Microwave + vent + condo = smells
December 14, 2019 9:00 AM Subscribe
So, I live in a condo and anytime my upstairs neighbors turn on their microwave vent/exhaust, it pushes the smells into my unit. I can hear it running in my microwave and there’s a powerful “breeze of hot, stinky air coming out the top and into my house. Ugh! How do I fix it so I don’t smell their yuck anymore?
I’ve tried turning my fan on during these episodes and it only seems to draw the stink in faster.
Any ideas how to block their exhaust from traveling down what I’m sure is a shared vent into my condo? What should I be looking at, asking, or trying? Who would I call to fix this? I’m willing to throw money at it...I can’t take this every single weekend!
I’ve tried turning my fan on during these episodes and it only seems to draw the stink in faster.
Any ideas how to block their exhaust from traveling down what I’m sure is a shared vent into my condo? What should I be looking at, asking, or trying? Who would I call to fix this? I’m willing to throw money at it...I can’t take this every single weekend!
How do I fix it so I don’t smell their yuck anymore?
It's not something you can fix on your own at your end of the problem. This is an issue that should be taken to your condo association.
posted by beagle at 9:26 AM on December 14, 2019
It's not something you can fix on your own at your end of the problem. This is an issue that should be taken to your condo association.
posted by beagle at 9:26 AM on December 14, 2019
Most microwave/hood combo units have an option to vent internally or externally. You add or remove a plate at the top of the box to choose the vent path.
That said, on some units I’ve installed the plate is actually a flap to prevent outside air from blowing back into the microwave. Perhaps that is missing?
posted by JoeZydeco at 9:27 AM on December 14, 2019
That said, on some units I’ve installed the plate is actually a flap to prevent outside air from blowing back into the microwave. Perhaps that is missing?
posted by JoeZydeco at 9:27 AM on December 14, 2019
Here are a couple of possibilities. Many microwaves can configured to be either externally vented or recirculating when then are installed. It involves how the fan and baffles are configured before the microwave is mounted. It also needs to be properly configured for a vent vertically out the top vs horizontally out the back.
The fact that turning on your fan makes it worse makes it seem that your neighbor's microwave is configured to exhaust to a vent and yours is configured to recirculate.
Another possibility is that the damper on your exhaust vent is stuck open. The damper is supposed to automatically close by gravity when your fan it turned off to prevent back drafts from the vent.
Checking out these two problems requires unmounting the microwave. You should see if you can download the installation instructions using the model number inside the microwave. Then either you or a handyman can unmount the microwave and check things out. Typically it takes two people handle it, but only takes a few minutes.
Can you post the model number?
posted by JackFlash at 9:31 AM on December 14, 2019
The fact that turning on your fan makes it worse makes it seem that your neighbor's microwave is configured to exhaust to a vent and yours is configured to recirculate.
Another possibility is that the damper on your exhaust vent is stuck open. The damper is supposed to automatically close by gravity when your fan it turned off to prevent back drafts from the vent.
Checking out these two problems requires unmounting the microwave. You should see if you can download the installation instructions using the model number inside the microwave. Then either you or a handyman can unmount the microwave and check things out. Typically it takes two people handle it, but only takes a few minutes.
Can you post the model number?
posted by JackFlash at 9:31 AM on December 14, 2019
Response by poster: It’s a GE microwave
Model number: pvm9215sk3ss
Thanks!
posted by RunRunRunRun at 9:51 AM on December 14, 2019
Model number: pvm9215sk3ss
Thanks!
posted by RunRunRunRun at 9:51 AM on December 14, 2019
Best answer: Here are the installation instructions.
On page 11 you can see the three installation options. Vent vertical, vent horizontal and no vent.
On pages 13, 14, 17 and 18 it shows how to configure the microwave for the proper option.
Page 19 shows how the microwave is installed. There are two bolts that go through the shelf of the cabinet above the microwave. Then the microwave tilts out and sits on a bracket on the back wall.
As above, one problem could be a jammed damper. It's hard to tell sometimes because it depends on how well the ductwork lines up with the oven. Sometimes it is necessary to trim the corners of the damper a small amount with a pair of tin snips to get adequate clearance.
Do you know if you have a vertical or horizontal vent. If vertical, you should see a pipe extending straight up to the ceiling inside the upper cabinet. If you don't see a vent pipe, then you have a horizontal vent.
Who is responsible for maintenance for your condo? You should have them come out and check because the problem you are reporting is not normal. Sometimes they are carelessly installed and the vent and damper are bent or jammed.
posted by JackFlash at 11:11 AM on December 14, 2019 [2 favorites]
On page 11 you can see the three installation options. Vent vertical, vent horizontal and no vent.
On pages 13, 14, 17 and 18 it shows how to configure the microwave for the proper option.
Page 19 shows how the microwave is installed. There are two bolts that go through the shelf of the cabinet above the microwave. Then the microwave tilts out and sits on a bracket on the back wall.
As above, one problem could be a jammed damper. It's hard to tell sometimes because it depends on how well the ductwork lines up with the oven. Sometimes it is necessary to trim the corners of the damper a small amount with a pair of tin snips to get adequate clearance.
Do you know if you have a vertical or horizontal vent. If vertical, you should see a pipe extending straight up to the ceiling inside the upper cabinet. If you don't see a vent pipe, then you have a horizontal vent.
Who is responsible for maintenance for your condo? You should have them come out and check because the problem you are reporting is not normal. Sometimes they are carelessly installed and the vent and damper are bent or jammed.
posted by JackFlash at 11:11 AM on December 14, 2019 [2 favorites]
If you do need to discuss this with your neighbors to have them adjust something on their end, please just say that you’re quite sensitive to smells. Most people will not take kindly to “stink,” etc. Good luck!
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 11:29 AM on December 14, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 11:29 AM on December 14, 2019 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
FWIW, it's kind of odd that a microwave exhaust actually vents to the outside. Generally, those types of vents just suck the cooking fumes up through a filter and back out into the kitchen, and there's no exterior venting.
posted by Thorzdad at 9:13 AM on December 14, 2019 [4 favorites]