Category Archives: Kitchen Remodeling

Ventilation Fan Removal Steps

1. Go to the main circuit breaker and switch off the power to the kitchen. For the sake of safety, it is vitally important you do this before attempting anything else!
2. Use a neon tester to ensure the power is out. Touch a single lead of the tester to a screw on an electrical outlet located in the kitchen and then touch the other lead to the larger slot on the outlet. As long as the neon tester does not light up, the power is turned off.
3. Look at the range hood and remove the metal grease filters. The filters are usually held in position with clips or they slide out. When filters lack clips, push the filter straight up and then slide it over to one side in order your fingers can make a space so they can fit. Then reach up into the space and pull the filter down and tilt it out of the hood.
4. Using a finger, carefully rotate the fan blades locating the electrical wires of the ventilation fan. The wires are probably attached to terminal screws located on the range hood. Wire nuts lead to the terminal screws. Loosen the screws utilizing a flat blade screwdriver and the remove them having unhooked the wires.
5. Ensure the fan cord is unplugged if it remains directly plugged into an outlet or if it is plastic wire connector in a rectangular shape. When wire nuts are connecting the wires, unscrew the wire nuts to remove the wires. Where terminal screws are attached to the wires use the same flat bladed screwdriver and unhook the wires to remove them.
6. Pull the shield off the range hood having first remove the screws on the fan motor shield and housing.

Items Required

• Flat blade screwdriver
• Neon tester

Hints And Tips

• You may be able to reuse the screws from the stove ventilation fan so it may be worth saving them. If the fan is being removed to be cleaned professionally, use masking tape and place the screws on there, ensuring they will be kept in one place.
• Make sure you use a sturdy footstool when you remove the stove ventilation fan so you have firm support.

Options

Because an island cooktop sits in the middle of the kitchen, venting it with an overhead range hood is more challenging than installing a hood over a cooktop that sits against a wall. Free-hanging hoods are typically much more costly than wall-mounted hoods — a wall-mounted hood can usually be installed for less than $1,000, while a free-hanging hood may cost well over $10,000. A less expensive option is a downdraft vent that pulls the cooktop’s exhaust down into the island cabinet rather than venting through the ceiling.

Requirements

The minimum amount of ventilation airflow required by a gas cooktop varies depending on the BTU output of the cooktop. A general guideline is to divide the total BTU output by 100 to determine the flow rate of the ventilation system in cubic feet per minute. For example, a cooktop with an output of 70,000 BTU would require a ventilation system rated at 700 cubic feet per minute. Electric cooktops require 200 cubic feet per minute of airflow for each foot of the cooktop’s width; for most electric cooktops, 400 cubic feet per minute does the job.

Ducting

Local building codes may require that cooktop hoods deliver their exhaust outside the house through ducts rather than simply recirculating the exhaust back into the kitchen. Codes may also specify the materials used to construct the duct work. Typical specified materials include stainless steel, galvanized steel or copper. Always check with your local building authority to find out the requirements in your area before you install a cooktop or ventilation system.

The Design of Your Kitchen

The layout of your kitchen plays big factor in how much space you have to work with and how best to install your range hood. Plus, there are many different types of range hoods to choose from. A good rule is to aim to mount the hood around 24-30 inches above the range.

Depending on your kitchen’s configuration, vent hoods can be wall mounted, integrated into your cabinets, or hung from the ceiling over an island range. There are even telescoping hoods that can be expanded when in use or retracted and concealed when they are not. Another option is a downdraft kitchen hood, that comes up from the back of the range.

Kitchen Hood Exhaust Systems

A ducted exhaust system uses ducts to push air away and out of the home. “Out” being the key. What this means is you can’t vent into another area of your home like an attic. If you have a ducted system, you can probably guess that it’s best to mount the hood to an exterior wall. That way, the ducting is more efficient and there is not much of it. The further away you get from an exterior wall, the more complex and costly the ducting and hood installation will be.

With a duct-free exhaust system, the air is filtered, cleaned and then returned into the kitchen rather than being pushed outside. These systems are typically less efficient than ducted systems, and they need more maintenance with regular cleanings and filter replacement.

Kitchen Range Hood Fan Power

The size of the kitchen will determine how powerful the exhaust hood fan needs to be to clear the air and help impede cooking odors. To find out what your needs are, multiply your kitchen ceilings height by the length and width of the room. This will determine the volume of your kitchen.

Kitchen Ceiling Height X Width of the Room = Volume of the Kitchen

Realistically, you should decide on a range hood that can replace or clean the air in that space no less than 8 times an hour.

Styles of Kitchen Range Hoods

Obviously, you will want a vent hood that coordinates with the style and look of your kitchen and speaks of your personal taste. So, you will want to consider the different finishes available and the maintenance involved to keep them looking clean. Different things like, a shiny or brushed finish, the material choice, like stainless steel, copper or brass, etc. You’ll also want to bear in mind the general look, meaning if it’s traditional or modern for example, or if it fits perfectly with your home’s overall architectural style. Finally, you may want to think about how flawlessly you want it to be incorporated into your kitchen. If you’re looking to make a daring statement, you may want to choose something that distinguishes itself from the rest of your décor and pick a striking color or eye-catching placement.

