My sister bought a microwave from Home Depot, but they wouldn't install it because the space between the upper cabinet and the countertop is less than 30 inches. 😕

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According to the Ohio code, integral exhaust systems can have a clearance of no less than 30 inches, although even less is acceptable. I’m unsure about integral exhaust and want to know whether there’s a workaround for this. Your encounter?

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According to the NKBA, the microwave should not be hung higher than 54" from the floor, leaving 18" free from the cooktop or range. I feel at ease with 20" above the kitchen area because I’m a designer.

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It happens that things are misunderstood. Adopted last year were new regulations. I think it’s nationwide. In New Jersey, a state-run organization was established to respond to inquiries by email.

Any cabinets that are higher than 18" above the countertop will fail, an inspector informed our contractor. In less than a day, the state responded, denying the existence of such a thing.

The rule stating that switches and outlets couldn’t be located higher than 18" above a countertop was misconstrued. They worked on three separate problems during our project.

I hope that’s useful. The location of the microwave has nothing to do with the cabinets next to it, I’m pretty sure. And perhaps they will install it if, like me, you can get the state or local government to put it in writing.

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@Dacosta Thank you. I’ll tell her to check to see if there’s a state agency that can help.

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Why is it important that the cabinet be near to the microwave? Since the average backsplash height is 18", it is obviously less than 30". Are you referring to a cabinet above the microwave that isn’t compliant with the code?

To get around that, she can either install it herself or, if she is unable to, pay a handyman to do it for her.

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@Anne They seem to be presuming that the microwave won’t dangle any lower than the nearby cabinet. I’ve never had a 30" clearance for the microwave, so I can’t really see why I could never reach it! Like you, I told her to finish it on her own.

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The microwave’s integrated exhaust system consists of an exhaust fan. In any case, she wouldn’t want the microwave to be any closer to the cooking surface than the required distance above the stove.

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@Bailey It’s interesting; I have no problems with mine, even though it is only 20 inches. (I live in a separate state.)