converting downdraft gas cooktop to work with regular vent

mpg2004

10 years ago

Hi,

We're trying to plan out the remodel of our kitchen. We currently have a 36" JennAir gas cooktop with a built in downdraft vent in our island. When I posted our kitchen layout a few weeks ago, the advice I got was to try and move the cooktop to a perimeter cabinet so we can have a more effective overhead vent. (The downdraft works ok for us, but does pull the gas flame to the side, which is annoying to cook with.)

Anyway, we think we can make it work to move the cooktop to a perimeter cabinet, but, for cost reasons, would like to re-use our existing cooktop. Does anyone know if we can...

1) cap off the downdraft vent and remove the fan unit?
2) use this particular cooktop with an overhead vent (didn't know if the burners were somehow configured differently for a downdraft than a standard cooktop)

thanks,
Michelle

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Comments (5)

User
10 years ago
Sure, it might take reading a wiring diagram to safely disable it, but it's not a big deal to DIY. The electric ignition should be a separate module. If you don't feel comfortable doing that, then buy an el cheapo $300 cooktop for resale and don't sweat it. It's not worth paying an electrician to figure it out.
debrak2008
10 years ago
I know nothing about gas or downdraft but just wondered....

Can't you just not turn on the fan(downdraft)? Why does it have to be disabled? In case someone does turn it on?
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mpg2004
Original Author
10 years ago
If we do wind up using this cooktop with an overhead vent, I'd want to remove the downdraft part b/c it takes up most of the cabinet underneath the cooktop. Also, it would be nice to cover the vent hole with something (a sheet of stainless steel?) so I would stop dropping food down there. I was wondering if anyone had ever done anything similar.

thanks,
Michelle
springroz
10 years ago
You shouldn't have any problem doing that...my last KA never got the downdraft installed. I just wiped crumbs out of the downdraft section every so often.

Nancy
debrak2008
10 years ago
Thank you for answering that. I had no idea it took up that much cabinet space. Also never thought about dropping food down.