How to Install a Vented Range Hood
Recirculating range hoods work well, but they get easily overwhelmed by a really smoky dinner. A vented range hood is one of the most useful improvements you can make to your kitchen; it not only adds a high-end look but also keeps your kitchen smoke-free and clean. Learn how to install a vented range hood in this Lowe’s video:
In this video, the vented range hood will be installed directly through a back wall. This project requires cutting into your exterior wall, so if you’re uncomfortable doing this yourself, you should consult a professional.
Choosing the correct range hood is an important step. There are many styles to choose from. Things like lighting and fan speed all come into play. Most importantly, you want to check the width of your range. Make sure you’re getting a range hood that either meets or exceeds the width of your current range.
The next thing to consider is air movement. Most models are measured by CFM (cubic feet per minute). This tells you how much air you’ll take from the inside and move to the outside. As a general rule of thumb, you’ll want to take the square footage of your kitchen and double that, and that will give you the CFM you’re looking for.
When it comes to venting the hood, you can go through the ceiling and out through the roof or go through an outside wall. It’s usually better to go through the outside wall because there’s less to waterproof. Going through the roof means you need a boot to make sure no water gets in. Also, when going through the ceiling, make sure you go all the way out to clear air through the roof and not vent it directly at the attic. With the outside wall, you want to make sure you’re not going into a soffit or any other obstruction.
The next step is to measure the range hood. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific range hood. You need to figure out exactly where that vent comes out, so then you can mark it on the wall and cut it out. But before you cut the bigger hole, cut a smaller hole to see what’s behind the wall. Hopefully there’s no plumbing or electrical lines back there. If there are, you’ll have to consult a professional. If all is OK, cut the larger hole.
Once the hole is cut, if you see that you have a straight shot cleared through to the outside, that means you don’t have to make any structural changes. Cut a larger hole to give yourself room to work on the vent itself and run the electric to where the power is located. Using the larger piece you cut out as a template, you can use an extra long drill bit to drill through to the outside at all four corners. Then go outside, trace those four corners and cut through for the vent pipe. If your cap sits flat on the siding, you can create a clean seal around the edges with some caulking and screws. If your cap spans multiple rows of lap siding, you may want to cut a square of siding out and place a piece of PVC or wood in that spot to give your cap a flat surface to adhere to.
Once the vent cap is in place, you can see that it has its exterior damper built in, and you can pack some of the insulation back around it. Next, grab the interior damper that comes with the hood vent. Size it up and determine how much space you need to duct. Cut a little piece of ducting, put it in place, and then you’re ready to install the hood vent.
Run the electrical line from where it comes out of the range hood over into the electrical box (NOTE: always turn off power at the breaker box before wiring).
Take the motor housing out so you can get to the duct work in the back of the unit. Once done, take the damper ant install it into the back of the range hood. Make sure the damper is in the right direction. Tape the seams to hold everything together and make it all airtight.
Before you put everything back together, you might want to get a friend to help you out. Take the hood, sit it in place, and then mark the holes so you’ll know exactly where it goes in. You may need to put your hands back and find out where the duct work goes through so you can get it to sit right back against the wall. Make sure you’ve got it centered in the location, then go ahead and mark your marks. Take the hood back down, put the screws in, and then you’re ready for the final installation.
Make sure the centers are lined up, and then tighten the screws down. Clip the wire to size, put everything back together, put the fan motor back in, and put the filters in place.
