I have an older gas stove in my kitchen. On the left of it is a wood shelf but on the right and behind it are drywall panels. The gap between back of stove and back wall is around 5 inches. The problem I have is that when the oven is turned on it also heats the back drywall to the point where it becomes bendable.
I went to the local Home Depot, looked at some of the stoves and talked to a salesman there about the heating situation. He told me that the newer stoves are build better so that the heat does not go in the back but comes through air ducks out of the front of the stove (I did see the air ducts).
My question is, how do I go about double checking this before I actually spend 400 dollars on a new stove. I probably wont be able to return it if I still have the same reason, but even if I can, I will have to have them put the old stove back in and there is going to cost more $$$.
I do want to believe that newer stoves insulate the hear better, but how should I go about double checking this before making a purchase?
As far as increasing the gap between the stove and the back wall, it is the last resort, because I do not want to stove sticking out in front of the side shelves
Replacing a gas stove
stove
Best Answer
Go the stove manufacturers' websites and read the installation manuals for the stoves, checking particularly for installation clearances.
You could also replace the drywall behind the stove with 5/8 or 1/2" (depending what the surrounding drywall is) tile-backer (cement-board) and/or cover it with 1/4, 1/2 or 5/8" spaced off the wall surface by 1/2" to 1" (look up "woodstove wall-protectors" for the idea) and cover with aluminum foil if going for the last bit of effect. Aluminum sheet (flashing material) spaced off the wall has a similar effect (radiant barrier.)
You may well have damaged (or missing) insulation in the back of your current stove if it's heating the wall that strongly.