How to Install a Vent Hood

Before Installation: Inspecting Your Vent Hood

Before beginning your installation, there are a few things to keep in mind. Once you receive the hood, within 24-36 hours, be sure to take the hood out of the box to inspect it for any damage. Make sure you have all the parts as well and that these parts are in good condition. Most importantly, plug your range hood in and ensure that it works properly. The last thing you want is to waste time installing a faulty range hood.

For Correct Venting - Dos and Don’ts

Dos

Allow 28-36" between the top of the cooking surface and the bottom of the hood.
Allow 36-42” for venting over a BBQ grill.
The best option is to vent vertically through the roof if possible. Vent through a side wall if you cannot vent directly above your hood.
Use galvanized steel or metal HVAC ducting only.
For best performance, use as few elbows as possible with no more than two 90° elbows. Include at least 18" straight from the transition piece before using an elbow in the duct and make sure there is at least 24" of straight vent between any other elbows.
Use HVAC tape to seal all joints in the vent system.
Use caulking to seal exterior openings around the cap.
Always keep the duct clean to ensure proper airflow.

Don’ts

Terminate the vent system into an attic or another enclosed area.
Mount the range hood outside of the 28"-36" height above the cooking surface. Hoods mounted too low may be susceptible to heat or fire damage. Hoods mounted too high will perform poorly and become inefficient.
Use 4" (10.2 cm) laundry-type wall caps.
Use plastic venting or plastic ducting.
Install a range hood lower than 36" over a BBQ.
Use more than 30’ of ductwork.
Reduce the diameter of your ductwork from the hood outlet size.

Vertical Roof Venting

Vertical roof venting is the most efficient way to vent and the preferred venting option for all wall mounted or island hoods. A roof cap is needed to protect the ducting from the exterior. Seal the roof cap with caulking.

Horizontal Wall Venting

Option 1

This is an alternative option to vertical venting. Ducting goes horizontally from the range hood through the house’s side wall. Depending on the model of hood, venting can go straight through an exterior wall from the back of the hood if the hood has an option to rotate the blower panel (Option 1). This option is only available on specific models.

Option 2

The second option is to vent from the top of the blowers and elbow through the wall (Option 2). For correct venting, please allow at least 18" of straight vertical travel from the top of the transition piece before attaching the elbow. A side wall cap is needed to protect the ducting from the exterior. Seal the side wall cap with caulking.

Other Venting Options - Wall Range Hood — Additional Venting Option 1 - Wall Mounted Range Hood

Other Venting Options - Island Range Hood — Additional Venting Option 2 - Island Range Hood

Additional Options

These are alternative options to vertical venting. Ducting goes through the kitchen ceiling from the top of the hood and then through a nearby exterior wall.
For wall hoods, it is recommended to vent out of the wall that the hood is mounted on to use the least amount of ductwork. For island hoods the nearest exterior wall in any direction is recommended for venting.
A side wall cap is needed to protect the ducting from the exterior. Seal the side wall cap with caulking.

Wall Hood Installation

What You Will Need

Power Drill
Screwdrivers
Drill Bits
Tape Measure
Masking Tape
Pencil/Marker
Metal or Aluminum HVAC
Tape
Level
Wall Anchors*
Scissors/Box Cutter

NOTE: The range hood needs to be installed to secure studs or supports. Wall anchors can be used for additional support and will vary depending on the wall material and the weight of the range hood being installed.

Inspect Range Hood

Check the contents of your box. They should include, depending on the specific model of your hood:

Range Hood Wall or Ceiling Mounting Bracket Hardware
Chimney
Support Brackets
Transition Duct

As you inspect your hood:

Plug in and test controls, lights, and fan.
Inspect for any damage caused during shipping.
Report any damage to Proline Customer Service within 14 days of receipt of hood by calling 877.901.5530 or emailing support@prolinerangehoods.com.

NOTE: Do not install if the hood is damaged or you are unsatisfied with it.

Prepare Ductwork

Plan where your ductwork will be located. Install the proper sized ductwork and exterior roof or wall cap, depending on where you will be venting your hood to the exterior. The ductwork should already be punched through the ceiling (or wall if the ceiling is not an option) and ready to hook up to the range hood before beginning installation. See venting requirements above.

Wall Hood Installation - Measurements

Before beginning your installation, draw these markings on the installation area wall:

The center line of installation area.
The location of wall studs nearest to the center line. (One on each side)
A horizontally level line 28-36" above the cooktop surface. This is where the bottom of your range hood will be.

Step 1 - Find location for mounting the range hood

Trace the outline of your hood on a panel of its cardboard box.
Find the mounting holes and center point of the hood (directly between the mounting holes) and mark them on the cardboard panel.
Carefully cut out the cardboard outline.
Tape the cardboard cutout panel to the wall lining it up with the horizontal line (bottom of hood location) and matching the center point with the centerline of the installation area.
Poke holes through the mounting points on the cardboard marking the locations on the wall and remove the cardboard.
If using wall anchors, pre-drill the mounting holes where your marks are with the correct size bit and insert the wall anchors.
- NOTE: The range hood needs to be installed in secure studs or supports. Wall anchors can be used for additional support and will vary depending on the wall material and the weight of the range hood being installed
Screw in mounting screws to the marked studs and or wall anchors, leaving roughly a 1/4" gap. This gap will be used to hang the hood in Step 3.

Step 2 - Install Ceiling Chimney Bracket

Step 2 Graphic - Install Ceiling Chimney Bracket

Place the chimney bracket against the ceiling, matching the center point of the bracket with the centerline of the installation area.
Mark the locations of the bracket holes on the wall and drill the holes where the locations are marked.
Insert wall anchors in the drilled holes and screw the bracket into place. The chimney will mount to the bracket.

Step 3 - Hang Range Hood

Hang the hood on the mounting screws in place from Step 1. Tighten the mounting screws to secure the hood. The bottom of the hood should match up with the horizontal line marked on the wall.
Drill holes in the back of the hood lining up with the wall studs that have been previously marked.
Secure the hood to the wall studs using the screws included in the hardware bag.
Attach the previously installed ductwork to the hood’s blowers, taping it in place using duct tape or HVAC tape.
Power the hood by connecting the three pronged plug to a nearby electrical outlet or by hardwiring the hood to a power source.
1. NOTE: Always consult an electrician before directly wiring a hood to a power source.

Step 4 - Install Chimney

NOTE: Not all styles of wall mount range hoods have chimneys. Under cabinet and insert styles are typically without a chimney. Chimneys usually come in two equal-sized telescoping pieces unless they are custom cut.

Place the two pieces of chimney on top of the range hood, making sure the vent in the upper section is towards the top and the upper section slides inside the lower section in a telescoping manner.
Attach the top section of the chimney to the mounting bracket, allowing the bottom section of the chimney to rest securely on the top of the hood.
Screw the base of the chimney to the top of the hood (if there are mounting holes available).