Range Hood Noise Volume

You could decide on an incredibly powerful oven hood, but if it sounds like a small airplane taking off, it’s usually not worth it. Instead, professional recommend choosing one that works by drawing air towards the edges or of the hood instead of moving it over a large area. Not only does it make the hood more efficient, it also helps keep the noise level down.

Kitchen Range Hood Cost Considerations

Just like almost anything else you buy for your home cost can vary largely. Size, power, materials and special hood additions such as automatic shut off, heat sensors, and built-in lighting will all influence the cost of the range hood. Also, don’t overlook range hood installation costs. This may be a job best left to the professionals. Just remember that the labor and materials, can quickly add up, and possibly cost more than the cost of the range hood itself.

Do You Have A Lacquer Finish?

In this article we are going to talk about three ways to clean a copper range hood. However, stop reading right now, if you have a lacquered finish and consult the manufacturer to make a determination of the recommended cleaning technique.

Using Bar Keepers Friend Copper Cleaner

Bar Keepers Friend is as well known copper cleaner and you can use it in the following way with some soft cloths:

1. Wipe the hood with a damp cloth so it becomes moistened.
2. Sprinkle any non-vertical surfaces with copper cleaner.
3. Gently rub the cleaner over the hood, ensuring all surfaces are covered with the moist paste you have created
4. Allow it to sit for a few minutes or as directed on the product label.
5. Use a clean cloth to clean the copper. Repeat this process until all cleaner has been removed fro mthe range hood.
6. Finish by polishing the copper range hood to a bright shine with a clean soft cloth.

Here is what you will need:

• Dish soap
• Sponge
• Copper polish
• Flannel cloth

Cleaning Method

1. Use a wet sponge and some hot water with three drops of dish soap. Use the sponge to wipe the range hood and leave the soap on the surface for 12 minutes so the grease is loosened.
2. Take soapy sponge and rub the copper, adding and rinsing with more soap as required. Rinse the range hood with a clean, wet sponge and dry it with a towel to prepare for polishing.
3. Take a small amount of copper polish to the flannel cloth. The copper neecds to be covereed wit ha thin layer of polish and allowed to dry.
4. Using small circular like motions, rub the range hood so there is no residue from the polish remaining.

Size

With a canopy range hood, the range hood you choose should match the width of your cooktop. next, measure the space above the cooktop. It is really improtant you measure and take a note of all the dimensions before you make your purchase a you want to ensure the canopy range hood will fit in the available space.

Ducts

By the means of a metal duct via the ceiling or a wall, a ducted range hood will direct the air from your kitchen. By far this is the best way to clear the air. But it may not always be possible unless you utilize the services of a building contractor who may have to knock out a hole in the ceiling or roof to install the ducting pipe.

Recirculation

By filtering impurities from the air recirculating range hoods recirculate the now clean air back into the area of your kitchen by utilizing carbon fibers but need to be repalced from time to time. One advantage this style of range hood has is there is no need for the installation of a duct pipe through the ceiling or wall. The downside to this is the effectiveness of the range hood is somewhat reduced.

Extraction

The ability of a range hood to draw in air is known as its extraction rate. Obviously models that vent in larger amounts of air will therefore have a higher extraction rate and this means they will be highly effective pieces of equipment. This rate is measure using what is known as cubic meters per hour. The bigger your kitchen, the better is it to find a range hood with a higher rated extraction rate so odors and smoke from cooking are best minimized from traveling through your home. If you are in to cooking, a range hood with an extraction rate of around 700m3/h would be ideal.

Filters

Ducted rangehoods will usually feature aluminium filters, which need to be cleaned regularly so look for a model with dishwasher-safe filters. Some range hoods will have a buuilt in filter indicatoe, showing when is the correct time to change the filter.

Not Having A Range Hood With An Induction Cooktop

• Induction cooktops produce less heat and one of its great advantages is less ambient heat is produced than with conventional electric and gas ranges. So a hood is not mandatory, so to speak with an induction cooktop.
• Induction cooktops also do not produce toxic fumes like carbon minoxide produced by gas cooking. So it may be said a range hood is not as needed with induction cooktops as for a gas rangetop.
• If you are not used to the range hood, you may not really see the need for it as you have not been exposed to the benefits of there being one.
• Many people dislike the noise of the exhaust hoods and they rarely use it. But a good hood does produce some noise and if ambient noise perturbs you, a range hood may not be ideal for your situation.

Having A Range Hood With An Induction Cooktop

• If you have a style of cooking that produces odors and grease, when you lack a hood you will the effects will remain in your kitchen. A hood will certainly help keep your kitchen in a clean order and will have a huge impacr on reducing the smell of cooking.
• A range hood also makes the kitchen a safer environment. Cooking grease is concentrated over the etove top and removes it by pulling it from the kitchen. And this reduces the chances of fires as well as the spread of germs.
• A range hood can greatly increase indoor air quality by reducing gases like carbon dioxide, carbon minoxide and nitrogen oxide. This is especially the case with gas cooktops but also applies to a lesser degree of cooktop types.
• Some area building coes require ventilation for cooking. Sometimes as per codes, it may be as simple an access to an open window or it may mean a fully ducted range hood is required.