These videos are watched by OSHA and Safety people to demonstrate what NOT to do, Ladders, Three Points of Contact, Safety Glasses and other PPE?

[@dbmservicesllc9266]

It's nice how he used wood some customers would want you to drywall everything back the way it was 😊

[@AndrewJ1313]

I had the exact same vent type installed. Was fine in the fall, as soon as winter came, it didn't stop any cold air from getting in. My brand new range hood had frost inside and eventually stopped heating. The LG repairman said it's a horrible design for anyone to use where the temp drops below 40°, but there's no warning against it in the manual.

[@stevekline5608]

Mine does same thing' Have ice in the microwave in the winter. I would like to know what can be done if anything to fix situation.

[@jmoneydragon]

@@stevekline5608 did you find a solution?

[@2ndMorrow]

Depending on the power of the motor you can add a second damper flap- think of a dog door that only swings one way to let the hood vent blow air out but not let cold air back in. Having a second one blocks most of the cold air on the first outside one, then has an air pocket that helps insulate before the second damper helps to further block air intrusion. Also making a rubber damper seat for your single damper will help it to seal better against backflow, but you have to be careful and make sure it doesn't cause it to stick (I have used a light silicone lubricant to prevent sticking)

[@WestCoastDP]

@@stevekline5608 If you vent to the roof, no problem. I went through the attic and installed the exhaust pipes, not too bad.

[@kungfukid4124]

I love the old battery operated drills and no sleeve on the drill bit. Still one of my favorite shows when it's on PBS.

[@brianhoover478]

It’s a festool drill. Far more better quality and higher priced than any Milwaukee or dewalt drill. Look them up.

[@kungfukid4124]

@@brianhoover478 I will. Thanks.

[@swanie5326]

Great video and expert work. It helped me decide to say, "Hell, no!" on self-installing. Haha! Unfortunately, good tradesmen are very hard to come by in my small town.

[@Maxid1]

I love her eye brows at 9:20 "Ohhooooooo Not only do we have a fan it has 5 speeds!" sailor...

[@quantass]

Maxid1 I was just staring at her booty.

[@luisruizalvarez6860]

Me too, big, round and tight.

[@chrisdavis8028]

I was scrolling comments for this 😂😂

[@enkrypt3d]

I bet he showed her HIS five speeds if you know what I'm sayin'........

[@jms6605]

Like tommy said, that’s right, smirk.

[@z3char1ah]

Tom is the MAN. This is such a great, informative video that shows there are always little snags/unexpected hiccups in anything DYI. I just need someone to get Tom a better drill lol.

[@johnsee7269]

Tom can do anything with his sawr. Somewhere in the area of Havad Yad ya know... Keeps it in the drar ya know...

[@W.Vanderbilt]

Aww yes! This old house were everything goes together the first time without ever having an issue.

[@1533ramsay]

jlb197736 I wonder if the ever scream bad words when the camera is off like I do? lol

[@W.Vanderbilt]

Mark Hoffman you know they do lol

[@parallelburrito]

You could tell there was a lot of improvising on that job.

[@dingleberryman]

Tommy doesn't make mistakes.

[@krisraps]

there was an isua, a stud

[@pf5658]

Just wished I was able to install one over my stove that vents outside. Unfortunately I live in an apartment and have one of those cheap ones the landlord installed that blows all the exhaust right back into the inside. Worst thing they ever made and should be outlawed , if you ask me. Those things does nothing, but blow all the food odors and grease all over your house.

[@baletashakur]

They have filter that should be replaced every 6 months but most people don't know or are too cheap to do it.

[@pf5658]

@baletashakur - I know and I frequently replace mines quite often. Still not helping the fact that it’s still blowing all that greasy air and odor right back into you house.

[@inspectr1949]

@@baletashakur Did home inspections for 20 years saw countless numbers of those types of filters still covered in the original shipping plastic or impacted in cooking oils and grease that the home owners had no clue about.

[@varsenik111]

I'm just wondering why you guys didn't take out the range,it was on your way ! But perfect installtion 👍

[@robertalbert623]

Oh thanks man, I was installing microwave over the stove microwave, I ran into this and this is what I ran into

[@GregCameron2008]

Great video. Liked that there were issues to solve. My one question is doesn’t the exhaust vent get connected to the microwave in some way?

[@CoasterCrazyy]

I love it how they did a "How to use a ladder" video and he is doing exactly what he said not to do while on a ladder and that's to sit on the top of it! LMFAO!!

