Microwave venting

Whip · 09-28-2019, 12:05 PM

The microwave on my 2019 330RL Montana HC is not vented ouside. I know the microwave vent fan can be tured to have it vent outside. Has anyone done this? I know I will have to cut a hole in the side wall and am concerned about what might be there besides fiberglass and insulation. There must be a reason they didn't make the hole in the first place. Save money? Never heard of such a dumb thing in a camper.

Pull Toy · 09-29-2019, 06:41 AM

I have never heard of a Microwave being vented.

If you are talking about the Range Hood being vented outside, some are set up from the factory. If you search prior posts for Range Hoods, you will find several entries on venting options.

Good Luck,

Roscommon48 · 09-29-2019, 07:14 AM

have no idea why you would want to vent your microwave to the outside...more problems for you down the road.

most microwaves i've ever had, even in home, don't vent outside.

NH_Bulldog · 09-29-2019, 07:55 AM

While the microwave is located over the range hood which is of course over the range, the microwave doesn’t vent anywhere, only the hood. My previous trailers had a vent to the outside, but that was on an exterior wall opposite the awning side. There is not enough flow from the fan to move much air so I think it became obsolete.. I never had any issues, but I can see where a hole in the side of your camper might be another potential source of water intrusion/damage. Even before we had an outside kitchen, we never cooked in the camper, so a vent was never an issue for us.

**hankpage** · 09-29-2019, 08:36 AM

Even in a residential over the stove microwave it is the base (range hood) that is vented and that is even optional. They can be set to vent back into the room after being drawn through a filter. I have never seen just a microwave that vents to the outside.

**chuckster57** · 09-29-2019, 09:07 AM

Hey Hank, did you fix the title? I was wondering how long it would be before someone asked what the microwave VENDED and how much it cost.

**JRTJH** · 09-29-2019, 09:11 AM

I've never seen a "vented microwave"...

Most "over the range microwave ovens" that are used in home (S&B) kitchens are a "combination appliance". There is a microwave oven AND a range hood built into a single cabinet. The Cougar line is, in some models, using a convection/microwave oven that has a "built in range hood" combined in that cabinet. It looks like a S&B convection/microwave/vent hood, but is not the same size and isn't a "standard sized item" such as all 30" ranges or all 24" dishwashers. I haven't seen any in an RV that are vented to the outside. I suppose it is possible to modify the trailer so the range hood part of that appliance does vent outside.

The microwave oven is a "high failure appliance" and usually, in an RV application, only lasts 5-10 years. The problem that hasn't been addressed is this: When it comes time to replace the microwave, will you be able to find one that has the vent opening in the same spot? If not, you're going to have a hole in the side of your RV with no means to find a replacement microwave oven/range hood to fit the space.

Unfortunately, in the "RV world" many parts "become obsolete while the trailer is still serviceable"...

I'd be cautious about cutting holes for a "specialty microwave" that, if it fails, will be "near impossible to replace" At least without the hole, you can modify the inside cupboard area to make something else work, but with the hole..... not so easy.

**sourdough** · 09-29-2019, 10:46 AM

I'll just join with the rest; never seen a microwave that was vented to the outside.

**chuckster57** · 09-29-2019, 10:51 AM

Tiffen uses a microwave that has the filters and exhaust fan in the bottom like a house and are vented outside the coach. Grand designs uses combo microwave/Convection ovens that have the filter and exhaust fan in the bottom but vent out the front of the unit at the top back into the cabin. I have replaced the oven in the motorhome and you have the option to vent it out the back or the front.

OP: I wouldn't take the chance of causing more issues by trying to cut the slolt in the side of the trailer for the vent.

GeekSquadOfUn · 09-29-2019, 03:15 PM

I have a Cougar 315RLS with the same microwave. (My friend has a Montana 330RL)

It's known as an OTR (Over the Range Microwave) with a built-in fan. Said fan is not vented outside. Instead is regurgitates the grease, back in the RV after a run-through a charcoal filter.

