Over-the-Range Microwave Removal: Appliance Removal in Boise

You're looking at the microwave bolted above your stove. The door latch is going or the light quit a year ago, and the new one is already sitting in a box in the garage. Of all the jobs that fall under appliance removal in Boise, this is one people tend to underestimate.

It looks like it should come right down. It usually doesn't.

Here's what's actually holding it up, how to get it down without wrecking your cooktop, and what to do with it once it's on the floor.

How an over-the-range microwave is held up

Most of these microwaves hang on two things.

The first is a metal mounting plate screwed to the wall behind it. The back of the microwave hooks onto the bottom lip of that plate.

The second is a set of long bolts that come down through the cabinet above. They thread into the top of the microwave and hold the front up. Open that upper cabinet and you'll usually see the bolt heads, plus the power cord plugged into an outlet tucked up inside.

So the microwave isn't sitting on anything. It's hanging there.

Pull those top bolts and the front drops. The whole unit wants to tip forward, right toward you and the stove.

Why it's a two-person job

These are heavier than countertop microwaves, and they're awkward at that height. You're reaching up and out over a cooktop, holding a box with no good handholds.

One person supports the microwave from underneath while the other loosens the bolts from inside the cabinet. Once the bolts are out, tilt the front down a little, lift the back up off the wall plate, and walk it out.

Trying it alone is how people end up with a cracked glass cooktop or a sore back. Even with two of you, throw a moving blanket or a flattened cardboard box over the stove first.

Tip: Before anyone touches a bolt, open the upper cabinet and unplug the microwave. Then tape the door shut with painter's tape. A door swinging open mid-carry is an easy way to lose your grip.

When appliance removal gets tricky in Boise kitchens

Not every install is the same. A few things slow this down.

Hardwired units. Most plug into that cabinet outlet, but some older installs are wired straight into the house. If you open the cabinet and there's no plug, stop. That part is an electrician's job, not a hauling crew's.

Vent connections. Some microwaves vent through a duct to the outside or up through the cabinet. There's often a damper or connector on top that has to come loose first. Older homes in the North End or up on the Bench can have ductwork that's been patched a few times over the years.

Stuck bolts. Cabinets get painted and bolts get cross-threaded. If one won't turn, forcing it can split the cabinet bottom, and you'll be looking at that damage every day.

Tight spaces. A small galley kitchen in Garden City or a Meridian condo might not leave much room to tip the unit and swing it clear. Then it still has to make it down the hallway, around the corner and out the door.

One more thing nobody mentions. With the old one gone, you'll see the wall plate and a bunch of screw holes. A different model usually comes with its own plate in a different spot, so plan on a little drywall patching.

Getting rid of the old microwave around the Treasure Valley

So it's down and sitting on your kitchen floor. Now what?

First, don't take it apart. Microwaves have a high-voltage capacitor inside that can hold a charge even unplugged, and it's not something to poke at out of curiosity.

It also doesn't belong in your curbside cart. Whether you're in Boise, Eagle, Kuna or Nampa, cart pickup has rules about what goes in, and appliances generally aren't on the list. Check your city's current guidelines before you set anything at the curb.

If you're hauling it yourself, the Ada County landfill takes appliances, and on the Canyon County side there's Pickles Butte near Nampa and Caldwell. Look up their current hours, fees and how they handle electronics before you load up. Those details change, so don't go by what a neighbor told you a few years back.

Still works and you're just upgrading? Donating it is a real option. A working unit is a lot more useful to the next person if the mounting plate and hardware go with it.

Doing it yourself or calling for appliance removal in Boise

Honestly, if you've got a second set of hands, a plug-in unit, bolts that turn and a way to get it to the landfill, you can handle this one.

Hiring it out makes more sense when you're short a helper, you'd rather not gamble with the cooktop, or the microwave is one piece of a bigger swap. People often replace the microwave, range and dishwasher around the same time, and one trip beats three dump runs in the July heat.

Whatever you decide, remember the main thing. This microwave hangs, it doesn't sit. Unplug it, tape the door, cover the stove, and have someone holding it before the bolts come out.

And if you'd rather not wrestle it down over your cooktop, give Boise Appliance Removal a call at (208) 279-8636. We'll come take a look and give you a firm price before we start.