Never Direct Wire an Over the Range Microwave

On a couple of occasions customers have asked: “can I direct wire the microwave.”  I can’t remember what the cabinet installation situation was that caused them to ask but one time the question warranted a call to the appliance manufacture to get an answer to the question.

The answer that the company gave me was no. When I asked them why, they then said that you can connect it without installing an electrical outlet but the warranty will not be any good, null and void.

I have since used their answer in various situations where common sense needs to be applied in relation to electrical appliances.

Any time that I have a cabinet customer that tells me they are going to install their own under the cabinet, over the range microwave; I always tell them that they must wire an electrical outlet in the cabinet for it to plug into.

I then tell them that if the direct wire the appliance that the manufacture’s guarantee will be void.