QA

Question: How To Install A Range Hood Vent

Can I install a range hood myself?

Range hood installation can involve drilling a new vent hole through a wall, which can require new wiring and ductwork, while replacing old ones can be a simpler process. Tip: Before you purchase a range hood, check the CFM rating of its fan.

Do range hoods have to be vented outside?

Range hoods do not have to be vented to the outside. But, ducted range hoods are almost always preferred over ductless hoods. They remove all the smoke and cooking exhaust from your kitchen, while ductless hoods recirculate your cooking exhaust back into your kitchen.

How do you vent a range hood on an outside wall?

Attach a wall or roof cap to the exterior wall or roof. Determine where you want to vent your range hood. Install your ductwork in the shortest unobstructed path to the outside of your home. Cut a hole 1-2 inches larger than your ductwork where you’ll run the duct from your hood. Attach the range hood to your ductwork.

Are ventless hoods any good?

Unvented range hoods do filter some grease and cooking odors from the air, but the general consensus is that they’re nowhere near as effective. Nor do they remove heat and humidity, so they won’t help keep your kitchen cool while you cook.

Should I vent my range hood through the roof?

If a roof is not vented, then grease, dirt, smoke, and chemicals will build up inside your attic. It can be dangerous to your health to keep these contaminants inside your home. Venting your range hood into the attic essentially defeats the purpose of having a ducted range hood.

Can you vent range hood through soffit?

You must not vent into the soffits, or even under the soffits unless you are more than a foot and a half below the soffit to allow the wind to dissipate the moisture before it rises back up into the attic.

Do ductless range hoods remove smoke?

A ductless (or ventless) range hood does not vent out of the home, instead, it carries the debris and smoke form the air and filters it through a charcoal or carbon filter before releasing it back into the room. While many times this method is not as functional as a vented hood, it does work.

Can I use flex duct to vent range hood?

No. Avoid flexible duct for your range hood, regardless of the CFM. Flexible duct is a poor investment because it is: Not durable/sturdy.

How much space should be between cabinet and hood?

In general, most installations require a distance from 20″ to 24″ between the bottom of the hood and the cooking surface. Over a gas range, this distance should be between 24″ and 30″, unless otherwise specified.

Does recirculating range hood work?

Yes. A recirculating range hood works beautifully, the same way as a ducted range hood. The main difference is that rather than the air getting exhausted to the outside, it passes through a filter, and then recirculated back into the house.

What is the difference between ducted and non ducted range hoods?

What Are Ducted Range Hoods? A ducted range hood must be connected to a duct with pipes that carry the airborne particles away from the kitchen to the outdoors. This is what differentiates it from a ductless range hood, which instead just recirculates through a filter and then back into the kitchen.

Can a ducted range hood be converted to ductless?

A convertible range hood is a range hood that can be converted from ducted to ductless. They are typically ducted hoods that can be converted to ductless using a recirculating kit. It vents the air coming through your range hood through charcoal filters and back into your home.

Where does a range hood vent to?

They can go through your cabinetry, ceiling, or straight through the wall behind the hood. The vent exhausts outside either to an exterior wall or the rooftop. Ducted range hoods are common in commercial kitchens, homes with gas stovetops, or higher-end homes.

Do range hoods need their own circuit?

Does a range hood need a dedicated circuit? No. A range hood can run on a circuit with more than one appliance. With a 15 to 20 amp breaker, you don’t want to put your range hood on the same circuit as an electric stove.

Where do you put a range hood outlet?

If you use a range hood that has additional electrical features like a microwave oven, then that hood needs an electrical outlet, which needs to be wired on a separate branch. The outlet should also be grounded. The best spot for an outlet is in the cabinets above or to the side of the range hood.

Can I vent a range hood into attic?

No, you should never vent your range hood into the attic. The excess buildup of grease and moisture in your attic will ruin it and over time may cause mold damage. Instead, vent your hood through an interior wall or through the ceiling all the way outside of your home.

Is it OK to vent bathroom into attic?

No, you cannot vent your bathroom exhaust fan into the attic. You should never exhaust the bathroom fan directly into the attic. It is almost always required by code that the exhaust fans vent on the outside of the home with no air leaks into the interior of the home.