The ABCs of Installing a Range Hood

The ABCs of installing a Range Hood

There are many appliances that are a must have for any given kitchen,and a range hood is one of them. It helps keep the odors, smoke and heat out of the kitchen while you cook and it helps to circulate fresh air into the kitchen too. Any cooking enthusiast would kill to have a high quality range hood in his or her kitchen. But not all homes come with a range hood already installed and even if it does then most of the times it is a worn out one that also needs to be replaced which itself is a complicated and risky task if not done in the proper way.

You really require just a few simple tools,and the basic know how to install a range hood in your very own kitchen. They are commonly available in various sizes with different configurations and strengths. So you would definitely have to have a glance at the manufacturers’ guide. Below are the basic guidelines that are sure to get you on your way to getting your kitchen all ready for cooking.

Choose the Right Range Hood – The range hood that you would choose would depend on how much you cook and how to set up your kitchen is. You can opt for chimney, island or wall mount hoods if you have clear space above your stove. Otherwise, you would have to go towards an undercabinet hood if you have your stove placed directly under some cabinets. These are simpler to install as they do not require a duct that leads to the outside of the house. Keep in mind that models that recirculate air rather than venting it outside might not be much effective here.

Follow the Safety Rules –Be sure to turn off the kitchen’s power and also lock the panel box in order to make sure that nobody else turns the electricity back on until you are all done. Be sure to make good use of safety gloves, goggles,and a mask while you are at it.

Check your Venting –Make sure that you have the required ductwork if you wish to go for a vented hood. Also, make sure that you have a range hood that matches it. The undercabinet hoods usually have ducting that goes through the above placed cabinets or through the wall at the back. If you wish to install a new venting for your range hood that you have to make sure that it does not end against a wall or in the attic above. In order to avoid potential fire hazards and also avoid the heat from building up, be sure that the vents, all, lead to the outside.

Remove the Older Hood –Shut off the power, open up the panel that is over the electrical wiring in your old hood and then disconnect all of the wires. For people that have an undercabinet hood, first, loosen up the screws that hold it to the cabinet above, be sure not to remove them completely. You should comfortably slide the undercabinet hood easily off the screws. After you have set the old hood aside, then afterward, remove the screws from the cabinets.

Be Sure the New Hood Fits Perfectly –The newly purchased hood should be about 20 to 30 inches above the stovetop’s surface depending on the kind of stove and hood. As compared to gas powered stoves, hoods can hang slightly lower over stoves that are electrical. For the best results, make sure that the hood covers the entire cooking area with a 3 inches overhang on all the four sides if it is possible.

Reconnect your New Range Hood –Through a small hole in the back of the hood, thread the wires from the wall while holding the new hood in place. There should be two white and two black wires coming from the hood and one white and one black wire coming from the wall. Connect the single black wire from the wall with the two black wires from the hood and do the same with the white wires using wire connectors. Tuck away the wires and then replace the cover of the panel and screw the hood in its place using the screws which have been recommended by the manufacturers. Then simply turn the power on and make sure that everything is running as it is meant to be.