Cooker hoods extract smoke using an internal fan and filter. They are usually sold together with the stove, but can also be bought separately. Although large appliances are normally installed by professionals, you can also install a cooker hood yourself with the appropriate tools. Follow the instructions if you want to install a cooker hood.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare to install the hood
Step 1. Remove your old hood, if there is one
Disconnect all the cables from the light system of the old hood by unscrewing all the clamps and separating the connectors. Then loosen the screws that hold the hood, while someone helps you holding it. Lift the hood slightly, place it on the ground and remove the screws.
Step 2. Buy a new hood
Make sure that the new hood is large enough to cover the hob and that there is a space of at least 60 cm between the hood and the hob. If you have the possibility, buy an extendable hood on each side of the hob (2.5 cm on each side).
- Buy a hood with the right cfm coefficient. The cfm coefficient indicates the amount of air that the fan is capable of sucking in, (clocation feet for minute / cubic meter per minute). To calculate the cfm needed for your kitchen, multiply the square meters of floor space by 2. A coefficient of 250 cfm is reasonable for a medium-sized kitchen, while 400 cfm is excellent.
- Make sure the airflow is directed towards the ventilation point. The airflow can pass through the cabinet above the hood or through the wall. If you buy a new hood and need to use the old ventilation pipe, make sure you can connect it easily. If, for example, if the old system passes through the cabinet above the hood and the ventilation pipe of the new one goes directly from the fan to the ventilation hole, you may have trouble connecting the pipe.
Step 3. Remove the hood cover and remove the fan and bottom filter
First remove the filters, then use a screwdriver to remove the bottom panels. Then, unscrew the hose connector, which is usually attached to the back of the panels, to prevent it from being damaged in transit. Finally, remove the perforated tube in the back of the hood. You can use a screwdriver or hammer for this, but be careful not to damage the metal parts.
Step 4. For safety, turn off the electricity from the main panel
Also make sure the switches on the old hood are in the "off" position.
Part 2 of 3: Prepare the vent for the hood
If you are replacing an old hood with a new one, you won't need to install a pipe or make a hole for the vent. But if you're installing a ventilation hood in a place where it wasn't, or if the recirculation system has been removed, a bit of a tedious job awaits you.
Step 1. Use the template (or instructions) supplied with the hood to mark the position of the vent on the wall or cabinet
Many cooker hoods come with the template. use a spirit level to mark exactly half of the wall. Then use the template, draw the shape and remove it from the wall. You are now ready to use the drill. Of course, the shape on the wall must perfectly match the shape of the hood vent.
If necessary, also make a hole for the electrical cables. If you are unfamiliar with this type of work, you can call an electrician to take care of it
Step 2. Make a hole for the vent
Use a drill or saw to drill through the drywall following the shape of the template. If there are no pipes or pipes inside the wall, consider lucky! If there are, you can solve the problem in several ways (explained below).
Step 3. Go around any obstacles
If, while making the opening for the drain hole, you find any pipes, it is necessary to change your strategy. Make a large rectangular hole in the wall so you can work freely. At this point, you will need to basically do three things:
- Divert the pipes so that the hole is completely free. If you are unfamiliar with plumbing work, it is best to call a professional to get help.
- Insert 3 support hooks at the bottom and top of the wall. These will serve as a support for the hole covering material.
- Apply the cover material covering the entire hole. Then, once dry, remove the material from the hole following the shape of your template. Follow the same steps outlined above.
Step 4. Install the ventilation tube so that the vent exits outside the apartment
Keep in mind that the vent cannot end inside the wall - the vent pipe must end outside the house.
Part 3 of 3: Install the hood
Step 1. Mark the location of the screw and cable holes
IF you have a template, now is the time to use it. If not, put the hood in the right position and have someone help you mark the location of the screw holes.
Step 2. Screw the brackets into the wall or cabinet above the hood
The placement of the support screws depends on the mounting site, i.e. whether you are mounting the hood directly on the wall or in a cabinet. Please note: If you mount the hood directly to the wall with support screws, make sure that these go deep into the wall; if you are mounting the hood inside a cabinet, only insert the screws halfway, so that the hood can rest on top of them for support.
- If you are mounting to the wall and there are, for example, tiles, you can use a hammer and a nail to drill small holes in them. This decreases the possibility of damaging the tile, which is more likely if you use the drill directly.
- If the cabinet panels are very thin, it may be necessary to use wooden slats to reinforce the support structure of the hood.
Step 3. Check the position of the hood
The vent must be perfectly aligned with the ventilation pipe. Check the alignment before finally tightening the screws.
Step 4. Connect the cables
Pull the cord from the wall to the inside of the hood. Both the fan and the lamp have two cables, one white and one black, which must be connected. If you are unfamiliar with wiring diagrams or have never done such a job, you can call an electrician for help.
- Connect the two black cables of the hood with the black cable of your system.
- Do the same with the white cables.
- Fix the ground cable, the green one, to the appropriate screw inside the hood.
Step 5. Replace the filters and attach any protective gaskets to the hood
Then put the hood cover back in place, tightening the screws firmly.
Step 6. Turn the power back on and check if the light and fan are working
If it is a ventilation hood, check that there is sufficient air flow through the ventilation duct.
Advice
To install the ventilation pipe, measure the size of the vent on the back of the hood and drill the drywall. Use a drill bit long enough to drill from side to side. Then cut the liner with a saw, remove the inner insulation, outside using a saw, remove interior insulation, and secure the vent duct head
Warnings
- Never install a hood without disconnecting the power.
- Always use a pair of protective goggles and a dust mask.
