Kitchen range hoods

See what you shouldn't use for venting a range hood

Range hoods draw fumes and "grease" from the range. Interesting? Then the filter gets dirty, filled with grease and debris over time, we all clean them weekly right? It is so simple to through that filter in the dishwasher and clean it. 

On the other hand maybe we don't clean it very often, not often at all if you are like most people. What you end up with sooner or later is a grease fire. 

What would be the best thing to use for the ducting? A smooth wall galvanized sheet metal duct of at least 26 gauge of course. Ah, but then you need an elbow, or two or some angles. Wouldn't it be easier to run "flexible duct" for your vent line?r hand maybe we forget for a while, a good long while, then a fire starts on the stove one day, the grease in that vent duct ignites and the fire department comes out to put out a large fire. 

As a manufacturer of aluminum flexible duct for a number of years our UL approval clearly states that it CANNOT BE USED for range hood venting.

Why not use aluminum flex duct to vent a range hood you might ask? 

The corrugations tend to attract and hold grease, a grease fire is eminent and it will burn right through the thin aluminum foil used to manufacture this product. 

What made me sit up and take notice is that many times I see gas ranges with non vented hoods. Hoods that merely recirulate the CO back into the room. Then we see this one that has an electric range with aluminum flex duct as the vent. What else does this tell you? It tells me that this is a home owner installed application. It was easy to install and no one is interested in seeing they get the installation instructions at the local hardware box store. 

There was also a smoke detector at the ceiling in the kitchen. I always find that funny because if you burn toast it will set off the alarm. Enjoy life and don't use flex duct for venting range hoods, please.

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