Electrolux otr microwave drawing air fromtop of microwave

Accumulating steam is usually caused by the fan not operating or the vents are blocked.

Sounds like the magnetron is overheating. There is an automatically-resetable thermal circuit breaker attached to the magnetron. Most likely your problem is caused by either a cooling fan that is not running, or is running too slow (caused by gummed-up bearings). In some over-the-range (OTR) microwave ovens, the exhaust fan is run at a slow speed to cool the magnetron, and if it's bearings get gummed up, it won't run on the slow speed. But if it's a new OTR microwave, then the exhaust fan may be pointing the wrong way. (It is rotatable, depending on the installation). For example, if it is pointing up, but you don't have an exhaust vent over the microwave, then the air has nowhere to go, and the magnetron will overheat.

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Keith, I am going to assume that this is happening shortly after you may have used the microwave and after sitting for a little while the fan comes on. The fan blows across the transformer and magnetron to help keep them cool. If there is not good air flow the fan will come on and run to get them cool even after the timer has stopped the cooking cycle. If this is a countertop type microwave I would suggest turning the microwave around and check the vent area where the fan is mounted and see if there is a build up if lint and dirt on the vent holes. If there is clean it off with a soft rag and hopefully that should take care of your issue. If this is an over the range microwave/range hood combo you will need to check your filters and probably clean or replace them. Hope this helps.

Hello Lori Wilson - Thanks for your post! Generally speaking, the vent is not very strong. Try to place a single paper towel on the underside of the microwave. With the vent on, it should suction the paper towel to the bottom of the microwave. If not, I personally recommend contacting the installer to verify that the vent fan is installed properly and the exhaust outer is correct.

There is a wire mesh filter and a carbon filter on the under side of the unit. IF they are plugged then it wont draw air. The other issue is this unit has a dual option for installing the fan. One is to vent to the outside and the other is to vent to the inside, if the fan is not installed for the correct usage, you have no airflow either.

Every over the range microwave has a vent on it that should be venting that steam. I don't know of anything you could put under there that would solve your problem as that is where then vents are and they would be blocked. It sounds to me as though your steam is not being vented properly, and this could also happen if the steam is being vented back into the room instead of outside as many OTR microwaves allow you to do. Its a little bit of work to vent it outside but I myself did that with my microwave and have never had a steam accumulation problem.

Yes, this microwave will vent either out through the top or the back. A damper will be needed if it was not saved when the unit was installed. A list of other items are listed in the installation instructions at this link To GE.
http://products.geappliances.com/MarketingObjectRetrieval/Dispatcher?RequestType=PDF&Name=49-40409-1.PDF

You may need as little as 16" or over 20" depending on several things:

Local fire code if any..

Fan or venting on bottom of microwave. see Manufacturers specs.....

Check to be certain you have a dedicated circuit for this unit . While a range hood may share power most electrical codes will require a dedicated circuit for an OTR microwave as they draw more power.

The issue is that the fan on that unit is a reconfigurable fan. If there is a vent, you install the fan one way, if there is no vent pipe to the outside, you install the fan another way. https://www.manualslib.com/manual/294916/Maytag-Mmv4205.html?page=9#manual

1. You have to have exhaust pipe to connect m/w vent and this pipe has to be free from obstruction.
2. If it already connected and good, but air come from vent bar over door, then blow motor on top of the m/w was installed in wrong position ( motor has 2 -3 position depends which way air coming out up, back or front).
3. In this case you have to remove m/w from installation and change motor position.

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