OT Over range microwave

Hi all,
I've been researching over the range microwaves and none of them have good
reviews for how long they last. Our current microwave is 12 years old and
running fine, but we are putting in cabinets to go from one row to an L shape
As part of the L we want to move the microwave to the wall to get back counter
space. If every microwave is as bad as the reviews say then they only last
three or less years now. So I was wondering does anyone have an over the range
microwave has lasted longer than that?
Has the quality really gone down hill that badly for all manufacturers?

-Margaret in MA
--
Margaret St. John
Let it snow!! http://www.silverthorn.org/mstjohn

On 6/1/09 8:27 AM, in article ,
"Margaret St. John" wrote:

Hi all,
I've been researching over the range microwaves and none of them have good
reviews for how long they last. Our current microwave is 12 years old and
running fine, but we are putting in cabinets to go from one row to an L shape
As part of the L we want to move the microwave to the wall to get back counter
space. If every microwave is as bad as the reviews say then they only last
three or less years now. So I was wondering does anyone have an over the range
microwave has lasted longer than that?
Has the quality really gone down hill that badly for all manufacturers?

-Margaret in MA

Take a drive up to Fletcher's Appliances in Nashua (they're on 101A) and
talk to them. They are the best appliance store I've ever dealt with and
they are as honest as they come.


Cheryl

On 2009-06-01, Cheryl Isaak wrote:
On 6/1/09 8:27 AM, in article ,
"Margaret St. John" wrote:

Hi all,
I've been researching over the range microwaves and none of them have good
reviews for how long they last. Our current microwave is 12 years old and
running fine, but we are putting in cabinets to go from one row to an L shape
As part of the L we want to move the microwave to the wall to get back counter
space. If every microwave is as bad as the reviews say then they only last
three or less years now. So I was wondering does anyone have an over the range
microwave has lasted longer than that?
Has the quality really gone down hill that badly for all manufacturers?

-Margaret in MA
I may do that after work tomorrow.
-Margaret in MA
Take a drive up to Fletcher's Appliances in Nashua (they're on 101A) and
talk to them. They are the best appliance store I've ever dealt with and
they are as honest as they come.


Cheryl



--
Margaret St. John
Let it snow!! http://www.silverthorn.org/mstjohn

On 6/1/09 9:57 PM, in article ,
"Margaret St. John" wrote:

On 2009-06-01, Cheryl Isaak wrote:
On 6/1/09 8:27 AM, in article ,
"Margaret St. John" wrote:

Hi all,
I've been researching over the range microwaves and none of them have good
reviews for how long they last. Our current microwave is 12 years old and
running fine, but we are putting in cabinets to go from one row to an L
shape
As part of the L we want to move the microwave to the wall to get back
counter
space. If every microwave is as bad as the reviews say then they only last
three or less years now. So I was wondering does anyone have an over the
range
microwave has lasted longer than that?
Has the quality really gone down hill that badly for all manufacturers?

-Margaret in MA
I may do that after work tomorrow.
-Margaret in MA
Take a drive up to Fletcher's Appliances in Nashua (they're on 101A) and
talk to them. They are the best appliance store I've ever dealt with and
they are as honest as they come.


Cheryl




They are your best bet locally.

Cheryl

"Margaret St. John" wrote in message
.. .
Hi all,
I've been researching over the range microwaves and none of them have good
reviews for how long they last. Our current microwave is 12 years old and
running fine, but we are putting in cabinets to go from one row to an L
shape
As part of the L we want to move the microwave to the wall to get back
counter
space. If every microwave is as bad as the reviews say then they only last
three or less years now. So I was wondering does anyone have an over the
range
microwave has lasted longer than that?
Has the quality really gone down hill that badly for all manufacturers?

-Margaret in MA
--
Margaret St. John
Let it snow!! http://www.silverthorn.org/mstjohn



I had my Whirlpool for 11 years when a rubber bumper was put in there by
accident, caught fire and burned a hole in the bottom. It was still working
perfectly.

I replaced it with another Whirlpool and that's fine after 4 years of heavy
use.

Lucille

"lucille" wrote in message
...

"Margaret St. John" wrote in message
.. .
Hi all,
I've been researching over the range microwaves and none of them have
good
reviews for how long they last. Our current microwave is 12 years old and
running fine, but we are putting in cabinets to go from one row to an L
shape
As part of the L we want to move the microwave to the wall to get back
counter
space. If every microwave is as bad as the reviews say then they only
last
three or less years now. So I was wondering does anyone have an over the
range
microwave has lasted longer than that?
Has the quality really gone down hill that badly for all manufacturers?

