OT Over range microwave

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:
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

On 2009-06-03, ellice wrote:
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

Thanks for the detailed infomration Ellice. We have our choices narrowned down
to a kenmore and a whirlpool. This group has been a lot of help. Thanks everyone.
-Margaret

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

"Margaret St. John" wrote in message
.. .
On 2009-06-03, ellice wrote:
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

Thanks for the detailed infomration Ellice. We have our choices narrowned
down
to a kenmore and a whirlpool. This group has been a lot of help. Thanks
everyone.
-Margaret

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


My Whirlpool is a cheaper model, without the shelf that I never used in my
old one, and a turntable that can't be shut off and that I miss. Other then
those two things it does a lot of the same things described by Ellice and I
too surprise myself by using all the bells and whistles.

Lucille

lucille wrote:


My Whirlpool is a cheaper model, without the shelf that I never used in
my old one, and a turntable that can't be shut off and that I miss.
Other then those two things it does a lot of the same things described
by Ellice and I too surprise myself by using all the bells and whistles.

Lucille



Has anyone else noticed that some of the microwave popcorn brands say
DON'T use the "popcorn" button? could be Reddenbacher's. And I don't
know why.

(One day I just threw in the popcorn, hit the button, microwave went on,
but NOTHING popped! Then I read the directions... VBG)

Sue

--
Susan Hartman/Dirty Linen
The Magazine of Folk and World Music
www.dirtylinen.com

"Susan Hartman" wrote in message
...
lucille wrote:


My Whirlpool is a cheaper model, without the shelf that I never used in
my old one, and a turntable that can't be shut off and that I miss.
Other then those two things it does a lot of the same things described by
Ellice and I too surprise myself by using all the bells and whistles.

Lucille



Has anyone else noticed that some of the microwave popcorn brands say
DON'T use the "popcorn" button? could be Reddenbacher's. And I don't know
why.

(One day I just threw in the popcorn, hit the button, microwave went on,
but NOTHING popped! Then I read the directions... VBG)

Sue

--
Susan Hartman/Dirty Linen
The Magazine of Folk and World Music
www.dirtylinen.com


Thanks for this information because although can't eat popcorn, ,it makes me
cough, I do make it for company. So far the button worked well. I will try
to remember to look at the directions before I buy any from now on because
if I can't make it in the microwave I won't buy it at all.

On 6/3/09 10:38 AM, in article ,
"lucille" wrote:


"Susan Hartman" wrote in message
...
lucille wrote:


My Whirlpool is a cheaper model, without the shelf that I never used in
my old one, and a turntable that can't be shut off and that I miss.
Other then those two things it does a lot of the same things described by
Ellice and I too surprise myself by using all the bells and whistles.

Lucille



Has anyone else noticed that some of the microwave popcorn brands say
DON'T use the "popcorn" button? could be Reddenbacher's. And I don't know
why.

(One day I just threw in the popcorn, hit the button, microwave went on,
but NOTHING popped! Then I read the directions... VBG)

Sue

--
Susan Hartman/Dirty Linen
The Magazine of Folk and World Music
www.dirtylinen.com


Thanks for this information because although can't eat popcorn, ,it makes me
cough, I do make it for company. So far the button worked well. I will try
to remember to look at the directions before I buy any from now on because
if I can't make it in the microwave I won't buy it at all.


I know certain packets/pouches are different sizes. The micro we have now
lets you select time by weight.

Cheryl

On 6/3/09 9:56 AM, "Susan Hartman" wrote:

lucille wrote:


My Whirlpool is a cheaper model, without the shelf that I never used in
my old one, and a turntable that can't be shut off and that I miss.
Other then those two things it does a lot of the same things described
by Ellice and I too surprise myself by using all the bells and whistles.

Lucille



Has anyone else noticed that some of the microwave popcorn brands say
DON'T use the "popcorn" button? could be Reddenbacher's. And I don't
know why.

(One day I just threw in the popcorn, hit the button, microwave went on,
but NOTHING popped! Then I read the directions... VBG)

Sue
That's funny. This is actually the first micro I've had that we do use the
button - and seriously, it works perfectly with the brand we use - th
"light" variety from Costco - whatever that is.

Ellice