How to Hardwire a Range Hood (Pro Tips)
When installing a range hood, you have two options to run power to the hood. The first, easiest option, so long as your range hood has a three-pronged plug, is to plug it into a standard 120V outlet. If the cord is not long enough, you can use an extension to reach the outlet.
If your hood does not have a three-pronged plug or you can’t reach an outlet with an extension, you will need to cut the plug and hardwire your range hood.
This is a simple process with just a few steps. It’s important to take necessary precautions though to ensure your safety.
If you are uncomfortable working with electricity, consult your local electrician to hardwire your range hood.
Otherwise, check out this guide on how to hardwire a range hood in just eight steps.
Be sure to check out this helpful video to hardwire your hood properly.
Identify the breaker that connects to your range hood.
You can find the breaker on the breaker box in your home – in your utility room or basement, most likely. Each breaker will often be labeled to show which appliances it powers. If not, you can determine which appliances each breaker runs by flipping each one and testing what appliances no longer work.
Turn off the breaker.
Flip the breaker to the off position so that you can go to your kitchen and safely hardwire your hood. This is the most important step to ensure your health and safety. You do not want to cause electrical fires or hurt yourself.
Use a wirecutter to cut off your standard plug.
To hardwire your range hood, you need to expose the wires. Since you won’t be plugging the hood into a standard outlet, cut the plug off to gain access to the wires.
Use a wire cutter to remove the outer rubber coating.
Now, cut off the outside rubber insulation on the plug to expose the wires. A standard wire cutter should do the trick.
Double check that your breaker is turned off before exposing the wires. Always proceed with caution when manipulating electrical wires.
Match the colors of the wires.
Ensure that the colors of the wires match up. If they don’t match up, your hood will not work properly.
Remove the wire caps and twist the wires together.
Make sure to twist the wires firmly together so that the current can flow efficiently.
Attach the wire caps as a safety precaution.
The wire caps will insulate the now connected wires. This is a great safety measure to take, especially when you turn your breaker back on and electricity runs through the wires.
Turn the breaker on.
Once your wire caps are back on, flip the breaker. If you need to make any adjustments to the wiring, always turn the breaker off before connecting the wires as a safety precaution.
Now that your breaker is on, you can test your range hood. If you discover any problems after checking the wiring, consult a local electrician. It is best to trust a professional when troubleshooting with electricity if you are not sure how to solve the problem.
For more range hood FAQ, check out these articles. Thanks for reading!
**Explore our hoods, including under-cabinet, wall-mount, island, outdoor, and insert range hoods.
My range hood, overhead lights, and under cabinets lights are on an arc fault breaker. Is that code?
Yes, you can put your range hood and lights on an arc fault breaker. In fact, since the 2014 National Electrical Code (NEC) was released, all kitchen appliances and lighting must be on an arc fault breaker.
Is my hood a plug-in or does it need to be hard-wired?
If your range hood came with a three-pronged plug, it does not need to be hard-wired. Just plug the hood into a wall outlet and use an extension cord if necessary. If it did not come with a three-pronged plug or it came with a cut plug, the hood needs to be hardwired.
At Proline Range Hoods, the Hurricane insert comes with a power cord attached to the hood. But, the cord does not have a plug. It comes cut and ready to be hardwired. The rest of our hoods use a three-pronged plug.
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