-Margaret in MA
--
Margaret St. John
Let it snow!! http://www.silverthorn.org/mstjohn



I had my Whirlpool for 11 years when a rubber bumper was put in there by
accident, caught fire and burned a hole in the bottom. It was still
working perfectly.

I replaced it with another Whirlpool and that's fine after 4 years of
heavy use.

Lucille

I should add that mine is an over the range model.

I have had an over-range microwave for over 10 years and it works
beautifully. It's a GE. However, if and when it fails I will simply
have it replaced. One thing you might consider is having a "hole" for
a regular microwave oven in your cabinet area, with a hole at the back
of the bottom for the cord and the electrical outlet just under it on
the wall, or with the outlet in the wall in the back of the hole for
the oven. Of course, you will need to know how large that space needs
to be for adequate air flow around the oven . . .

"Margaret St. John" ) writes:
Hi all,
I've been researching over the range microwaves and none of them have good
reviews for how long they last. Our current microwave is 12 years old and
running fine, but we are putting in cabinets to go from one row to an L shape
As part of the L we want to move the microwave to the wall to get back counter
space. If every microwave is as bad as the reviews say then they only last
three or less years now. So I was wondering does anyone have an over the range
microwave has lasted longer than that?
Has the quality really gone down hill that badly for all manufacturers?

-Margaret in MA
--

I go to the cheapie stores, and buy the cheapest microwave I can find that
fits what I want. These days this is of the order of $100 Canadian. The last
time I bought one must have been at least 10 years ago. Jim.

Margaret St. John wrote:
Hi all,
I've been researching over the range microwaves and none of them have good
reviews for how long they last. Our current microwave is 12 years old and
running fine, but we are putting in cabinets to go from one row to an L shape
As part of the L we want to move the microwave to the wall to get back counter
space. If every microwave is as bad as the reviews say then they only last
three or less years now. So I was wondering does anyone have an over the range
microwave has lasted longer than that?
Has the quality really gone down hill that badly for all manufacturers?

-Margaret in MA


I rather suspect so. We have a large Kenmore counter top microwave that
I bought at least 25 years ago for about $100. And even then I bought
it at the Sears distribution centre where it had been returned because
of a bad door latch (which they fixed). I love it because it takes my
large Corning casserole dish. The only drawback is that it is large.

We bought a smaller one for my DFIL, and when he passed away it came
back to us. It lasted only about five years, while the original one is
still going strong.

I know we are supposed to be replacing out energy inefficient appliances
with more efficient models. I can't see how it saves energy to replace
your appliances every 5-7 years when you factor in the cost of
manufacturing, transportation and disposal.

MargW

On 6/1/09 8:27 AM, "Margaret St. John"
wrote:

Hi all,
I've been researching over the range microwaves and none of them have good
reviews for how long they last. Our current microwave is 12 years old and
running fine, but we are putting in cabinets to go from one row to an L shape
As part of the L we want to move the microwave to the wall to get back counter
space. If every microwave is as bad as the reviews say then they only last
three or less years now. So I was wondering does anyone have an over the range
microwave has lasted longer than that?
Has the quality really gone down hill that badly for all manufacturers?

-Margaret in MA

Hi Margaret -

We have an over the range micro. It's been 3.5 years, and has worked
perfectly - except for the little fire that happened when a chinese food
container handle sparked on the shelf. We always had counter ones before.
This is my experiene:

Ours is a Whirlpool Gold - I believe it is either their top or next down,
and is about $500-$600 on their site (not where I would buy it). The
features all work really well, defrosting, reheating -specialised - great
for slightly warming baked goods, and of course cooking. We do use several
of the pre-sets - like baked potato, popcorn, pizza slice -and they seem to
be actually correct auto settings. It has a lower light shining down with 2
levels of brightness, that I've used as the night light, the vent/hood above
- which I do use on occasion (we have a downdraft with the gas stove on the
island). On the whole - we've been pretty pleased. Thing to be mindful of
- any of these micros with shelfs - put the shelf away so that it's
reachable when needed, but otherwise, don't keep it in the unit. The main
level is a turntable, that can be turned off if you're putting in something
to take up more floor space, so to speak. I believe this is what we have:
http://tinyurl.com/pergvr

Our friends have had a GE over the range - they definitely had to replace it
after a few years, and this replacement has worked for a few. I don't like
it as well as the Whirlpool - the way the settings work, etc.

Other friends - also had a GE which they had to replace after about 6 years,
and put in a Kenmore - they seem happy enough - though comparatively I
thought they paid a lot.

So - probably not great help - but we've been quite happy with the
performance of the micro - so far. And amazed that I use the settings more
than I thought. Plus, I use the timer on it all the time.

On the whole, I like having the counter space. The cabinet above it doesn't
really hold much as the electrical stuff is connected, but that's life.

ellice