Range hoods serve a helpful purpose in the kitchen by removing odors, smoke, carbon dioxide, grease, and other fumes. An externally vented range hood even removes some heat from the stove to the outside.
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A range hood vent can be installed in six relatively simple steps through a ceiling.
Planning the job and work needed.
Measuring the installation correctly.
Cutting the necessary holes.
Installing the range hood.
Installing the ducting.
Sealing the roof.
It may seem daunting to install a range hood through the ceiling of your home, but with careful planning and by following a structured process, a person with average DIY skills will be able to complete the installation.
Step By Step Guide To Fit A Range Hood Through The Ceiling
The following guide lists the steps needed to install a ducted range hood through the ceiling and outside the home.
It is not a strenuous exercise to install a range hood through the ceiling.
As long as you have suitable tools and are prepared to take a little time to ensure that you measure accurately, even someone with a moderate DIY skill level can accomplish it.
If you are still selecting a vented range hood, it is recommended that you choose one which slightly oversized (one with a higher CFM rating) and then run it at half speed. A fan with a higher CFM rating that you can run slower is quieter than a small fan running at full speed.
The steps needed to fit a range hood through the ceiling are follows.
Step 1 –Plan The Work Needed Install A Range Hood Vent
Spend time planning the project and ensure that.
Make sure that your source for electric power can handle the hood requirements. You need to have an electrician install a new circuit.
Ensure that any structural features do not block the route you intend the ducting to follow.
Ensure that the roofing material on the house is suitable for the external venting which needs to be installed.
Ensure you have access to the tools and supplies you need.
Step 2 – Measure The Range Hood Installation
Don’t make any cuts in the ceiling or roof before you have taken delivery of the range hood.
Each manufacturer has its installation instructions and dimensions of the vent pipe (ceiling) and vent weather cap (through the roof) for the size fan.
Remove the fan from the range hood and the filter, light housing, and electrical housing.
Find out how the electrical wiring is routed out of the hood, and if necessary, find the knockout that corresponds to the direction the wiring needs to follow.
If the hood is to be installed against a wall, hold it up in the proposed mounting position and outline the location of the duct with a pencil.
With someone helping you, hold the hood in its final position, measure the points where the brackets fit, and attach these to the walls.
Step 3 – Cut All The Necessary Holes For The Range Hood
Drill a holes into each corner of the outline, and using a reciprocating saw, cut from hole to hole until there is a large enough space to fit the ducting.
Drill any holes required for the electrical connection and pull the cable through.
If your home has an attic space, carefully measure the distance between the hole you have cut in the ceiling and the roof.
Following the line for the proposed ducting, mark location of the hole on the inside of the roof, which corresponds to your ducting.
Start to cut the first hole. If your home’s roof is covered in tiles or metal, or it is a flat roof, get a professional roofer. This expert will have the necessary specialized tools to undertake this part of the installation.
The external roof has to be cut and sealed from the elements, and a roofing contractor will have the necessary skillset.
Step4 – Install The Range Hood
With the holes drilled and the ducting installed, it is time to finish the physical installation of the range hood in the kitchen.
As necessary, attach the supplied cable clamp in the knockout hole which you made in the range hood.
With someone helping you hold the hood in its final position, line the hood up with the mounting brackets and attach it to the wall with the supplied screw.
Regularly check that the installation is level, feed the electrical cable through the clamp, and screw the hood onto the wall.
Step 5 – Install A Range Hood Vent Ducting Through Ceiling
If there is ducting in the kitchen, erect the components above the fitted range hood, ensuring it protrudes through the hole you have made in the ceiling/attic floor. Attach ductwork to the ceiling cap, supplied with the range hood accessories.
In the loft or attic space, erect the ducting and ensure that it can reach the hole in the roof.
Using masking or HVAC tape, comprehensively seal all of the joints.
It is also necessary to attach the ducting to a secure point at each join.
Be careful that the damper in the hood moves freely and is not obstructed by a poor fit with the ducting.
Assuming the hole in the roof is round, the ducting will have to be converted from a square or rectangular shape into a round pipe. These could be purchased if a converter was not supplied with the range hood packaging.
Step 6 – Seal The Roof And Range Hood Ducting
With the ducting protruding through the roof, insert the vent cap into the hole and attach it to the ducting. Carefully seal between the edges of the vent cap and the roofing material using caulking or waterproof materials to make it watertight.
What Type Of Range Hoods Are Available?
There are three categories of range hoods.
-Ducted or Vented Range Hoods.
-Ductless or Recirculated Range Hoods.
-Convertible Range Hoods.
-Ducted Or Vented Range Hoods
Ducted range hoods are the main topic of discussion in the article because this is the model which needs to be installed through the ceiling.
Ducted vent hoods comprise a range hood, lights, fan, and a ducting system.
Unlike ductless vent hoods, the smoke, grease, steam, odors, carbon monoxide, and other gases are filtered through the grease filters and then vented outside the house.
While this type of hood requires more installation, it is the most efficient venting out of the kitchen and needs far less maintenance than a ductless system.
Ductless Or Recirculated Range Hoods
As the name implies, ductless or recirculating range hoods do not vent the smoke and gasses outside but instead push the air through efficient filters, which remove the odors and smoke and then recirculate it back into the kitchen.
While ductless range hoods are easier to install and require no modifications to the home, they need to be maintained and require a constant change of their filters (at least every four months).
Convertible Range Hoods
Convertible range hoods straddle both of the other types in that they can be installed as either a ducted or ductless system.
Conclusion
Externally vented range hoods are the most efficient way of extracting odors, and for some, for the kitchen stove, however, an installation process is required.
Apart from the actual holes to be made in the outer roofing material, a person with an average DIY skillset should be able to complete the task.
