under cabinet microwave

Installing under cabinet microwave

There are two types of microwave ovens as classified by how they are positioned in a kitchen. One rests on a countertop and takes up space. The other mounts under a cabinet and typically over your oven or range. This allows the microwave to act as a filter for cooking fumes and saves countertop space. under cabinet microwave often come with all the necessary mounting hardware needed to complete the installation.
Microwave ovens that affix beneath cabinetry are both space-saving and convenient. A number of manufacturers make these handy units, including Whirlpool, Frigidaire, Samsung, GE and LE. Under-the-counter units are usually more lightweight than regular microwaves but caution should still be taken to make sure they are properly mounted. Mounting microwaves without a proper support system is dangerous.

Every new under cabinet microwave will come with mounting brackets and templates. This makes the installation pretty straightforward. Lost or needed brackets can be obtained at a local hardware store. You might need a little help holding things if you never attempted this before, so a partner would be a good idea. You will only need basic tools for this task as well as some solid do it yourself experience.

Remove the microwave and mounting bracket from the box. Center the microwave bracket in hole above stove. Push bracket up to upper cabinet bottom and mark desired holes. Use a stud finder to locate the wall studs. Drill the holes needed and screw the bracket to the wall.
Take the cabinet template out and fold it on the lines that are required. If the cabinet back is one half inch, fold the template on that line. Fold on line in accordance with thickness of cabinet sides and back. Tape it in place and mark all the holes to be drilled. Drill holes with recommended size bit.
Pull the power cord through the access hole for it, then lift the under cabinet microwave, hooking it into the back mounting bracket. A helper will make this part easier. Tilt the front up. Install the front bolts through cabinet and into microwave. Tighten all bolts with an adjustable wrench. If you are hooking up exterior venting, remove the plate and hook up the duct work. Once finished, remove all tape and safety packaging and plug it in to a GFCI outlet of under cabinet microwave.