[@puduchicken11]

I purposely opened the comments section to see/comment on that very thing! Lol. Yikes

[@D0nkkkkkk]

Dude is a stud

[@flat-earther]

_''Do as I say, not as I do''_

[@gksjsj4892]

As someone who installs and replaces over the range microwaves, it’s never this easy.

[@sirreginaldthe4th]

Uh, this didn't look easy. Generally if you're replacing an existing over the range microwave it should be much easier than this video.

[@kenniitran]

He done an excellent work and I wish he lives in my area so he can help me on my house. Nice vid. Thx

[@michaeldose2041]

The port out the back left me with some questions. 1. It had a damper on the back of the microwave, I would have removed it because there was one on the outside did he leave it or take it off? 2. Does the outside duct slip over the inside? How does the outside vent mate to the microwave? Since siding or stucco may have different thickness did the outside duct need to be trimmed? 4. If it was a loose fit slip joint would a bead of silicone be helpful to seal the two ducts?

[@AlMai222]

I never get ‘exhausted’ from watching these videos. GET IT ???? Guys ??....

[@sachaleia]

Running in a damp basement for over 10 years now. Great fan for the money.

[@alec4672]

I can't believe he just pinched the romex between the framing and the exterior sheathing like that.

[@kalijasin]

Should of nailed it to the side of the stud or wherever with romex staples.

[@Wannagobackto1980]

I think there is a small space on the back but I ain't sure all he had to do was cut some notches in the 2x4.

[@steveb365]

It's fine until some puts a fastener through it when re-siding the house.

[@pufthemajicdragon]

@ 4:07 is where you can see it, if anybody else is wondering what they're talking about. Worth noting that the house is framed with old lumber, so a 2x4 measures 2" x 4", and the new lumber he's installing is 1.5" x 3.5" - so there's a half inch of space between his new framing and the sheathing. It's still gonna cause problems in the future and should be stapled to the side of a stud as Jason said. This is how you can tell that Tommy isn't an electrician ;)

[@papa-3895]

pufthemajicdragon Should have disconnected at outlet then drilled new holes in header then re route the wiring to the box through the new wood imho.

[@jet6374]

gee and all this time I thought that was a shelf on the ladder for paint and tools. Now I can reach the sky.

[@krismaly6300]

Excellent job Keep posting some more home improvement videos

[@wyldebill4178]

Matching those hole for the microwave top bolts is maddening difficult. Tried two different times with lots of frustration.

[@D_SQ]

TOH really has made videos for everything huh? I always wondered how it works when there is a microwave directly over a stove. Nice.

[@teacherdoug4438]

Most microwaves just blow the air right back into the kitchen though. Don't really see the point of that myself.

[@jacobrivera7224]

Beautiful work!

[@Aper-re1xh]

Tryingto troubleshoot an issue. This should help a lot; thank you.

[@michaelbrowning5755]

This was a great video and i watched this and then did it in my kitchen but did anyone notice that Tommy had already marked the holes before doing it o camera

[@Joanie620]

This old condo needs a vent like that... thanks for the know how. I just don't know if I will get it done that perfect... like yours... I hope so... Thanks so..

[@addicbaddic]

Me watching this as if I'll be able to do all that when I can barely assemble Ikea furniture.

[@JessDaye-hs3yi]

🤣 same

[@bmunroemymtsnet]

Great video. I notice that the Exterior vent housing looked like ABS or Plastic, I could not find this on the parts list. I look at local retailers but all that is commonly available is steel or tin. Where would the Plastic vent be available?

[@roychowdhury4348]

Thank you for the instructional video.

[@moderngod1]

Ohh these accents are THICK BABY I love it

[@suburbanhobbyist2752]

Must be nice that the exhaust shroud is the perfect length for your application. 9/10 it seems I need to cut to fit because it's too long.

[@NachoTV]

so these vents are usually universal for these microwaves?

[@vijayshrma3107]

This is a great toaster oven replacement to the one I had for a few years. Easy to use, has all the right controls to cook my food how I would like. Looks great and doesn't take too much counter space. Very happy with my purchase.

[@nomebear]

Thanks for the informative video. Going through the wall for the exhaust a bit tricky because of pre-existing wiring, but the was enough slack to push it to one side. I used foam to secure it in place and to seal around the ducting.

[@joshruby]

holes were already marked for the bracket

[@SheDanNick]

Excellent video. I have existing 10inch diameter ducting to the outside for my Broan OTR exhaust fan. I want to replace the exhaust fan with a slim Kitchenaid 1.1 microwave. The problem is Kitchenaid describes a rectangular to round piece that is 6 inches in diameter. My question is can I use a larger translation piece to my existing 10 inch exhaust piping? The new fan is 500 CFM

[@babuji198]

6:40 Everyone knows it says "this is not a seat" on the top of those ladders. Where's the safety man?

