How to Install a Kitchen Hood

A kitchen with a hood.
  • 4-12 hours
  • Beginner
  • 200-500
What You'll Need
Range vent hood
Pencil
Metal ducting
Reciprocating saw
Screws
Cable connector
Wire nuts
Insulated pliers
Safety glasses
Roofing tar
Drill
Duct tape
What You'll Need
Range vent hood
Pencil
Metal ducting
Reciprocating saw
Screws
Cable connector
Wire nuts
Insulated pliers
Safety glasses
Roofing tar
Drill
Duct tape

Installing a kitchen hood is a great way to get rid of fumes and smells while cooking. In addition to this useful functionality, the range hood vent will add decor to your kitchen. You can easily buy a range vent hood from any of the appliance retail outlets. Though you can buy a hood of any of the available styles, the installation process for all of them is the same.

Step 1 - Lay out the Duct

The first decision that you need to take is choosing whether to route the exhaust through the roof or wall. Obviously, if you live in a brick veneer home, you don’t have any choice other than to use the roof.

Step 2 - Purchase the Duct

Once the duct plan is laid out, purchase the ducting to match the route. As most vent hoods use a square duct at the top, and most duct for purchase is round, be sure to get an adapter for the transition.

Step 3 - Empty the Hood for Installation

From the range hood, remove the fan and light assemblies and filter. Also remove the vent knockout and the electrical cable.

Step 4 - Mark Knockout Location

Hold the hood over your stove in the position you intend to install it. Mark the location of the knockout with a pencil so you know where to cut the cabinet to pass the duct through.

Step 5 - Cut Hole

Cut out a hole for the ventilation duct in the inside of the cabinet. Repeat through the top of the cabinet and ceiling or wall until you reach the outside.

Step 6 - Install the Duct

Install the duct by placing the pieces together, linking the holes in the cabinet to holes in the wall/roof. Following this, tape the pieces together.

Step 7 - Use Adapters

For most of the hoods, square ducting runs from them to the round ducting which is used for fitting vent roles in roofs or walls. To enable this adaptation, you will need to use the adapter.

Step 8 - Connect Wires

Connect the white wire from the hood to the white wire on the wall. Similarly, connect the black wire of the hood to the black wire on the wall.

Step 9 - Ground the Hood

For safety, it is important to ground the hood. Wrap the green wire on the wall around the screw (ground) on the exhaust hood. Tighten the screw to secure the connection.

Step 10 - Cable Clamp

Fix a cable clamp on the wires at the place where they meet the exhaust hood assembly. Tighten them using a Phillips screwdriver. Push the wire to the access compartment.

Step 11 - Test the Hood

Install back the light and fan assemblies and also the filter and secure all electrical connections. Switch on the power to the hood to test it is working.

Step 12 - Seal the Flange

Use roofing tar or caulk to seal the vent pipe flange. Do not forget to slip the flange under the shingles of the upper roof before you begin to seal.