Hi All –
Still working out the details of our island. The appliance sales guys warn against using a pop-up down-draft vent (Thermador 15″ is the choice) with a range due to the inability to get both flush against each other. Anyone encounter this configuration in a remodel? If so, please share your experience.
Dacor appears to be the only range model with a flat back, but I have had horrible problems with my current Dacor ovens and really don’t want to go that route.
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Replies
wait, wait, what did the appliance salesperson tell you? What's the problem with pop-up down draft vent? That's what they're made for, not? To vent the cooktop when you can't/don't want a hood?
He said the manufacturers do not recommend mounting them flush to a "range" - cooktops are fine. I'm trying to avoid buying three products over two.
Try contacting the manufactures tech support and see why.The only thing that I can think of is that they are concerned with the heat from the oven.But it might be for some other reasons that are really not applicabble. For example they might have run into too many clearance problems and with so many different brands they though why worry about it. Now there are some stoves that inlcude downdraft builtin. In know Jenair does, but I think that I have seen others.
Good idea, Bill. I will contact Thermador and see what they have to say.
FYI re: built-in downdrafts since they do not pop-up they rob heat from the cooking surface and are not very efficient at venting pots. The pop-up Thermador can rise up to 15" above the cooking surface. Other mftrs make pop-ups, but most only go to 9".
I recently installed a Thermador 5 burner gas cooktop with a Thermador pop-up rear vent. You didn't ask, but we found that the exhaust would almost suck the flames out when it was on medium speed. With a pot on the burner, it was less of a problem, but you could still see the flames move.
My client had the ovens in a different location, so it wasn't a problem. However, I can see where it might not fit with an oven, cuz the vent had to go in first, then the cooktop, cuz the pup-up part is thinner than the below-counter part. If your countertop is deep enough (ours was 24") maybe you could hav a gap between the vent and the cooktop, so the vent was pushed back to allow room for the oven.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
Hi Ed-
This will all be in a large island with plenty of center "dead space" for a full draft pipe. I have a regular Thermador hood now that can practically suck up a small dog on full power! This is why I like their draft units - glad to hear it's powerful. This is a great room kitchen/family room with high ceilings and a fairly open floor plan to the dining room. Ridding the area of cooking odors/smoke is key.
After much thought and research I am leaning towards this unit mounted flush to a Thermador gas cooktop with a Kitchenaid convection oven below. A 3-point solution, but one that will definately work vs. asking my contractor to rig something. (That's my husband's job ;)
BG
Okay, what about this? Is there a way to turn the part that goes up and down 180 degrees, so the below counter fan would then be away from the back of the range instead of towards it? Then you could add some sweet looking detail to the back of the island to conceal the fan...a little bench seat...or a bookcase maybe?
I had the same thought Jim. Dissasemble the periscope and put it togerther backewards. That will surely void the warranty, but probably solve the space problem.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
Clever boys, you are! Men after my own destructive heart! Agreed - warranty would be void but it would probably work. Think I'll call T-dors customer service and tee up the general concept and see what they say. If they rattle, I'll add your suggestion and really flip them out!
Seriously, a very good idea albeit "custom".
BG TX - BG
BuilderGrrl,
I just finished a kitched with a similar set-up that you describe. The client had a pennisula that they wanted their cooktop located on. We finally decided on a 36" Jenn-air/gas/5 burner with a downdraft incorporated into the fixture. Based on research that the homeowner did, the pop-up downdraft equipment was not as reliable as the version she bought. She was concerned about grease build up in the track. Also, in this installation, the rising panel would have been intrucive to the rest of the layout. The Jenn-air was tricky to install and adjust, but I have received any complaintes, just more business.
Hope this helps.
Nap
Hey Nap -
I think you are all are confusing cooktops with ranges. I'm trying to put a separate downdraft behind a range (cooktop and oven in one unit). I can always opt for the cooktop, downdraft, oven combo but it's not my first choice.
Sounds like you installed a cooktop and downdraft. I'm going to use the Thermador 15" pop-up downdraft unit. I don't fry very often, so grease isn't an issue. I'm just trying to simplify my configuration with less products.
BG
We will have the same issue with our downdraft, delivery expected tomorrow. Did you happen to take apart and reassemble the vents 180 degrees out?
We will have to install the downdraft backwards so the blower is 180 degrees out, therefore, we need to rotate the vents/pop up opening 180 degrees. (Installing behind a range/cooktop on island.