[@strobed22]

That's for idiots who don't know what they're doing.

[@robertalbert623]

A lot of confidence to shoot in the foam before he installed the microwave. I probably would have waited until I'm about to put in the vent from the outside

[@gmax876]

This guy is awesome...

[@rayschwander1591]

I agree he should have primed the plywood but most of all he should have disconnected the electric and run it threw the studs with plating on both sides so no one can screw threw it. May seem like over kill but not if your screw threw the hot line.

[@lygophilia4127]

I'm looking to replace my over-the-range microwave, and my exhaust vent is located where/how this one is. I'm trying to pick out a microwave that matches this. I see 'fan location' and 'vent location' as options in the specs of the microwaves. Do I need a particular one for this type of vent?

[@aservant2287]

Worked with that siding ( fiber cement board) many times as a carpenter. It's very similar to a asbestos board, very dusty when cutting. Always thought they were going to come out and say that it's cancerous. Lol I never wore the recommended respirator.

[@patrickcowan8701]

Vinyl.

[@susanmei9980]

Give it 20 more years. Then they’ll “discover” it. 😮

[@BlackSmith222]

Good video demo.

[@patgonzales170]

I’ve got a gas pipe running vertically in my wall space that will interfere with required microwave oven vent placement. Ideas for simple and code compliant work-around?

[@flat-earther]

Simple work around is to not use a microwave. I stopped using it years ago because the 2.4Ghz microwave radiation might be unhealthy. I detected it leaking out of the microwave across the whole room with my Acousticom2 meter.

[@Hollyrock712]

Tommy is the best !

[@jawa5669]

When ever i got to cut a hole or work like this where i have owned the air is so bad makes you say just throw it together as quick as possible to het out of there.

[@ronaldharris5562]

Nice work. How much would that installation cost

[@TheSamba37]

Holy stripped screws, Batman!

[@andrewpastrysnack]

This is exactly what i need to do, including the header. The only thing I don't understand is why didn't he pull out the stove? It would've taken the same amount of time as covering it and made everything else so much easier.

[@romeoneverdies]

actually i would have pulled the stove as well as the glass could break ... in fact i think that is exactly what i did when i installed mine. also lifting the mw on your own is a bad idea...

[@marcin97]

awesome! I have the same situation with a stud and was stuck. so glad I found this clip. thank you!

[@adoubtr2590]

Everyone will run into one stud, given the width of the opening for the microwave, so count on framing it out like Silva did.

[@mohammadyasin9522]

I love Ask This Old House

[@evoltd]

should of got the electrician in when Tom did his work.

[@johnrobertford8049]

He's really earning his salt on this one!

[@SuperJaski]

THE outdoor finisher you stick on the wall whats the name of that?

[@Matt-pj3ue]

Range exhaust hood. Sold on amazon.

[@edt5276]

Loved everything except how the tricky, top screws ("to keep microwave from tipping forward") just magically & perfectly placed themselves threw cabinet bottom. That's NOT a "then yada yada the screws were placed perfectly" kinda step!

[@ginoasci]

my luck dictates the center of the vent will end up right on the edge of the siding so i’ll have to fill in the void.

[@thibui335]

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge about How to install the vent but How to do it right . You’re a master. Very good vid to learn it from you 👏 🙏🥰👍Subscribed

[@carladee2736]

Jeez, [toh] always the best, these guys....Im lucky if my hires show up on time, Im not alone either. I dont know whats going on w trades people these days!

[@吳佑佑-x8l]

*Works amazingly **Fastly.Cool** . I love all the features and the double expansion. For once a fan is almost as tall as my window. Updated but not overly fancy.*

[@ivanmm82]

made me happy to finally see him use a guard on that grinder lol

[@jamesmarshall1134]

I’m kind of surprised that he doesn’t have a ridiculously expensive Festool oscillating saw wit built in dust collection

[@nufcedkidyup8627]

I've always wondered about the. I just looked it up and was shocked about the price 😳!

[@papichuloman16]

Great work!

[@DereckBlevins]

I'm just here to see all the safety nerds call him out for every little thing. Get a job

[@patrickm.parisou8328]

Dereck Blevins I’m just here to call your bullshit 2 years later and see if you still troll this old house, safety cap.

[@steveoo410]

What if it is my job to call people out on their heath and saftey practices?

[@TehViGiLaNTe]

I mean he wasnt properly standing on the ladder

[@jpw2473]

It's a show that teaches, shouldn't they teach well?

