How to Buy a Kitchen Fan

The kitchen is usually the hottest room in a home. Due to the heat generated by stovetops, ovens and toasters, most kitchens are equipped with exhaust fans. These small, but powerful, fans are usually located inside a hood just above a stovetop. Hot air is sucked inside the fan and expelled from the home through a system of air ducts. Due to the strain kitchen fans endure throughout the years, it's possible that you'll have to buy a new fan to replace an older one.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Basic carpentry tools
• Tape measure

1. Turn off the power in your kitchen. Do this at the circuit breaker. This will eliminate the risk of accidental electrocution while you examine your old kitchen exhaust fan.

2. Remove your old kitchen exhaust fan from the range hood. Disconnect the wiring.

3. Measure the size of the space your range's hood allows for a kitchen fan. Make notes of both the length and width. In addition, make sure to measure the size of your air duct opening, as you might have to buy additional hardware to connect your new kitchen fan.

4. Estimate the number of hours per week you'll be using your kitchen fan. Some people cook daily, while others rarely turn on their ovens. The amount of strain you'll be putting on your kitchen fan will affect which kind you should buy.

5. Decide whether you'll need any special features on your kitchen fan. Advanced fans will run at multiple speeds or include lighting systems.

6. Create a budget for your new exhaust fan. There's a wide range of kitchen fans at different prices.

7. Visit your local hardware store to peruse the selection of kitchen exhaust fans. Bring your old fan with you, along with your measurement and figures so that a trained sales professional can get a clear idea of your needs.

8. Consult home improvement websites for more tips and warnings on installing a kitchen exhaust fan system. Sites like Ask The Builder can be a great source of information and may be less expensive than hiring an electrician for those who are handy with tools (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• While purchasing a new kitchen exhaust fan, you should also take the time to invest in some new insulation for the air ducts. If your air ducts aren't insulated properly, they can allow moisture to collect and leak into your home's structure. The cost of replacing water damage far exceeds the cost of investing in new duct insulation.
• Before you buy a new kitchen fan, check to see whether your old one is really broken. It might just be clogged with grease from years of cooking. By cleaning your kitchen fan, you might eliminate the need to buy a new one.

Resources

• Kitchen fan tips from AskTheBuilder.com

[Greenfan]

on 4/8/2009 Vornado just came out with a fan that mounts under your cabinet and folds up and out of sight when not in use. I think this is a great way to add circulation to your kitchen- for less than $40 bucks! Looks like it would work with any kitchen too- new or existing. http://www.vornado.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ISC_Category=V103/ProductDetail.aspx?ISC_Category=V103