Range hood replacement

Why hoods matter

Hoods remove smoke, grease and steam from the kitchen. Wok cooking and high-heat searing, common in many valley kitchens, produce a lot of smoke and grease, which makes a strong, ducted hood especially useful.

Ducted versus recirculating

Ducted hoods send air outside. Recirculating hoods filter and return air to the room; they remove some grease and odor but not heat or moisture. When a duct already exists, a ducted hood is the better choice.

Replacing a hood

1. Turn off power.
2. Remove the old hood and check the duct and power connection.
3. Match the new hood's duct outlet to the existing duct, using a transition if needed.
4. Mount the hood at the height the maker recommends.
5. Connect power and seal the duct joint with foil tape.
6. Test fan speeds and lights.

Filters

Metal mesh and baffle filters can be cleaned in the sink or dishwasher. Clean them regularly to keep airflow strong.

Scope

Our electrical fixture repairs overview lists the electrical work we take on.

New duct runs through cabinets, walls or roof, and larger hoods that need a bigger duct, are outside our scope. Hoods that need a new circuit are outside what we do.

Sizing a hood for the cooktop

A hood should be at least as wide as the cooktop, and wider gives better capture. Mount height affects capture and headroom; follow the maker's range. Airflow is rated in CFM.

High-heat cooking benefits from more airflow, but the existing duct size limits how much air a hood can move effectively. A hood rated far beyond what the duct can carry gets louder without moving much more air.

Makeup air

Large hoods can pull more air than a tight house lets in, which can affect other gas appliances and make doors hard to open. Very high airflow hoods may need a makeup air system.

Microwave hoods

Over-the-range microwaves combine a microwave with a hood fan. They install on a wall plate and hang from the cabinet above. They can be vented outside through an existing duct or set to recirculate. They plug into an outlet in the upper cabinet, which must already exist.

Cabinet and backsplash fit

New hoods may differ in depth and height from old ones. Check the cabinet space above and the backsplash tile line. We cut or fill as needed for a clean fit.

Noise

Hood noise is rated in sones. Lower sones mean quieter operation. A quieter hood gets used more.

What to send

Photos of the old hood, the duct connection above it, and the new hood's model and size.

More questions

How often should I clean the filters? Regularly; heavy wok cooking may mean every couple of weeks.

Can you convert a recirculating hood to ducted? Only if a duct already exists.

Wok cooking and grease

High-heat stir frying throws grease into the air, which coats cabinets and the hood if the fan is weak or filters are clogged. Baffle filters handle grease well and wash easily. Running the hood on high before you start cooking, and for a few minutes after, captures more. Clean the duct connection area when replacing the hood, since grease buildup there is a fire concern.

Under-cabinet versus wall chimney

Under-cabinet hoods mount beneath an upper cabinet and duct up through it. Wall chimney hoods mount on the wall with a decorative cover over the duct. Swapping one style for the other often changes duct routing. We stay with the existing style unless the duct allows the change.

Lighting under the hood

Hood lights help when cooking. LED hood lights last longer and run cooler than old halogen bulbs. Some hoods allow bulb upgrades.

Removing an old hood

Old hoods may be screwed to the cabinet bottom with rusted fasteners, and the wiring may enter from the cabinet. We support the hood while disconnecting, cap and secure wiring, and clean the cabinet bottom before mounting the new hood.

Ductwork condition

When the old hood comes off, we inspect the visible duct for grease buildup, loose joints and crushed sections. Grease inside the duct is a fire concern and should be cleaned. A loose joint above the cabinet leaks cooking air into the cabinet and attic; foil tape reseals it. We do not use plastic or vinyl flexible duct for kitchen exhaust, since it is not suitable for hot grease-laden air.

More questions

Can you mount a hood higher to clear my head? Within the maker's height range, yes.

Filter care

Mesh grease filters on most hoods can go in the dishwasher. Charcoal filters on recirculating hoods cannot be washed and get replaced on the maker’s schedule. A greasy filter cuts suction and makes the fan work louder.

Height above the cooktop

We follow the hood maker’s printed mounting height range. Too low and it is in the way of tall pots; too high and smoke drifts out past the edges before the fan can catch it.