Browse Forums Kitchen Corner 1 Mar 23, 2009 9:05 am Our microwave blew up on the weekend, was heating something up and it lit up and started smoking . The microwave is a year old and was put into the new kitchen two weeks ago. Its in an alcove about the bench. The microwave had maybe a centimeter space to the sides and above. Now reading the instruction manual it says it should have had 10cm space above the microwave? Was the alcove too small for the microwave, so wasn't ventilated enough or am I just unlucky? This is our third microwave in six years of marriage. If you have a microwave in an alcove, do you have ventilation around it or at the back? Re: My microwave blew up - was it not ventilated enough? 2Mar 23, 2009 9:22 am I've had the same thing happen to one of mine (it was pretty old though) - the carrot caught on fire!! BUT there is ventilation up the back, on top and on the sides. I would say however that you should have some sort of ventilation around the back in the alcove?? Re: My microwave blew up - was it not ventilated enough? 3Mar 23, 2009 9:25 am oh no mrsrusty, is the new kitchen ok??? I can't help with the microwave sorry, we've always had it on the bench and our last microwave lasted ages, DH had it since before we met! It didn't even break; we gave it to his parents when their one broke instead (interestingly, theirs was in an alcove! ) How is the splashback decision going? "Your emotions are the slaves to your thoughts, and you are the slave to your emotions." — Elizabeth Gilbert Living in our new house. Currently scaping the land. Re: My microwave blew up - was it not ventilated enough? 4Mar 23, 2009 9:34 am buildingadreamhome - there is no ventialtion at the back...this is where I am wondering if the cabinet maker should have thought of this? I am so sure I saw a thread about this a while ago...but I can't seem to find it. donuts - kitchen is OK but gave me a bit of a fright still no splashback we were going out to look on Saturday (the kids have been sick with colds viruses) and our eldest came down ill with a tummy bug (will save on details as we were driving ) but hope to get it sorted soon. Will keep you updated. Anyway does anyone know the thread I am talking about? Or am I dreaming? Re: My microwave blew up - was it not ventilated enough? 5Mar 23, 2009 9:39 am No you're not dreaming. I remember it too...just have to try and find it 'chelle We have a hand-over date...15/10...but I won't hold my breath! http://people-in-glass-houses.blogspot.com/ Re: My microwave blew up - was it not ventilated enough? 6Mar 23, 2009 9:46 am Found it viewtopic.php?f=31&t=13117&hilit=microwave Well at least I hope it was the one you were thinking of!! 'chelle We have a hand-over date...15/10...but I won't hold my breath! http://people-in-glass-houses.blogspot.com/ Re: My microwave blew up - was it not ventilated enough? 7Mar 23, 2009 4:34 pm They don't make them like they used to. My mother-in-law has had the same microwave for the last 34 years. Yep, 35 years I think it was the first one ever made. It should be in a museum not a kitchen Cheers, Pete viewtopic.php?f=38&t=8824 Re: My microwave blew up - was it not ventilated enough? 8Mar 24, 2009 1:08 pm 'chelle thanks for that I think that my be the post that the post I was trying to find referred to. Give an intersting case....I am really beginning to wonder if it did over heat. DH bought a new microwave on the weekend, it is less in height that the other one, so think it will be OK. Wow, PeterH, 35 years that is amazing! Re: My microwave blew up - was it not ventilated enough? 9Mar 24, 2009 2:22 pm mrsrusty Wow, PeterH, 35 years that is amazing! I reckon my Dad's microwave must be at least 25 years old. It's one of those big old square ones and you turn the dial to set the time - still works fine! It truly is amazing 'A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world.' Louis Pasteur Vegie garden: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27637&start=0 My Backyard Adventure Re: My microwave blew up - was it not ventilated enough? 10Mar 29, 2009 7:04 pm Thanks for the warning! We are considering having a microwave built into the wall, so we will make sure to ask about this. Our current microwave we have had for about 7 years (2 years in Australia, 5 years in Singapore) and it still works perfectly, despite the heat and humidity. It sits on top of the bench with an oven on top (the cheap $50 kind of oven). Metricon Riva 33 - http://herlihy-riva.blogspot.com Site start 15/03/2010 - Handover 23/12/2010 9 months and 8 days (284 calendar days) from site start to handover Re: My microwave blew up - was it not ventilated enough? 11Mar 30, 2009 10:12 am We had our microwave for 8yrs and just recently brought a new one (the turntable on the other one didn't spin any more). In our new house we have a cupboard to put the oven in and microwave on top, I noticed there is ventilation holes high up where the microwave shelf is, the space is actually very large compared to the microwave, but I guess that's a good thing now - I was thinking that probably should have had another shelf in there otherwise. It does sound like lack of ventilation in your case, but I can imagine a builders retort to be in regards to the cupboard sizing or that you put a microwave that was too big in there. Case in point though, ours does have the vent holes. I know our builder pointed out that it may not suit some ovens / microwaves down the track, and they also pointed out what height microwave is going to be at just to make sure we were happy with that. Re: My microwave blew up - was it not ventilated enough? 12Mar 30, 2009 6:59 pm How's the splashback choice going?Have you made a decision? Hope the microwave didnt damage ur new kitchen mrs rusty! .M. OMG...why did we start this project....!! Re: My microwave blew up - was it not ventilated enough? 13Mar 30, 2009 8:45 pm Sorry its been a while...we've had a bad round of sickness with the kids but all is fine now. I guess I put this post up out of curiosity and a warning. I have called the kitchen place (not new house but reno) they said that they have never had that happen before but are coming out soon to see us to discuss (with a few other little issues). They knew our microwave size (it was measured) for when the kitchen was designed so its not too big the alcove, was made to fit..will see what they say when the come. monkey68 no splashback decision yet due to us all being unwell, but the splashback guy is coming on Thursday with samples when DH is at home...so a decision WILL be made. Heres hoping we are dying for that to be done though! Most of the time, council will push you out to a private certifier as it ties up their limited resources. Where a builder has gone belly up, the certifier passes the file… 7 5347 The gap can be adjusted so it's tighter. You can definitely set up corner cabinets to have the same gap as standard doors. 2 13457 The HIA contract, in the term & conditions section states that "Commencment" is deemed when the drainage is started or the piers are dug or the slab is formed up (incase… 2 6109 |