Your range hood is a powerful tool that keeps the air in your kitchen clean and healthy. It extracts smoke, odors, and residue from your backsplash tile and countertops to free the air in your home of pollutants. HVAC contractors have the knowledge and expertise to install a range hood correctly. General appliance installers need more specialized skills.
Enhanced Cooking Experience
A range hood filters airborne grease before settling on cabinets and countertops, making for a much easier clean-up experience. It also allows you to try new recipes and cooking styles without worrying about lingering odors throughout your home. Ventilation is essential for any kitchen, especially in open-concept homes, as cooking fumes can travel far and wide. Range hoods ensure that the air in your kitchen is fresh and clean to breathe by pulling impurities like smoke, grease, and chemicals from the air and exhausting them through a wall or roof vent. A proper range hood installation Washington, DC, involves laying a ducting network and running electrical wiring to a ceiling or wall-mounted vent cap. Having an HVAC contractor perform this work will ensure it is done correctly and safely.
Cleaner Air
While picking a range hood is primarily a functional decision, it’s also an extensive style choice. From front-and-center utilitarian stainless steel to an insert camouflaged behind cabinetry or an artisan-crafted copper chimney, there are many looks to choose from. Before starting any work:
- Turn off the power to the circuit supporting your range hood for safety, and double-check that you have all the parts and tools needed.
- Set the old range hood aside in a garage or shed for now.
- When installing a new range hood, ensure the vent hole is centered on your stove and hood.
Channeling dirty air into your attic can cause severe issues with moisture and mold. A licensed HVAC contractor can help you fix this problem.
Less Mess
Besides cleaning up your cooking area, range hoods can help you reduce the unsightly and crusty food mess that builds up on backsplash tile or counters. A sound range hood installation helps direct all the smoke, vapors, grease, and oil into the filters and ductwork. The right supplies are essential before starting your range hood installation project. To start, turn off the power to your kitchen breaker box for safety reasons. If you’re planning to vent your hood through a wall or roof, use the manufacturer’s template and a laser level to mark the location of the vent cutout. It would be best to consider the minimum CFM required for proper ventilation (as well as ductwork) according to your local and state regulations.
Increased Energy Efficiency
It may require a permit if you’re installing a venting range hood where none existed before or upgrading from a recirculating model. Check with your local permitting department for specific requirements. The homeowner or contractor may be subject to fines and liability if a building code violation is found. Range hoods not vented to the outside are particularly dangerous and can cause fires, damage property and cause injury or death to the home’s occupants. Complying with building codes is also an excellent way to increase property value. Potential homebuyers are increasingly looking for healthy, efficient homes; proper ventilation is essential to meet these criteria. In addition, many homebuyers will only purchase a property that complies with all applicable building codes.
Increased Home Value
A range hood is a modern appliance that will boost your home’s value and make it more desirable to prospective buyers. In addition to venting smoke and grease into the air, they help prevent odors from permeating the entire house and are an attractive design feature. Vent hoods can be installed in wall cabinets above the cooktop or as an island hoods. They also come in various finishes and designs, so you’ll find one to match your kitchen. You can install a vent hood with the proper tools, complete installation instructions for your model, and feel comfortable working with electrical wiring. However, a professional is recommended if the ventilation requires rerouting ductwork or moving plumbing.
