Whirlpool 1.7-cu ft Over-the-Range Microwave in Stainless Steel

Choosing this appliance

UMV1170LS combines stainless styling, 1.7-cu-ft capacity and hood ventilation.

For this microwave hood combination, compare reheating and defrosting needs with the available microwave capacity and controls. Evaluate ventilation for the cooking surface below as a separate function. Check whether frequently used microwave-safe dishes can be loaded comfortably at the planned height, and whether the control panel can be reached without stretching across the range.

Compare the appliance with the tasks you perform most often, rather than choosing by exterior size alone. List the features you will use regularly and separate them from features you may rarely need. Consider who will operate the controls, how easily they can read the settings, and where frequently used items will be placed. Use the exact model specifications to compare alternatives.

Check the finish alongside the surrounding cabinets, work surfaces and other appliances in the same lighting. Similar finish names can have different tones or textures. A manufacturer reference photograph helps identify the design, while the photographs and listing for the individual item establish what is offered. Keep the complete model number available when discussing an appliance with your installer.

Think through a typical busy day in the space. Allow room for another person to pass while the appliance is in use, and consider whether nearby drawers or doors would compete for that room. Operating convenience depends on the layout as well as the appliance features. Resolve the features that matter most before choosing between closely related model numbers.

Compare cookware with the 12-inch turntable and the cavity shape, not only the 1.7-cubic-foot capacity. A dish can hold the required portion yet still be awkward to rotate or lift from an overhead microwave. Check handles, lids and the route through the door opening before choosing a large microwave-safe casserole for regular use.

Check large dishes against the 21.125-inch cavity width and 14-inch cavity depth.

Planning the fit and layout

Its 30-inch width uses the familiar over-the-range installation format.

Measure the upper-cabinet opening and wall mounting area for this over-the-range microwave. Compare the cabinet depth, door swing and cooking-surface clearance with its exact installation instructions. Locate the electrical supply and intended exhaust route before mounting. Keep space to stand in front of the microwave while removing a dish, as well as room for cooking below.

Measure from the finished surfaces that will remain after installation. A cabinet opening may change when flooring, a countertop or trim is replaced, so record the final usable width, height and depth. Compare the installation drawing with the opening, not just the advertised appliance size. Record nearby doors, drawers, outlets and utility connections on the same sketch.

Plan the delivery route from the building entrance to the installation area. Measure narrow doorways and turns, and consider steps, floor protection and access around fixed furniture. Discuss any removal or lifting requirements before arranging delivery. An appliance fitting its final opening does not by itself establish that it can pass through every part of the route.

Keep the dimensions and model number together in the project notes so the installer can check them against the exact instructions. Distinguish the overall product dimensions from required cutout dimensions and operating clearances. Where cabinetry must be modified, check the finished drawing before cutting. Leave access to the utilities and any service area required by the manufacturer.

Depth with the door open to 90 degrees is 39.375 inches, compared with 15.5 inches with the door closed. Include that difference when checking a narrow aisle or a nearby wall. Leave a clear place to stand while loading the microwave, and consider whether someone using the cooking surface below would occupy the same working space.

The planning guide specifies a minimum 30-inch cabinet opening. Its height diagram uses a 36-inch cooking surface and a minimum 66-inch height from the floor to the top of the cabinet opening. Have the installer compare those reference points with the actual cooking appliance and finished cabinetry before deciding where the microwave will be supported.

The guide distinguishes ordinary upper cabinets from a deeper cabinet requiring a bump-out arrangement. For 15-inch-deep upper cabinetry, it identifies optional kit W11185746; the ordinary arrangement covers 12- to 14-inch cabinet depths. Measure from the finished cabinet face and check the installation instructions before selecting parts, since increasing depth changes the mounting position rather than just the visible appearance.

Installation and everyday care

Remove the dishwasher-safe turntable plate for cleanup after food splatters.

Have the installer follow the microwave instructions for wall and upper-cabinet attachment, electrical supply and ventilation configuration. Check the supported mounting arrangement before lifting the appliance. After installation, verify the microwave controls, door movement, lighting and fan functions. Use the documented cavity and filter cleaning methods; a conventional oven cleaning cycle is not appropriate for this microwave.

Have the installer read the instructions for the complete model number before work begins. Electrical, plumbing and ventilation arrangements can vary between appliances with similar appearances. Compare the site connections with the documented requirements, and use the specified fittings and protection. Keep the installation paperwork with the product records for later maintenance.

