How To Remove And Install A Microwave | Over-The-Range

Removing an old over-the-range microwave and installing a new microwave doesn't have to be a large project. You can do this as a DIY project with minimal tools and I will walk you through the entire process. In addition, I will call out a few tips to reduce the chance of this project taking longer than is needed and minimize the trips to the home improvement store

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Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:09 Removing An Old Over-The-Range Microwave
3:28 Selecting The Right Over-The-Range Microwave
6:09 Installing New Mounting Bracket
12:01 Locating And Drilling Holes Through Upper Cabinet
15:30 Installing The New Over-The-Range Microwave

DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.

[rossreed]

Fantastic video, thank you for being slow and methodical for those of us that don't do this every day!

[jsa]

Thank you sir... I DID IT!!! No injuries, nothing broke, minimal cussing. This video was hugely helpful! Really appreciate how amateur-accessible your instruction was. Look forward to more of your videos!

[colinmoore]

Just replaced one, this was a great help. The previous mounting bracket was only held by a couple of drywall screws and not on a stud, so your toggle info was great. A bit tricky lining up the
cabinet bolts, not much room for error, used washers to cover nearby holes. Thanks as always!!!

[jake]

Great job!

Only suggestion I'd make is... plug the microwave in first and confirm that it works before installing anything! 😂

I've learned the hard way with large appliances bought both new and used that this quick test is worth getting the extension cord out for. A bad appliance or bad socket is a huge pain in the ass.

[s.j.]

Best video on replacing under the cabinet microwave oven hands down. Your tips were great.

[hassanbazzi]

Clean work. My first install was overwhelming. You make it look so easy. As you said to double check all measurements. Well done 👍

[chriscutress]

Nice demo with good instructions. I remember when I installed a combo microwave - stove fan at my former house and it was a real adventure. Luckily I did have a helper for the actual lift to install but there were ceramic tiles on the wall so ... carefully drilling the holes, mounting toggle bolts (nothing lined up with studs), finding a single stud that was almost centred and cutting through the mounting bar and the ceramic tile to get a firm and level mount for the bar. Then cutting for the vent in the bottom of the upper cabinet as well as a hole through the exterior wall for the fan and vent installation through a stucco outer wall where the exterior was over 20 feet above ground level was not fun. When it was all finished it looked great (stainless steel hood and convection microwave as well as the matching electric stove below) and was worth the pain and suffering with a minimum of touchup painting on the exterior wall. I've been tempted to do the same thing in this new house but there isn't enough clearance between where it would have to be mounted and the gas stove below. That will have to wait another ten years when my DW will be promoting the idea of a majorly renovated kitchen.

[johnbarnett]

When I installed mine I removed a hood fan that was hard wired in. So i passed the wire up threw the wall about 8in and installed an outlet in the cabinet. And my microwave ( a Frigidaire ) has a completely different mounting system. Not harder, just different. It has a large bracket the passes threw the unit and screws in the front top behind the top trim. Yours looked like it would have been much quicker to install. Keep the videos coming and I'll keep watching and learning.

[kamX-rzuy]

I'm very happy to see this video as I will also be replacing my Kenmore, which is about the same as what was removed in this video. The new one is likely to be a Whirlpool too. Edit: my son and I did the install today and it went well. We took our time, verified the position of the studs, and double checked all markings were at the correct distances. Using the template my initial markings for bracket screws were a little high. I guess I didn't cut the box at the exact spot on the dotted line they wanted. Not sure how much leeway there is but I'm glad I verified. I wish manufacturers would decide on a single template. The Kenmore actually had a U-shaped bracket so now there are three big and two little holes in my wall not being used and 3 "small" and 1 big hole in the cabinet. I covered them up with stickers so nothing would fall down there.

[danielbogin]

Just wanted to let you know I used your video to help myself install an over range microwave this week. My situation wasn't EXACTLY like yours but having watched your video I felt more confident in tackling the project which turned out successful in the end! My Christmas wish list this year will have several items from your amazon store page on it!

[ethelryan]

Well done. And, yes, always move the range. I require my apprentices to do so and if the client says 'no', we don't install the OTR Microwave.
They're clumsy to install.

[LBCAndrew]

If you have a 3ft bar clamp, it makes removal 10x easier. Clamp the microwave to the cabinet, remove screws, then support microwave and undo clamp.

[Derakkon]

I had to replace a microwave in an older home and both the back wall and cabinet were Swiss cheese. I ended up adding some plywood to both for extra reinforcement and then I filled in the extra holes in the cabinet with wood filler. After that I covered the bottom of the cabinet with a shelf liner to hide the mess.

[Sam-eynn]

I'm impressed you man-handled that microwave on and off the bracket by yourself. Whenever I've tried to do it alone I end up bending the metal tabs and invariably have to ask someone to help.

[bridgetandj]

Done! Thanks again for a great video that gave me confidence to tackle this project! Had a bit of an issue with the paper template for the cabinet but then I made my own out of cardboard as I saw it was pretty easy for you. On to the next project!

[Martin_Entertains]

I've installed a couple dozen of these things, but I still appreciated your video. I have always gotten the paper template with a bunch of confusing lines that are supposed to compensate for the offset of the back wall of the cabinet. Let's just say that fender washers are my friend.
As I recall, the instructions want you to put the top bolts through blocking that fills between the cabinet bottom and the microwave top. Of course I never do. Did you blow through that step too?

[sambeasley]

On convertible units you may have to flip the exhaust fan to recirculate back in the room.

[Charlie]

Thank you very much. I'm not able to move my range since the kitchen is very small. However the video was really great.

[Jeff-xyfv]

Great video! One thing that wasn't covered was the electrical work (if it's a new installation rather than a replacement). Obviously, an outlet must be installed inside the cabinet. One extremely common mistake is re-using the existing cable that used to power the range hood. The problem with this is that it's wired to an existing 15-amp lighting circuit, so it will trip the breaker every time the microwave is used if other loads (including lights) are in use on the circuit at the same time. The microwave draws 13 amps. The only way to assure a successful electrical installation is to run a separate 20-amp circuit (12/2 cable) from the main panel directly to the microwave outlet, with no other loads connected to it.

[jamessotherden]

That was interesting as I have never seen how microwaves were installed. Thanks.