[@jpw2473]

Safety first buddy

[@lesterchilds8614]

The romex should be on the warm side of the wall. Have the electrician come back and drill so.e holes to reroute the 12-2. Also they're always preaching safety. What would Osha say about Tommy sitting on top of the stepladder?

[@philippelemaire4884]

When drilling a Robinson screw bit, you need to be in a straight line so it does not skip like in video

[@bigsteed007]

They use “Robertson” screws in the great United States of America?!! What’s next, the metric system?!! Lol 😁🇨🇦

[@calebgooding2464]

Where’s the clutch for the 5 speed fan

[@mattbartolovich8228]

I like that

[@VivaElMole]

Thank you for making this video that is nice tool what model and brand is the fist tool you use?

[@Questchaun]

Festool my man making money off this show!

[@OLCtv]

So mine has a mean draft coming through, does that mean they didn't put insulation???

[@ber1779]

OLCtv I think it needs a different cap door or backdraft damper

[@fucheduck]

what do you do if your exterior wall is brick?

[@j44bunch]

Same thing basically just need masonry bits and blades

[@AR-cp5dz]

you have a house full of cooking smells

[@LongHuII]

I'm sure somewhere in this old shack warehouse there is a bigger ladder. Safety first.

[@romansomov2892]

hahahah, I like the fact that from the tiny little whole it's became whole the same size then a microwave itself :-)

[@PrincernPrince]

You're not a safety nerd when I just watched him do a video on ladder safety then he goes and sits on top of it.

[@jfayiii]

straight reality

[@maanhana5555]

It is a very good job

[@Patricia-lts]

amazing. i wish we had those in brazil

[@joe6096]

This is great if your kitchen is against an outside wall. Mine is not. My kitchen is against the living room on the side with the range and vent, garage on the other, stairwell to the basement on the third, and on the front it's a big bay window no chance for a stove/range location. For me, I'd have to have a vent run up the wall, through the attic, and out the roof. Major, major, major, major job that's not worth it. I just use my vent fan that blows it all back into the kitchen lol.

[@luckyvet]

1:03 Tommy already had the holes marked!

[@TNtoolman]

Too bad the electrician did not put the electrical box off to the side of the cabinet instead of the middle of the right bay... that would have minimized the loss of storage space.

[@cup_and_cone]

I love how the NM wire is pinched behind the header and plate against the sheathing.

[@73Tracker73]

Why couldn't he (the electrician) put a regular electric outlet box, that's flush with the wall? That looks like crap if you ask me.

[@cup_and_cone]

Tracy - There's at least 1/2" of back cabinet on top of the wall, maybe more (because the back center of a cabinet doesn't ways sit flush up against the wall. An "old work" electrical junction box (blue ones with the flip out tabs) is likely not long enough to compensate for additional depth the cabinet adds. Most flush mounts you see above microwaves were new work boxes installed before the cabinets were hung. Another reason could just be pure laziness. An electrician can't saw through a cabinet with their drywall saw in their tool bag; and they're not going to go out to the truck, then breakout a jigsaw in the kitchen and vacuum up the mess.

[@JDL_2020]

@ Porsche924Tim Cost, plain and simple. $300 if flush mounted, $175 if wall mounted box used. Which would you choose? Not sealing up the wall after running the wire was cheap as it was. I would have done it myself and mounted the box in top right corner. If you notice a lot of cabinets above the micro are cold. It's because of the flush mounted elec box that is not insulated properly. I think the Microwave will be cold due to the plywood not being sealed with the drywall. I would have at least caulked the edges. With the outside vent the Micro will probably be cold enough without the extra leaks. But I would let Tom work on my house anytime, I pick up so much from his videos, he does a great job. It never hurts to see how others do things.

[@herenci6922]

Porsche924Tim is

[@dianamoreland2638]

What can you do when the gas line runs right through the middle of the wall? Kitchen on 1st floor so venting straight up is not an option.

[@brianhoover478]

I’m sorry but shouldn’t you have used a bigger header than just a 2x4? I see it’s on the gable end of the exterior wall but isn’t there any load on that wall?

[@michaelyoder7329]

I guess my only comment would be that the stud should have been located before work started. Then the only reasonable option would have been to route the vent up and out the wall through the cabinet above to prevent structural work. The only reason to do the structural work would be if the customer really couldn’t spare the cabinet space which would be crazy. Buy an extra bank of cabinets for what the structural work would cost in permits and engineering work alone.

[@elainehuff2817]

How does the vent duct attach to the microwave. How do you wrap duct tape around duct joint when the microwave is place?

[@JPContractorsRoofing]

I am looking for an answer to this as well

[@kchicago64]

You don’t besides it impossible and no need too