Venting an over the range microwave.

[trlcavscout]

I thought gas ranges had to vent to the outside now? Maybe its a local thing. I would run it to the attic and have a roofer cut in a vent, better chance of it not leaking.

[Irving]

Highclass, I'm not sure on your question, I'll have to look. I don't think it is just crammed in there, but will check. It sure looks ugly though.

I think the only other thing on this circut would be range and dishwasher. The range shouldn't be much draw since it is gas right?

We had a roofer come out to correctly install the vent for the dryer that we relocated over there next to the hit water heater.

Can I run those two copper lines behind the drywall to clean stuff up? One is a ground for something and the other is a water line for the ice maker.

The wall runs parallel to the roof, so may not be load bearing. The house has a pretty small foot print so I wouldn't be surprised if just the curtain walls and the one perpendicular wall support everything. I will take pictures of the attic when I get home. Thanks for all the input so far.

[Irving]

Here is the attic. I don't think I have trusses.


Red line is wall in question. Blue line is the wall I believe to be the load bearing wall as it spans the house and those supports attach to it. Green arrows are the original roof that terminates on the brick wall where my garage was added. 1 - Dryer vent, 2 - Hot water heater vent, 3 - gas line that goes down the wall in question. I don't think this wall is load bearing.


Is there anything I have that I could join into, or should I just get close to a regular roof vent?

[Great-Kazoo]

Your dryer vent goes up? How often you clean & check for lint build up ?

[Irving]

We just did it recently. It's actually been having problems, so that is next on my Ask-a-member list. I think I'll check it right now. It used to vent into the garage, then we moved it and up is the only option. I have no crawl space.

[jslo]

Code requires dedicated circuit, but not something most realestate inspectors will require you to change......now. Dumping vents in attic is against code and an inspector will catch that. Some will let you attach (to direct the exhaust out) at an existing roof or gable vent. All vents are also required to be a least 10' away from an opening, such as a window.

[newracer]

Like trlcavscout said, pretty sure a gas range must have a vent to the outside. That is what my builder told me.

[Irving]

I could see that. No one said anything when we bought the house with the original gas stove. We tore out the wall in the middle of the kitchen, so I know there wasn't one in there before. All the more reason to run this one to outside as well. Haven't had any issues so far. Again, a real vent will be nice though.

[flogger]

A couple of observations.
- ALL Dryer vents need maintenance and cleaning, the ones going up and out the roof need more. The total run by code is 14', elbows and flex pipe really slows down the flow.
- It looks like an addition was made and a roof was over framed on the original shingled roof. I would avoid cutting out any wall members below if you can.
- The micro exhaust vent pipe can be a 3x10 piece of ductwork to fit in a wall space and minimize structural remodel to the wall, turning to round pipe in the attic.
- New codes require venting for gas stoves, millions of homes don't meet code. Vent it if you can.
- Pull the insulation away from the Water Heater 'B' vent in the attic and as mentioned earlier, make sure that pipe is connected through the roof. Looks like weird retro above the water heater.
- Make sure you introduce outside combustion air to the water heater area if you frame it in.
- Have fun in the attic, looks cozy!

[Irving]

-Checked the dryer vent tonight and it is still clean as a whistle. It's new though and is only maybe four months old.
-Planned louvered panels on two sides for walling in the water heater.
-I never thought to ask what the minimum diameter pipe should be for this vent. What would be ideal?
-There is a roof vent within a few feet (10') of where this new vent will enter the attic. Can I just run the vent pipe up under the large roof vent, or would I need to seal it?
-As far as the gas stove vent, is it correct that this microwave vent will cover the stove as well, since one could just turn on the microwave vent anytime the stove is on?

I REALLY appreciate all the input you guys have been giving me. I hope I'm not wearing out this subforum because I have a lot more stuff on the list to improve this house before I move.