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Kitchen range hoods

By
Home Inspector with 203kOnLine.com, covering the USA S0289

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. 

Range hood on a 203k renovation

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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Posted by

Mike Young, 203k Team Leader    Mike ready for your 203k order

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Comments(4)

Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Great information Mike. There is good reason for using the rigid duct.

May 23, 2013 11:20 PM
Mike Young
203kOnLine.com, covering the USA - Stallings, NC
FHA 203k Consultant 916-758-1809

Tom, thanks for stopping by, hope you have a great holiday weekend.

May 23, 2013 11:35 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Great information for home owners.  Home safety should be a high priority for every family.  I will post this on my Facebook page.

 

May 24, 2013 12:47 AM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Thanks for the very interesting information, Mike.  I had not known of much of this before reading your post.

May 24, 2013 09:52 PM