2 Reasons You Need A Gap Behind Slide-in Range!

While remodeling your kitchen, you must have the recommended spacing between your kitchen range and the wall.

Following this practice ensures your kitchen is at the right airflow and balance. It also plays a role in improving the kitchen’s safety and prolonging the kitchen appliances’ lifespan. 

Proper spacing is important when modeling your kitchen, but you might wonder if a gap behind your slide-in range is necessary. 

Leaving a gap behind the slide-in range is essential to improve ventilation and avoid fire hazards. With that in mind, leave about an inch gap between the slide-in range and the wall behind. You can use a gap filler or a backsplash to cover the spacing at the top of the cooktop.

This article goes over the several reasons you require a gap behind your slide-in range, its benefits, and how to cover the top of the range-wall gap. 

By the end of the article, you will understand why you need to allow a gap behind the slide-in range.

Should There Be a Gap Behind Slide-in Range?

There should be a gap behind your slide-in range to separate the appliance from the wall. The gap allows proper ventilation and minimizes splashes and dirt on the walls.

If you use a gas range model, the gap can serve as a space for the gas line. The gas line often comes through the wall, while in some households, it comes through the floor.

Either way, the gas line position will start from the back of the slide in range. Moreover, the gas line connector also sticks out, occupying about an inch of space behind the gas range.

Consequently, maintaining a gap behind the range will ensure you do not constrict the gas lines.

If you use an electric model, you will not need spacing for any gas lines. However, your electric range will also need enough space for ventilation during use.

Therefore, ensuring a gap of about one to two inches between the wall and your slide-in range is essential. 

As we mentioned earlier, leaving a gap behind the slide-in stove allows the appliance to vent during use. It also gives enough room for a gas line and connector if you use a gas range model. 

Apart from ventilation, here are other reasons you should leave a gap behind your slide-in range:

#1. Prevent Fire Hazards

If your kitchen wallpaper is a flammable material, you must have enough gap between the range and the wall. 

If you want to avoid damaging your wall decor with high flames from your cooking range, you must take note of the distance between the wall and the appliance.

The distance will ensure fire safety and prevent damage to the slide-in range’s kitchen wall.

#2. Minimizes Stains on Sidewalls

The proximity of your cooking pots and pans to the walls can also affect the decor of the kitchen sidewall. 

When the heat leaves the food, it settles on the sidewalls and leaves food stains. The heat can also damage the walls if there is no gap between the range and the walls. 

The gap reduces the build-up of grease and dirt on your walls and also minimizes cleaning time.

What Should You Put in the Gap Behind the Slide in Range?

Installing a cover over the gap behind the slide-in range is essential to prevent getting dirt on the gap. 

If the gap is small, you can cover the gap with small gap fillers like caulk or plastic tubing. However, if the gap is wider, you can use other fillers like a backsplash, gap fillers, or a counter.

Last update on 2024-01-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

When cooking, dirt, grime, and food substances can fall into spaces between the wall and your cooking range.

To avoid constantly pulling out your slide-in range to clean the space beneath, you can use gap fillers to cover these spaces.

You can purchase a premade gap cover or improvise with a T-molding to get the job done. 

However, if the space between is minute, you might only need to buy caulk and a caulking gun to seal the gap.

Last update on 2024-01-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Last update on 2024-01-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Here is a detailed list of what you can put in the gap behind your slide-in range:

#1. Premade Gap Fillers

These tools are T-shaped inserts for overlapping open spaces of your kitchen counter and range sidewall spaces. It comes in different materials -such as silicon, stainless steel, and plastic.

The fillers also come with fixing accessories that you can use to install the filler and hold it in place. Before making a purchase, measure the gap to avoid buying the wrong size.

#2. Caulk

This filler is suitable if the gap behind the slide-in range is relatively small. You can use this sealant if the gap is about ¼ inch.

#3. Plastic Tubing

This method is cost-efficient and easy to implement. You can opt for plastic tubing if your gap is too wide for a caulk sealant. 

The plastic tubing is also readily available in hardware stores online or offline. This tubing can fit into a gap with a diameter of ½ inch to an inch. 

#4. Backsplash

These are fire-resistant, smooth surface materials installed on the surface of the wall above the kitchen range to protect it from dirt and food splashes.

Once you install a backsplash on the wall behind your slide-in range, it covers the gap above the range. 

However, you might have to use caulk to see any leftover space between the range and the backsplash.

#5. Countertop

This method is applicable if the gap behind your range is about two inches. To install the countertop, contact an experienced professional.

However, you might have to spend above your budget due to the cost of materials you will need for the countertop installation.

Here is a table showing different methods to install covers over gaps behind your slide-in range:

Range Gap Covers	Installation Method
Countertop	Contact a professional to install the countertop behind the slide-in range.
Caulk	Use a caulk gun to press the caulk into the open gap.
Backsplash	You will need the service of an expert tiler to install the backsplash.
Plastic tubing	Cut the plastic tubing to the length of the gap. Push the tubing into the gap till it sits firmly in the gap.
Premade gap filler	Cut out the length you need and place the bottom of the gap filler inside the gap till the cover fits in.

How Do I Install Slide-in Range Gap Filler?

You can install a slide-in gap filler by cutting the filler to match your range gap. Next, place the bottom part of the gap filler inside the gap till it fits in firmly.

Gap fillers are T-shaped pieces of plastic, steel, vinyl, or silicone used to cover small surface gaps. You can purchase them from online or offline hardware stores. 

The bottom part of the gap filler has a T-shape, hence its name. The shape fits the gap between the range and the wall, while the cover sits above the range surface.

To install the slide-in gap filler:

• Select a style that fits your kitchen range; for example, if your kitchen range is of stainless steel, you can purchase a stainless steel gap filler to fit the decor.

• You can also purchase a silicone gap filler if you prefer a flexible gap filler material. 

• Measure the gap length and use kitchen shears to cut the gap filler cover if the length is shorter. 

• Clean the surface of the slide in range before placing the gap filler.

• Slide the bottom part of the gap filler into the gap till the T-shaped form a tight seal. It does not matter if the gap filler is loose as long as it covers the gap.

• Clean the cover constantly by washing it with soap and clean water. Ensure the gap filler is completely dry before using it to cover the gap.

Final Thoughts

Ensuring you implement the right spacing for your slide-in range is necessary for a safe kitchen. With a gap behind your range, your appliance will have enough ventilation during use.

Aside from safety and ventilation, spacing considerably reduces the kitchen cleaning time. You can cover the spaces with gap fillers to prevent dirt from falling into the open gaps.