How to Replace an Unvented Range Hood

The range hood over your kitchen stove plays an important role. The fan in the hood is designed to pull smoke, fumes, and small particles of grease and oil away from the stove burners. The hood has a filter that catches the small particles of grease and oil to help prevent them from settling on the burners and throughout the room. The smoke or odors are simply recirculated back into the room. And while an unvented range hood may not get rid of the odors like a vented hood will, it still does a good job of keeping unwanted grease and oil particles from collecting on your stove and counters.

Replacing an unvented range hood is a pretty simple process. Since the hood runs on electricity, the first step is to turn the electricity off. If you are not sure which breaker kills the power to the hood, the simplest thing to do is to turn the main breaker off. Be sure to label or lock the breaker box to prevent anyone else from turning the breaker back on while you are working on it.

Since you may not have electricity, (if you had to turn the main breaker off), you could really use a cordless screwdriver or cordless drill with a screwdriver bit. If you are simply replacing an old hood, that's pretty much all the tools you will need. If, however, you don't have a cordless screwdriver, an old fashion hand one will work. It just takes longer and a little more physical labor.

Once the electricity is safely off, you can begin. Under the old hood you will see a silver rectangular box. Remove the hex-headed screw with a Phillips screwdriver. This box contains your electrical hookups for the entire hood. The wires should be held together with wire nuts. You know, those little plastic yellow or orange or red things. Twist these wire nuts counterclockwise to remove them. Gently untwist the wires. There should also be bare wires running to a small green ground screw. Loosen the screw and remove the bare wires from the screw. Your electrical connection should now be free.

There should be four screws holding the old hood on. If your old hood is not ancient, it will have four keyhole shaped openings. The screws will hopefully be in the smaller end of the keyhole. Simply back out each screw about an eighth of an inch. You should now be able to slide the hood forward until the heads of the screws appear in the larger opening of the keyhole. Be careful. The hood is not heavy, but be prepare for it to drop free from the cabinet. Lift it out of the way and set it aside.

You're now ready to install the new range hood. You will more or less be reversing the process you just went through.

First, remove the cover on the silver rectangular box underneath the hood. You will then need to remove the cutout or knockout on the new hood to allow the electrical wires to enter the new hood. There is one on the top and rear of the hood. Use the one which is best for the electrical connection. For example, if the wiring comes through onto the top of the hood, the opening on top would be best. If it comes through the back wall, the opening in the back of the hood might be best.

To remove the knockout, use a flat headed screwdriver and break the tabs. Then twist the knockout off with pliers. Insert a box connector into the opening. The box connector will protect the wiring from the sharp edges of the metal hood.

You are now ready to put the new hood up. If the openings match up, you should be able to simply position the hood and slide it back over the screw heads. Before you do that, remember to carefully guide the electrical wiring through the box connector in the top or back of the new hood. Then position the hood into place and tighten the screws. If the screws don't align, you may have to remove the old screws and remark for new screws.

Once the hood is firmly attached, it's time to reconnect the wiring. The wiring is very simple. Connect all the black wires together and secure them with a wire nut. Connect the white wires and secure them with a wire nut. Run the bare wires to the green grounding screw and secure them. Once you have all the wiring connected, tighten the screw in the box connector if you used a metal one. If you used a plastic connector, there is no screw.

At this point you may want to turn the electricity back on and carefully turn your range hood on to ensure the wiring is connected properly. If it works correctly, replace the silver rectangular cover with the hex-headed screw, If, for some reason, it does not work, turn the electricity back off at the breaker box and then re-check your electrical hookups. Be sure to turn the electricity off first.

The hood has a plastic cover for the light. Remove it carefully to install a bulb. Do not use anything stronger than the wattage amount recommended by the manufacturer of the hood. Replace the cover and test your light.

Your new range hood should now be ready to do its job. Remember to clean the silver filter at least once a month or as needed. It can be cleaned with hot water and detergent. Keeping the filter clean will help ensure that your new hood will last a long time.

Credits: Broan Range Hood Installation Manual