It would have been nice. But heck, not much you can do, except cut a hole and install a vent cover with flap...

ctbruce · 09-29-2019, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Hey Hank, did you fix the title? I was wondering how long it would be before someone asked what the microwave VENDED and how much it cost.

I think I did that one. I hate microwaves you have to drop a quarter into.

Whip · 10-13-2019, 09:27 AM

I was wrong, it is the hood vent. This micro/vent is a standard 30" like a house with option to vent inside or out. Vent is in the middle also like most standard house hood vents and can be either inside, back (through ouside wall), or up through roof. I don't like all the smell, grease etc. Back in the camper since filters don't do that good of a job. I see the concern about putting a hole in the side of my camper and replacing micro in the future. That you all for your help! I might have to rethink this one. My previous two campers all vented outside.

Archergodwin · 10-21-2019, 07:47 PM

My Fuzion had the take-the-range-smoke-and-route-it-back-over-your-head-into-the-living-area microwave fan arrangement as well. Stupid as heck. I bought a 30" range hood and installed it with external vent. A nice profiled smooth one. It moves stinky air to the outside great! I need to get the pics transferred off my phone and onto my laptop. Was a pretty easy install actually.

Ken / Claudia · 10-21-2019, 08:16 PM

Neither my house nor the beach house has a range hood vented outside. But the Keystone TT does. I do not remember ever having smells or grease coming out at me in the homes and I use those a lot. I have cleaned the screens and even thou they look cheap they have grease in them I wash out.

greyhair · 10-21-2019, 09:03 PM

Our microwave doesn't need ventilation. It has a window like with grills there just so the motor would breathe a little. No need for vents.

GeekSquadOfUn · 10-22-2019, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archergodwin

My Fuzion had the take-the-range-smoke-and-route-it-back-over-your-head-into-the-living-area microwave fan arrangement as well. Stupid as heck. I bought a 30" range hood and installed it with external vent. A nice profiled smooth one. It moves stinky air to the outside great! I need to get the pics transferred off my phone and onto my laptop. Was a pretty easy install actually.

That is a great idea, for those who actually cook inside, boiling water doesn't make that much of a mess �� getting odors and grease out is good, that charcoal filter lets a lot through...

Did you buy the Keystone outside vent?

Archergodwin · 10-22-2019, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekSquadOfUn

That is a great idea, for those who actually cook inside, boiling water doesn't make that much of a mess �� getting odors and grease out is good, that charcoal filter lets a lot though...

Did you buy the Keystone outside vent?

No. I had seen some of the newer trailers with a nice smooth outside vent, and researched those to find out who made them, then looked on the internet till I found one.
EDIT: I don't know why these are loading sideways... grrr...

GeekSquadOfUn · 10-22-2019, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archergodwin

No. I had seen some of the newer trailers with a nice smooth outside vent, and researched those to find out who made them, then looked on the internet till I found one.
EDIT: I don't know why these are loading sideways... grrr...

Ah yes, it is the same as the new Keystones I've seen. Mine needs to be black. Many thanks.

**flybouy** · 10-22-2019, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archergodwin

No. I had seen some of the newer trailers with a nice smooth outside vent, and researched those to find out who made them, then looked on the internet till I found one.
EDIT: I don't know why these are loading sideways... grrr...

I think the orientation of the embedded pics are landscape (wider dimension goes horizontal) and not portrait (wider dimension goes vertical. The software does not "recognize" the top of the pictures content to "re-orient" the picture.
When taking pics to post try holding your phone "sideways" which will be a landscape orientation.

NH_Bulldog · 10-22-2019, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flybouy

I think the orientation of the embedded pics are landscape (wider dimension goes horizontal) and not portrait (wider dimension goes vertical. The software does not "recognize" the top of the pictures content to "re-orient" the picture.
When taking pics to post try holding your phone "sideways" which will be a landscape orientation.

I found that if I crop the pic to a square size, it uploads in the correct orientation

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