After installation, test the basic functions described in the instructions and check accessible connections before the appliance is placed into regular use. Confirm that controls can be reached and doors or panels move freely. Follow the model instructions for initial setup and cleaning. If a setting behaves unexpectedly, consult the troubleshooting steps before changing unrelated connections.

Clean exterior surfaces using the method recommended for the exact finish. Start with a soft cloth and remove spills promptly where permitted by the instructions. Check whether a cleaner is suitable before applying it to a visible panel, control or trim piece. Keep moisture away from electrical controls and avoid using abrasive pads on finished surfaces unless expressly permitted.

The UMV1170L planning guide identifies recirculation as the factory ventilation configuration, with installation instructions governing a roof or wall exhaust arrangement. Establish the intended route before mounting. A replacement project should check the actual existing duct location and the required conversion steps, so the hood airflow has a complete path after the microwave is placed above the range.

The electrical planning information specifies 120 volts and a 15- to 20-amp rating, and recommends a dedicated circuit or time-delay fuse. It also states that an extension cord should not be used. Have the installer locate the supply connection using the model drawing rather than routing a temporary cord across the cooking area or through a cabinet door.

Check mounting support before lifting the microwave into place. The planning guide requires support for 150 pounds, including the microwave and upper cabinet with its contents, and attachment of the mounting plate to at least one wall stud. These are structural planning requirements; the visible cabinet width alone does not establish that the existing wall and cabinet can support the installation.

How do I plan access and future maintenance?

Electronic touch controls include Control Lock and ten microwave power levels.

Maintain the microwave cavity, door surfaces and removable cooking components using the owner instructions. Keep the hood filter and ventilation path on their separate documented care routine. When performance changes, distinguish microwave heating from fan or lighting operation, and record which function is affected. Use the complete microwave model when identifying a replacement cooking, control or ventilation component.

Record the complete model number and the serial number from the actual appliance after it is available. Retain the operating and installation instructions with the project records. When a replacement part is needed, match the exact manufacturer parts diagram and model revision rather than selecting a visually similar component. Photograph accessible connections if that will help future servicing.

Keep the area needed for routine cleaning and service reachable. Check that stored items cannot obstruct vents, connections or moving components. If performance changes, note the setting and symptoms before consulting the model’s troubleshooting instructions. Follow the documented process for disconnecting utilities before service work that opens panels or connections.

Make a short maintenance record for tasks described in the owner instructions. Include any separately installed equipment and its model number, such as a filtration component or ventilation accessory. The next person servicing the appliance will then have the relevant identification and layout information available without needing to dismantle finished surfaces just to understand the arrangement.

Use Control Lock when wiping the electronic touch panel to limit accidental keypad activation. After cleaning, return the controls to their normal operating state using the model instructions before checking a cooking setting. If the keypad seems unresponsive, note whether the lock indication is present so a control setting is not mistaken for a failed cooking component.

What should I check before ordering?

The LS suffix identifies the stainless variant of the UMV1170 family.

Match the complete microwave model to the upper-cabinet and ventilation plan before ordering. Identify the mounting plate, fasteners and any exhaust-conversion components required by its instructions, then check what is actually present with the individual appliance. A similar width or finish does not establish that mounting components from the old microwave will fit this replacement.

Compare the complete model number, finish and configuration with the appliance in your project plan. Closely related models may have different controls, utility connections or installation dimensions. Bring the model number and measurements when asking about compatibility so the answer refers to the specific appliance and the space where it will be installed.

Read the current listing and inspect the available photographs for the individual item. Confirm its condition and the parts actually present before ordering; a manufacturer reference image describes the model design. Ask about any accessory, fitting, bracket or trim needed for your installation, and identify the exact part number if it must be obtained separately.

Select the intended store view and check the current quantity and fulfillment options there. Arrange installation after confirming the appliance, the delivery route and any required site preparation. If replacing an existing item, record its model and connections before removal. Compare the installer’s parts checklist with the listing so necessary components can be planned in advance.

Keep a copy of the selected model information with the project measurements. Before arranging collection, discuss the appliance dimensions, handling needs and destination access with the people responsible for moving it. Coordinate any cabinet, electrical or plumbing work that must be completed first. These preparations help avoid having a delivered appliance waiting in an unfinished installation area.

The planning guide calls for 0.5 inch between the microwave and a fixed wall on the hinged side of the door. Check that side of the opening before ordering cabinetry or trim. Also allow the full door movement and room for your hand at the handle; a microwave that fits across the opening may still be inconvenient to load beside a wall.