Brand new CAFE CHS900P2MS1 Induction range Rear trim piece/clearance question

[pjw73nh]

From the "who would've thought" department.

We had a GE glass top range for the last 20 years.  Time to upgrade. We landed on this one.  Measurements  "seemed" appropriate.  Well.  Not so much.  The drawer perpendicular to the stove hits the large oven handle. See attached.   It hits by about 3/4 inch.   So before we change out our counters and the lower cabinets, I am trying to come with another solution. Even if it means punching a hole in the rear wall to the back of the laundry room.

This "rear trim piece" I presume has a purposeful function or they wouldn't have included it with the range.  I suspect it has to do with spacing for airflow of one or both of the fans in the unit.  I have tried to determine the airflow with a smoke test under various oven conditions. It appears there is a squirrel cage fan in the right rear of the stove and a blade fan in the rear of the oven.

During my testing the only conclusive finding I had was that by sealing off the rear trim piece with painters tape, the output of the squirrel cage fan increased significantly.  So this would tell me that there is some other exhaust out of that squirrel cage fan in the back, that is coming out that top trim piece. 

I haven't tried this yet, but if I take the trim piece off, I *MAY* have enough clearance for the drawer.  Maybe not. 

If I do have the clearance, does anyone have any other suggestions of what I should modify to insure adequate airflow.  Or do I need to worry about this at all.?  The stove will DEFINITELY not be firmly against the wall, but the distance will be less than what the trim piece provides. 

Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[16345Ed]

Amazing how many poorly designed kitchens there are. I know people who have to open their dishwasher to open drawers. 
 

Designers cram every without planning proper fillers, etc. 

Good luck.