Hello Particleman,
Welcome to our community! My name is Christine, and I’m a Home Depot store associate in Atlanta.
I would not recommend removing the plate on the back of the stove. Heat shields are meant to divert heat, and removing it will allow the heat to escape from the back. You definitely don’t want that to happen. Heat and drywall are a bad combination.
Considering Kenmore didn’t give you the thumbs up to do it, it would be wise not to remove it.
Be safe,
Christine
Hey Particleman,
I also wanted to give my 2 cents to add on to what ChristineClaret has already said. You are correct on being apprehensive on taking out parts as that would violate any warranty and be unsafe. Most companies will give you that answer because since the heater is being altered, there is no way they can make an actual guarantee of it working safe. But in altering the stove there lies the issue of connections and exposure of certain parts that only someone qualified to install should make. Since you spoke to the manufacturer and I am assuming you have the owners manual, you can see if it taking out the back is a feasible option, IF you are certain that the adjustment(s) will work. To try and work around it, you can create a metal heat shield by itself onto the drywall, and you can do it in a way that looks aesthetically pleasing in your kitchen.
I did a post a week ago covering installing a heat shield on the wall as a buffer between the drywall and stove; here is the link. --> Drywall/Stove Heat Shield
I'm glad you stated earlier you are seeking the help of a professional, it sounds like it can be done, but with knowing the specific model and looking at your connections in relation to setup from the wall, its difficult to really ascertain if we can go any further from here.
Let us know if we can be any further assitance to you.
Thank you both for your replies. After examining the back of the stove and reading your responses, I've decided to keep the back on and try to figure out how to deal with this problem in a different way. I live in a high rise condo built in the early 1960's and the walls are concrete so I may have to deal with the stove setting back from the wall for now.
Hey no problem,
Since you have concrete you have less of an issue with the heat transfering over into your walls say versus drywall with batted insulation inside. Just contact a professional and even a person licensed in HVAC/Heating supply as they may even have replacement pipes, or have additional solutions that can be safe and yet give you the room you need in the kitchen.
Best of luck to you and again anything else, please don't hesitate to ask us.
aboveaveragejoe