How difficult is it to install a range hood if none of the ductwork or roof venting exists?

There are two types of hoods you can install in this situation: a ductless range hood and a ducted range hood.

A ductless range hood requires no ductwork; it recirculates the air back into your kitchen through charcoal filters. These range hoods can be installed smoothly within a couple of hours or less.

Check out our video below to learn how to install a ductless range hood.

If you prefer a ducted hood and you don’t have ductwork or roof venting installed, hire a professional to install the ductwork. Ductwork installation is a difficult project to DIY and it can cost you time and money down the line if the installation is poor.

Although ductwork installation is complicated, we can make your job easier with some helpful installation tips.

How to Install a Duct - 9 Helpful Tips

Before cutting holes in your home, make a plan.

Once you start sawing into your wall, you can’t exactly put that wall back together – not easily anyway. So, it’s vitally important that you determine where your ductwork can run. For the entire duct run, you can’t have giant studs in the way – in addition, if you come across electrical wires or other wiring, your duct can’t run through that area. You’ll need to find a different path for it. Ideally, your duct should run unimpeded all the way to the exterior of your home.

You can run it through a wall or out the ceiling, which we’ll discuss below.

Before cutting holes in your home, decide where to install your range hood.

One of the first tasks you need to do is answer the following question: Should I vent my range hood through a wall or the roof? The location of your range will likely determine this. If you do have a choice as to where you run the ductwork, ask yourself, where is the path of least resistance? What is the shortest path to the outside that isn’t blocked by any wires or other obstacles?

Some vent hoods can only be installed with one type of ductwork. An island range hood must vent through the ceiling, while wall mounted hoods can vent through a wall or ceiling, depending on your kitchen setup.

Use rigid ductwork.

To get the most out of your range hood, install it with rigid ductwork. This material is much more durable than flexible duct, which will more than likely cause problems for you within the first year of installation.

For more information on choosing the right ductwork for your range hood, check out this article.

Leave 18” of space between elbows.

The next few tips focus on maximizing the efficiency of your ducted range hood. Allow for 18” of straight duct run between each elbow to reduce the amount of resistance inside your ductwork.

When elbows are too close together, grease can buildup at the joints, which reduces the efficiency of your range hood. In addition, each elbow adds resistance in the duct system, so the air will slow down.

In fact, it may not make it all the way outside your home, which can result in back drafting. Backdrafting occurs when there is not enough power to send your kitchen air to the outside. As a result, the cooking fumes seep back into the kitchen, rather than exiting outside your home.

The first elbow should be no less than 18” from the range hood.

It is important to not only leave space between elbows, but also from the top of your hood to the first elbow. Otherwise, heavy amounts of grease will build up at the elbow joint over time and dramatically reduce the efficiency of your vent hood.

Use no more than two elbows.

To ensure your range hood runs as efficiently as possible, use no more than two elbows in your ductwork. More than two elbows are simply way too much resistance and the air will not flow smoothly to the outside.

Ideally, as long as you maintain your range hood filters, you should not have to clean your range hood duct. More than two elbows negatively affects the airflow, further straining your hood’s motor. Additionally, grease can accumulate and you might have to pay to have your ductwork serviced.

Duct cleaning is a highly specialized field so it can be expensive. As long as you follow these installation tips, you will be in good shape.

Install no more than about 30’ of the duct.

Our last tip on the ductwork itself concerns the length. Similar to using too many elbows, having duct that is too long will increase the resistance. The end goal is to ensure all the unwanted contaminants are evacuated outside the home, so be sure to install 30’ or less for your ductwork.

For more information on installing ductwork, check out our ultimate guide here.

Purchase a wall or roof cap.

A wall or roof cap is a safe bet to keep your ductwork in great condition for the lifetime of your range hood.

If you vented your hood through an exterior wall, then consider purchasing a wall cap. Or if you vented your hood through the ceiling, purchase a roof cap. This will keep large debris and small animals from entering or falling inside the duct, which can drastically reduce the efficiency of your range hood in the long term.

We researched and reviewed four of the best roof caps on the market at this link.

Install a damper.

A damper is similar to a roof cap in that it keeps dirt and debris from entering into the duct. The main difference between a backdraft damper and a roof cap is that a backdraft damper is inside the ductwork.

Not only does the damper keep debris out, but it also prevents back drafting. In other words, it will keep air from traveling backward in the duct and back into your home. The backdraft damper is essentially a stainless steel vent that opens when the hood is running to allow the air to vent to the outside and closes when your hood is turned off.

With the installation of any residential range hood, we highly recommend a range hood damper. To learn more about why, check out our complete guide.

The higher the CFM, the larger the duct.

The final tip concerns the duct size. With a 400 CFM range hood, install 4” duct. Between 600-900 CFM, install 6” duct. Between 900 and 1200 CFM, go with 8” duct. And finally, with 1200 CFM or more, install a 10” duct.

You can always go with larger ductwork; the most important tip is that ductwork that is too small will choke the air and your range hood will not run efficiently.

If you’re interested in learning more, we talk extensively about duct size in this article.

Where to Buy a Ductless or Recirculating Range Hood

You may not need a ducted range hood; in that case, you don’t have to go through the hassle of duct installation. Instead, you can purchase a new ductless hood.

At Proline Range Hoods, we have dozens of professional-quality recirculating range hoods. A Proline range hood is a beautiful and functional upgrade to your kitchen.

Browse our ductless range hoods below.

Does a range hood have to be vented outside?

It is ideal to vent your range hood to the outside. Ducted range hoods are much more efficient, powerful, and durable than ductless range hoods. But, it is not required. You can also purchase a ductless hood, which pulls air through charcoal filters and recirculates it back into your kitchen. Sometimes, this type of hood is ideal if you don’t have room for ductwork. It depends on your kitchen setup, but always consider a ducted hood over a ductless hood.

My range hood did not come with instructions. We don't know how to install it.

If your range hood did not come with instructions, call the manufacturer and ask for instructions or check their website. You can also check out this video on how to install a range hood.

We have many instructional videos that you can find here. If these don't help you out, check out our installation guide.

Will Liquid Nails adhesive hold up a range hood instead of screws?

No, range hoods must be secured to studs with screws for the best support. Small hoods weigh around 30 pounds and larger hoods can get up to 100+ pounds. Liquid Nails adhesive is not strong enough to handle the weight of a range hood.

I’m updating my kitchen and need to replace an old Fasco hood. What type of hood would be compatible for my existing duct work?

Talk to your manufacturer to find out the duct size of your replacement hood. It should match the duct size of your Fasco hood. If not, you could end up with a duct that is too small. Then, the air will struggle to move outside your home. We recommend replacing your old hood with a hood that is the same CFM. That way, the air can move outside your home smoothly.

Recap

That wraps up our article on installing a range hood if ductwork doesn’t exist. Whether you are installing a ducted or ductless range hood, hopefully this helped you complete the installation smoothly.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call us and talk to one of our customer service agents or technicians at (877) 901 - 5530.

If you’re interested in learning more about range hoods and range hood installation, check out more of our articles below.

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