Kitchen Exhaust Hoods: Chapter 1
Installation
By the end of this module, you should be able to do the installation of an exhaust hood. Skip to quiz!
Introduction
No home is complete without a kitchen. A kitchen is perhaps the most important place in the house. It is where some of the tasty meals are made and memories created.
We all want our kitchen to be well fitted and to have all the necessary components in place and fully functional. As we prepare food in the kitchen, there is a need for proper ventilation since the cooking produces smoke and steam.
In the past, people cooked food under long chimneys. These chimneys ensure ventilation by providing an outlet for smoke, grease, and hot air.
These days buildings have become air-tight, and kitchens are reduced in size. It would be difficult and would not be a good idea to install chimneys.
Studies have shown that cooking without proper ventilation will decrease indoor air quality. Poor air inside the house directly affects our health. That’s why the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises people to install an exhaust hood over the stove.
Installation
Installation of an exhaust hood should only be done by qualified technicians.
Before installing an exhaust hood, unplug the stove and move it away if possible. Otherwise, cover the stove with a blanket to protect it from damage and dirt.
Some of the tools required for the installation of an exhaust hood:
Pencil or marker,
Utility knife,
Measuring tape,
Level,
Drill, and
Philips screwdriver.
Unpack the exhaust hood and inspect to ensure all the parts are included. Also, check if there is any damage to the parts.
The installation manual provides instructions or guidelines on installing an appliance and serves as a reference book for the activity. We have to refer installation manual before proceeding with the installation.
Before the installation, we have to measure the height of the stove. The height should not be too high or too low. High height will affect the efficiency, and low height will damage the parts of an exhaust hood due to the high temperature of the stove.
The height between the stove and exhaust hood should be
a minimum of 27 inches and
a maximum of 30 inches.
Exhaust hood installation involves drilling a new hole through the wall and installing ductwork. We have to choose the ductwork path with minimum bends.
During duct installation, it is better to choose the shortest and most direct path to the outside of the house. It is better to avoid the use of bends in the ducting.
Mark the center line and desired height on the wall with a marker. Then, align the provided template with markings on the wall and drill the holes. Attach the screws in the holes, leaving a quarter-inch gap.
Place the exhaust hood on the upper mounting screws, check the level, and tighten the screws. Attach ductwork to the hood opening and make sure that there are no holes. Finally, connect the electrical wiring and inspect the working of the exhaust hood.
Before installing an exhaust hood, it is better to unplug the stove and move it away if possible. The steps involved in installing an exhaust hood are:
Unpacking,
Clearance,
Duct installation, and
Hood installation.
Question #1: Exhaust hoods are installed ______ the stove in the kitchen.
above
below
side
in
Scroll down for the answer...
Answer: above
Exhaust hoods are installed above the stoves in the kitchen.
Question #2: Which of the following provides instructions on installing an appliance?
Installation manual
Product description
Bill paper
Scroll down for the answer...
Answer: Installation manual
The installation manual provides instructions on how to install an appliance.
Question #3: Arrange the following steps in a sequence to install an exhaust hood?
Place the exhaust hood in position
Install ductwork
Fasten the exhaust hood
Determine the duct route
Scroll down for the answer...
Answer: Determine the duct route,
Install the ductwork,
Place the exhaust hood in position, and
Fasten the exhaust hood.
Steps for installing an exhaust hood:
1. Determine the duct route,
2. Install the ductwork,
3. Place the exhaust hood in position, and
4. Fasten the exhaust hood.