How to Install Kitchen Exhaust Hoods
A kitchen exhaust hood is mounted above the cook top or range and prevents cooking fumes, grease and steam from circulating through the rest of your home. The hood sucks up the air above the range through a metal screen and charcoal filter, and clean air is expelled back into the kitchen. Modern exhaust hoods are quieter and more efficient than older models and can be installed with regular tools in less than half a day. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- ¼-inch nut driver
- Flat blade screwdriver
- 4 1-inch wood screws
- Electric drill
- Phillips head drill attachment
- Electrical tape
- Cable clamp
Instructions
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1
Remove the range hood wiring access panel by turning the holding screw in a counterclockwise direction with a ¼-inch nut driver. Set the cover and screw aside as they will be used later. Remove the knock-out plug on the range hood by prying it out with the edge of a flat blade screwdriver. Discard the plug.
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2
Have a helper hold the range hood into position against the upper cabinet. Feed the electric wires from the wall through the hole in the hood created by removing the knock-out plug. Screw the hood into place using 1-inch long wood screws driven through the pre-drilled holes in the hood and into the cabinet. Run the screws in with an electric drill with a Phillips head attachment in a clockwise direction.
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3
Attach the electrical wiring using the wire nuts provided with the range hood. Twist the white wire from the wall to the white wire from the hood with your fingers. Run a wire nut on the twisted bare wires in a clockwise direction by hand. Cover the connection wire with a couple wraps of black electrical tape. Repeat this procedure for the black wires from the wall and range hood.
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4
Wrap the bare ground wire from the wall around the green grounding screw on the range hood. Tighten the screw with a ¼-inch nut driver in a clockwise direction. Install a cable clamp around the wires where they come into the hood assembly. Tighten the clamp with a Phillips head screwdriver in a clockwise direction.
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5
Tuck the wiring into the range hood wiring access compartment. Replace the access panel and tighten the holding screw with a ¼-inch nut driver in a clockwise direction.
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Tips & Warnings
Before beginning, make sure the wiring for your range hood protrudes at least 1 foot from the wall. Have an electrician complete this task if needed.
If the mounting area for the hood is recessed, install mounting blocks on the underside of the cabinet so the range hood will have a flat attachment area.
Make sure the current is turned off to the wiring for the range hood by shutting the circuit breaker off at the main breaker box. Test the wiring with a no contact wiring tester (available at home improvement or hardware stores) before proceeding.
