Many kitchen renovations happen, and people change from the standard stove to a wall oven cooktop. In this blog we will look at the electrical requirements for wall oven installations in your kitchen.
What is a Wall Oven?
Just as the name implies, a wall oven is an oven that is recessed into your kitchen's wall. In a majority of kitchen designs the wall oven is placed at around eye level and recessed among the kitchen cabinets.
Conventionally, the stove and oven are a combined unit, however now as styles change you can now purchase an oven detached from the stove top. As you can see in the above photo the wall oven is separate from the stove top unit and can sometimes sit recessed in the kitchen cabinets along with the microwave.
Why Would You Want the Oven to be Separate from the Stove?
Often if there is more than one person preparing food in the kitchen, the area in front of the stove can become quite congested. Therefore, splitting the stove into two separate units / appliances may help free up space. One person is free to work with the stove top while another is in charge of the food in the oven. In a small kitchen this design can be a game changer.
Electrical Requirements for a Wall Oven:
A licensed, bonded, and certified electrician.
An electrical permit.
A dedicated circuit.
Required Wiring
The required amperage can range anywhere from 20Amps up to 60Amps with the Voltage ranging from 120 - 140Volts. Another thing to keep in mind is that the required circuit and voltage size will largely depend on the KW size of the wall oven.
Before you purchase a new wall oven it is a wise decision to hire and consult a licensed electrician. Your electrician may need to complete a load calculation to determine if your panel can support this addition or change.
What about the Stove Top?
Another thing to consider when purchasing a wall oven is that you may also require a separate stove top unit. Just as the wall oven is often recessed into the kitchen cabinets, the stove top tends to be recessed into the kitchen countertop.
Some designers and contractors suggest that you don't install the stove top into the kitchen island. Depending on the size of the island, if the stove top is in use, it can possibly splatter those sitting or eating at the island. Also, if it's in the island you will have to provide proper ventilation for the smoke and grease from the stovetop. This is often why a majority of stoves are up against an outside wall, so the new ventilation doesn't have far to go.
If this cooktop is a new installation, then you will require a HVAC installer to run the ventilation/exhaust fan. The installation of the electrical wiring for a stove top will also require the expertise of a licensed electrician.
Blue Crest Recommendation
Blue Crest strongly recommends that only a licensed and certified electrician install or replace a wall oven. Please do not attempt to install or replace a wall oven if you are unfamiliar with the process. If any type of electrical work makes you uncomfortable, please call our office at the numbers listed on our contact page. We are more than happy to help you with your electrical needs and projects.