LESLIE: Now we’re going to talk to Liz in Colorado that’s dealing with a venting issue. Tell us about the problem.
LIZ: We have a microwave with one of those charcoal vents.
LESLIE: Mm-hmm, built right into it.
TOM: Yes.
LIZ: Yeah, and what we’d like to do is get an exterior exhaust.
TOM: OK, that’s a much better option.
LIZ: Yes. The problem is it sits about 30 inches above the microwave, which I understand is – that’s the right level. So we’re probably going to need a different kind of microwave or just a main exhaust. But from that level, that 30 inches, you still have about four feet up and then we would have to make a six-foot bend to get to the outside because it’s …
TOM: OK, so this is on an interior wall, essentially, and you need to figure out how to duct it through the structure to the outside, correct?
LIZ: Exactly.
TOM: OK. Not a problem. You can do this but you have to do it with metal ducts.
LIZ: Metal ducts.
TOM: You can’t do it with plastic ducts. It’s very, very dangerous. You have to have these ducts made. Probably the best person to do that would be a heating contractor because they make ductwork up all the time. They can make it in various sizes. And you want it to basically go right from the exhaust port of the microwave up through the house and out. You want to curve it so it’s not right angles; it’ll be nice and smooth. And then you terminate it on the outside wall. So it’s definitely doable but I would do it with solid, metal ducting.
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