How to Hook Up a Microwave Duct

Over-the-range microwaves come with the option to ventilate the appliance to outside of the home or to use interior ventilation to recirculate the air. With outside ventilation, ductwork is connected to the microwave and runs to a duct piece on the roof or an outside wall. Exterior ventilation is often more effective at removing smoke and steam from your kitchen, but it does require an additional bit of labor to hook up the microwave duct.

Duct transition piece
Duct pieces
Duct tape

Instructions

- 1
  Place a transition duct piece over the microwave's exhaust adaptor. The adaptor is located on the top or back of the appliance.
- 2
  Wrap duct tape around the bottom of the duct piece so it seals the adaptor and duct piece together.
- 3
  Position and tape the wall template, provided by the microwave manufacturer, on the wall where the ductwork will be installed.
- 4
  Press the tip of a drywall saw into one corner of the template at the spot where it diagrams the ductwork should run. The template should outline exactly where you need to cut.
- 5
  Push the drywall saw slowly through the wall, just until it breaks through. Move the saw back and forth along the drywall, following the outline on the template.
- 6
  Connect duct pieces to the transition piece. Base your configuration on the pieces needed to fit through and up into the wall to connect to the roof or wall cap. Use mostly straight pieces to allow for better airflow, but use elbows as necessary. Wrap duct tape around the seam where each piece connects into the next to seal the duct.

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