When choosing kitchen appliances, including a microwave oven, consumers increasingly prefer more compact, easy-to-use models. Microwave ovens can be either freestanding or built-in – it’s up to you which one to choose. But it is better to choose a place for equipment in advance. And already proceeding from this, a model should be selected. We will tell you how to build a microwave, where it is better to place it. It is also important to know how to properly connect an electrical appliance in order to use it conveniently and as safely as possible.
What are microwave ovens
Before proceeding directly to the installation stage, consider which microwave ovens exist. So:
- the simplest microwaves with a minimum set of functions (heating and defrosting);
- Microwave ovens with the function of cooking on the grill;
- models with a convection system that can easily replace your built-in oven.
Choosing a place and method of embedding
The method of installation of microwave ovens depends on their type and on the place of installation. Today, there are several options for mounting a built-in microwave oven. After reviewing them, you can determine the place for the electrical appliance.
The traditional and, perhaps, the most aesthetic installation method is to build a microwave oven directly into the kitchen set.
It is possible to order a cabinet for a microwave oven along with kitchen furniture. Or find a suitable cabinet in an existing headset.
In this way, you can place the stove, for example, under the countertop, above the stove, in the upper cabinet or any other place. The built-in model can also be placed in a drywall niche. This type of installation is more time-consuming, preparation for it should begin even during the repair.
The most modern, compact type of installation is placement in a drawer. The body of the appliance is built directly into the drawer of kitchen furniture. To use the microwave, you just need to push it out of the facade. This placement saves kitchen space as much as possible, and also perfectly masks the appliance itself.
As for freestanding microwave ovens, there are more options for their installation. The easiest way is to put them on a countertop or other flat surface.
But such placement often takes up a lot of space, which is sometimes so small in the kitchen. How to install a microwave oven, where to put it in order to save workspace? And most importantly – can a conventional microwave be built into kitchen furniture? We’ll talk about this below.
In principle, the installation of a conventional microwave oven is possible, but important points should be taken into account.
The main thing is to ensure proper air circulation so that the microwave oven does not overheat during operation.
If the niche is too narrow, it will be simply impossible to ensure the flow of cold air and the removal of warm air. With the built-in model, this process is carried out through the front panel. Therefore, it does not require gaps in the cabinet. For stand-alone electrical appliances, this is the main condition for the correct operation of the device.
In the case of a conventional microwave oven, the size of the niche directly depends on its dimensions.
For models with convection, the height and width of the niche should be 20 cm larger than the height and width of the oven, the depth should be 10 cm. For ordinary ones, 10 cm from all sides will be enough. Choose a place for installation taking into account the location of a free outlet.
It is undesirable to use an extension cord to connect equipment to the network.
It is not recommended to place the appliance close to the hob, sink, refrigerator. This may cause it to break. The distance between household appliances must be at least 45 cm.
The process of embedding a microwave oven
If the place for the device is chosen taking into account the above recommendations, you can safely proceed to the installation process itself.
Consider the most common installation instructions. It involves the following steps:
- Carefully inspect the equipment for damage, various defects.
- Find the installation section in the instruction manual and read it.
- If a mount is included, install.
- Make a hole in the wall of the cabinet to provide easy access to the mains during operation of the device.
- Place the device in a cabinet, unplug the cord, insert the mains plug into the socket.
- Install the frame if it is included in the set for the built-in oven. How to fix it, you can find out from the instruction manual. In the case of a conventional microwave, there are no decorative frames. Be aware of her need to ensure proper heat dissipation.
As you can see, if you analyze all the points, installing the equipment yourself is quite simple. But if you doubt your abilities, contact a specialist.
Nevertheless, the installation of a microwave oven should be carried out taking into account all recommendations and rules. Then the appliance will work correctly and serve you for more than one year.