Ka-poop after 15 years.
The idiot builder/kitchen-designer/cabinet-maker mounted it, then surrounded it with a buncha custom fancy trimwork which requires destruction to accommodate a replacement.
Pics:
1 & 2 - Looks nice.
3 & 4 - Measured carefully (via the mounting template which was left with the paperwork), drilled holes to access the mounting screws concealed under the trim. Requires at least an 8" screwdriver to reach them, longer is better.
5 - Three mounting screws. Note that the electric outlet was originally installed in the wall but wouldn't work that way with the cord coming out the top of the unit, so they ripped the duplex outlet out and put it loose up inside the cavity, accessible through the rectangular cut-out by climbing up on the range twisting around and wrenching one's back.
6 - The trim pieces mounted around the bottom of the cabinetry sides prevented the unit from coming down, must be removed.
7 - The old unit was unique in that had a motorized spring-loaded panel across the entire front above the door for airflow. It opened, tilted forward when running the microwave or exhaust hood function. There was still a problem in that the charcoal airfilter "required" for indoor venting could not be accessed for changing (which was OK because it was never set in place anyway). See Pic 1 for the panel open, Pic 2 for it closed. There was enough space when open for the airflow to pass.
The new unit has a fixed grill facing upward which would be obstructed by the upper trim, so no way for either the exhaust hood airflow or the magnetron cooling airflow to escape. The cooling intake is the right side over the control panel, outflow is the section over the door. The arrows point to two tabs depressed to open a panel at the front for access to change the charcoal filter. And screws on top to remove a panel on front for access to change the light bulb (the bulb in the old unit didn't burn out through the 15 years, so there's that).
The cord is in a slightly different location so revision for that is required either way.
The choices (assuming I didn't overlook one) are 1) move the unit forward by adding 2x4s on the wall behind the mounting bracket, which also requires drilling new upper mounting holes (the new unit has two screws which match the existing left/right holes); 2) cut a slot in the upper trim panel so the airflow can blow into the cavity (bad idea for moisture); 3) remove all the front trimwork.
8, 9, 10, 11 - Trimwork removed.
There are still complications/obstructions happening so not yet done.
The peeps responsible for this bullcrap should be taken down to the creek and subjected to an appropriate method of torture.










