A question that we receive from most people is one regarding how to vent a range hood. The truth is that range hoods are very important and every home with a kitchen must have one. Apart from making your kitchen look stylish, venting a range hood can also be important in making your kitchen smoke free. Remember, when you cook, chances are high that fats, vapors and some types of grease are released. You do not want all these to gather in your kitchen, as they can be health hazardous.
In this article, we’ll provide you with some tips on how to vent a range hood properly for a nice, spacious and clean kitchen.
What you will require
Your success in venting a range hood will hugely depend on your ability to gather all the right tools and materials for the job. Here is a list of what you will require:
- Enough amount of 10” duct
- Protective gears
- Roof vent
- Tool kit
It is important to note that there are two types of venting a range hood. One, you can choose to vent a range hood through the roof and two; you can vent it through the outside wall.
Venting through the Roof
We recommend that you take the following steps when venting your range hood through the roof:
- Identify the location
In our experience, saying that you want to vent your range hood through the roof alone is not enough. You have to figure out the exact location. We recommend that you choose a location between the rafters and 3 feet away from any other roof protrusion such as chimneys and skylights.
- Mark a hole and drill
Once you have identified your ideal location, mark it then drill a hole. Make sure that you drill the hole from the inside of the attic and between two rafters. With the hole in place, you need to measure the size of your vent and make an adequately sized opening. Most roof vents are either circular or square shaped so size accordingly.
- Removing the shingles
After cutting the hole, the next step is to find and remove the roofing shingles from either sides of the roof’s opening. This is in preparation for the actual venting process.
- Proceed to installation
We have been in the business for a long enough to know that you might need a hand at this stage. Ask someone to help you install the vent through the opening made in the above steps. Use the shingles that you removed in step 3 above, flash your vent both on its upper and lower sides. Proceed to connecting the accordion duct to your roof vent. This will prevent any leakages in case it rains. Seal it tightly and test your range hood to see if it is working properly.
How to vent your range hood through the outside wall
Once you are familiar with venting your range hood through the roof, you will not have any difficulty doing it through the wall instead. The steps to take are almost the same only that in venting through the outside wall, you will need a smaller vent of about 4” wide.
- Get the mounting box
The first step is to get a mounting box of around 12 by 18”. Depending on the size of your ductwork cut in a circular hole in the mounting box. Use long flat-head screws to attach your vent together with the mounting box. The screws should be about 2-3” apart.
- Install your vent
After applying some clear exterior caulk (that acts as a seal), the next step is to trim the flange on your vent range hood for perfect mounting. Install your vent and use the duct to secure it.
Conclusion
Venting your range hood is not as hard and you do not need to acquire a technician for that. From our experience, following the methods above will help you realize your dreams of a perfect kitchen. However, it is important to have all your tools in place adhere to the safety measures. Once you’ve successfully installed your hood don’t forget to regularly clean your range hood.
I hope that this article has been useful to you. Kindly leave your comments in the section below and I will be sure to go through them. We value your feedback as we strive to provide you with quality and helpful information.
You made the task look easy! Keep sharing and keep helping!
was wondering what downdraft hoods were all about… Finally someone that says they aren’t the best option. There was no clear cut information anywhere out there, at least not where I was looking. Glad to have found this page. Thanks a lot.