Electrical Outlet Height for Installing a Wall-Mounted Microwave

Microwave Electricity

• Microwave cords must be plugged directly into a wall outlet in a kitchen. No extension cords are allowed to power microwaves as they may cause the appliance to dysfunction or break during operation. Therefore, the height for electrical outlets for wall-mounted microwaves must be close enough to the desired space so the cord reaches the wall outlet, which means that floor electrical outlets, middle of the wall outlets, or outlets installed directly in cabinet spaces are appropriate for wall-mounted microwaves.

Location of Vents

• When you are mounting a wall-mounted microwave, the location of the electrical outlet is not the only thing you must consider. Although the microwave must be plugged directly into a wall outlet, all of the vents must be visible to ensure the device gets proper ventilation. Do not install the microwave in a closed-off space where ventilation is limited, even though the electrical outlet is suitable for your needs. Both the outlet and the vents must be taken into consideration.

Cleaning the Microwave

• You must unplug the microwave from the wall outlet before you clean it on a monthly basis. A microwave must be cleaned frequently to ensure it works properly, both internally and externally by the air vents. The microwave cannot be powered during the cleaning due to chances of electrical shock when water is used on a cloth to clean.

Cabinet Microwave

• Some microwaves are designed to be mounted to walls while others are designed to be placed on tabletops. If you cannot find an electrical outlet near the wall space where you wish to mount the microwave, place it in a cabinet space with a built-in electrical outlet. Before installing the microwave in a cabinet, locate all vents and leave at least 2 inches of space in front of each vent to ensure the microwave gets the proper ventilation.