Range hood FAQ

How can I clean the grease from my vent hood?

You can use standard household cleaners and degreasers on your vent hood.

Do all hoods vent to the outside?

No. Many vent hoods simply circulate the air within the room. Many building codes accepted this for a long time. Now many municipalities require outdoor venting systems, which are far more desirable than circulating systems.

Should my vent hood quickly clear smoke from the room?

No. Your vent hood is designed to carry away normal cooking odors and smoke produced while cooking. It's not well suited to clearing smoke from an entire room. If the room is filled with smoke, open a window.

When should I turn on my vent?

If you have the type of vent that's beneath a built-in microwave oven, follow the manufacturer's guidelines (in the owner's guide). Otherwise, it isn't ever really necessary to turn on your vent. Just turn it on whenever you want to keep cooking odors from permeating the room or house.

If I have a fire on my stove, should I turn the vent on or off?

OFF! Extinguish the fire as quickly as possible and, if you can, also turn off the vent fan. The fan could draw the flames up into the ductwork and create a greater fire hazard.

Do vent hoods get clogged?

Occasionally. Check the grease trap filters often, and clean them as necessary. Also, if the unit vents to the outside, check the vent on the outside of the house to be sure there's nothing obstructing the air flow.

Can a fire start in my vent?

YES! Over time, vent ducting systems can become coated with grease, which could catch fire if it's exposed to an open flame or other heat source. When there's grease coating the duct work, get it cleaned professionally.

Do "down-draft" venting systems work as well as the standard kind?

Some work quite well, others don't. In general, any ventilation system should be adequate for the typical needs of a household. However, during heavy cooking--when you're using several burners simultaneously, or when you're cooking in tall pots--the over-the-stovetop vent systems work best.

My vent doesn't seem to work well. How can I test it?

Here's how to test your vent:

1. Turn the stove burners off.
2. Cut an 8" x 8" square of newspaper.
3. Turn on the vent fan and hold the newspaper square over the vent filter.

If the vent holds the newspaper in place, it's probably working properly. Otherwise, it may be clogged--or the ductwork to the outside may be too long, which can cause poor venting performance.

Why won't my vent work on low (high)?

Most vent fans have a multi-speed motor. When you select High, Low, Medium, and so on, power goes to different parts of the fan motor. A problem with speed selection can be the fault of either the selector switch itself or the motor.