My built-in microwave broke. When pulling out the old one, there’s this metal thing with some kind of metal tape attached to the side:
Do I need that? Do I have to buy some kind of special metal tape?
Ugh. I must have copied the link to the album. Let me see if I can fix that.
Here are the pictures (I think):
ETA: I don’t know why the aspect ratio is so weird. Hopefully, it’s clear enough.
You have to dig down into imgur until you find a link that ends in a picture file (jpg). It usually takes me a few tries. Idk why Imgur makes it so hard to find, but people post links to albums instead of photos here all the time because it’s so hard to find.
@kayaker to the rescue!
Thanks!
Wish I knew what it is on your microwave.
For Imgur, try opening the picture you are posting in a new tab, so that your link ends in .jpg
Sounds good. Thanks again! I’ve only been here since 2002, so I’m still trying to find my way around.
Is that thing basically just a spacer to ensure that there is a gap above and to the side of the microwave, to allow for airflow?
That metal tape is typically used with ducting. They may have used it because they had it lying around. I would say to take that thing off and see what’s underneath. If you see vent holes, then it’s likely something rigged together so it vents out the front rather than the side.
Could be. I thought the microwave came out of that case, but now I think it’s all one unit. Looking closely, I think it’s a regular microwave that KitchenAid permanently put into the case and then quadrupled the price.
ETA: @filmore, the outer metal case was attached using weird screws, signalling to me that it’s probably not meant to be removed by the consumer.
Here’s the upper corner, where you can see the weird screw and that it looks like a regular microwave inside a metal case. I still can’t get imgur to work right, but if you click on it, you should get the regular image.
ETA: Fixed the image!
If it’s not clear from the picture, the screw looks like those star screw heads.
Buy a torx bit that size and let 'er rip.
Tamper-resistant Torx.
I might have one of those somewhere. OK, I’ll look closer tomorrow night. Thanks, all!
Why do you need to remove that thing from the microwave? When you buy a replacement, just pay attention to any gap needed behind and to the sides of the new one.
I don’t need to. I think I might actually try to get it repaired, because new built-in ones start at $1,000 and quickly go up.
What’s wrong with it?
Really? I had no idea they were that expensive. How big is the opening for the oven?
You should be able to pull that tape off and see how that add-on is attached. That tape is often sold in hardware stores in the HVAC section. In your picture, it looks like this kind of tape:
The microwave case might have those special screws, but the add-on might be attached with just the tape or maybe even normal screws. If you pull the tape off carefully, you might be able to re-use it. If not, you can get some more at the store. I’m guessing the tape is used to seal the edges if the add-on is for venting. I’m not sure a super special kind of tape is needed.
