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How To Vent An Outdoor Range Hood: Advice From The Experts

How To Vent An Outdoor Range Hood: Advice From The Experts - Proline Range Hoods

As you know, ducting your outdoor vent hood out of your outdoor kitchen space will help it stay clean and be a healthy enjoyable space to be in and protect your outdoor kitchen investment for years to come. But how do you vent an outdoor range hood?

Well, it is practically the same process as venting a hood from in your home to the outside. The short answer: Venting your outdoor hood is like venting an indoor one: go straight up through the roof if possible, or out a sidewall. Use big, smooth ductwork sized for your hood's power, and end with a proper outdoor vent cap.

We could send you over to our indoor install guide, but decided to post an outdoor version, with outdoor-relevant modifications right here for you.

An elegant outdoor kitchen featuring a stainless steel range hood and grill, surrounded by stone countertops and vibrant flowers, overlooking a well-manicured garden and lush green landscape.

There are a few different venting options.

Range Hood Venting Options

The ducting may run horizontally or vertically depending on your type of hood and installation. Island hoods must vent through the ceiling, while wall hoods can vent through the wall or ceiling.

Installing Your Range Hood with Horizontal Ductwork

You have two options to vent your wall hood horizontally.

A diagram illustrating the horizontal venting mechanism of a wall-mounted range hood, showing how air is vented through the back of the hood and out through the wall.

A rear venting hood.

A top venting hood with a 90 degree elbow in the ductwork. (make sure the ductwork is a minimum of 18 inches from any hard turns. This will reduce air friction in the pipe. And ensure your hood works quietly and great for years to come.

Installing Your Hood with Vertical Ductwork

You can also vent your wall hood through the ceiling and roof, as in the diagram below.

Diagram of vertical venting for a wall-mounted range hood, showing the exhaust duct extending through the roof for proper kitchen ventilation.

Unlike wall hoods, island hoods can only vent through the ceiling.

Diagram of vertical venting for an island-mounted range hood, showing the duct extending through the ceiling for proper ventilation in an open kitchen layout.

You may be wondering: which venting option is the best?

The best ducting option for your range hood will depend on your kitchen design. But in general, the straighter and shorter the better.

And there are several things you can do to maximize the efficiency of your range hood duct.

Use An Inline/Remote Blower

Technician installing ductwork for a range hood system, connecting metal ventilation pipes for effective kitchen air circulation and exhaust.

An inline blower is a separate fan unit installed within the ductwork of a range hood ventilation system, rather than being integrated into the hood itself. These remote blowers help reduce noise levels in the kitchen by relocating the primary sound source away from the cooking area.

The key benefits of inline blowers include:

  • Quieter operation due to the blower being placed remotely in the ductwork, muffling noise.
  • Potentially better airflow and capture efficiency compared to built-in hood blowers.
  • Versatility to use with various range hood styles.
  • Easier accessibility for maintenance than integrated blowers.

To maximize quietness, inline blowers can be paired with sound insulation around the blower unit and careful exterior vent termination design. When sized and installed properly by professionals, inline blowers allow efficient kitchen ventilation while minimizing disruptive noise, ideal for open kitchen layouts and entertaining spaces.

Where can I buy an inline/remote blower motor?

We sell two inline blowers: 900 CFM and 1300 CFM.

900 CFM Inline Blower

1300 CFM Inline Blower

At Proline Range Hoods, our ProV models are the only hoods that offer an inline blower option.

Modern kitchen featuring a Proline ProV WC wall-mounted range hood above a stainless steel gas stove, with custom cabinetry and a large farmhouse sink.

Our ProV range hoods offer flexibility with three blower options: 1200 CFM local, 1700 CFM local, or 1300 CFM inline/remote. The local blowers are integrated into the hood for maximum airflow capture. The inline/remote blower gets installed separately in the ductwork for quieter operation. However, not every OurProV model can use all three blower types. The compatible options depend on the specific range hood chosen. This variety of blower configurations allows you to select the ideal ventilation power and noise level for your kitchen's needs.

Feel free to browse them here to find the right fit for you.

Best Practices When Installing Range Hood Ductwork

1. Do not terminate the vent system into an attic, or another enclosed area.

Diagram showing improper venting for a range hood with exhaust obstructed under a roof structure, leading to potential airflow blockage.

It is vital that you vent your hood outside your kitchen/entertaining area, through the ceiling or wall.

You would be surprised how much smoke, cooking exhaust, humidity, and contaminants will build up in your attic, causing all kinds of problems. Instead, run the duct all the way to the outside. This way, you’ll get rid of the smoke and cooking exhaust for good.

The best option is to vent vertically through the roof if possible, sas it’s a clean straight shot. But it’s not required. Vent through a side wall if you cannot vent directly above your hood.

To have a smooth installation, find a great contractor to install your ductwork.

2. Do not use more than two elbows in your ductwork. The fewer elbows, the better.

Diagram comparing correct range hood venting with two elbows versus improper venting with too many elbows, illustrating optimal airflow for kitchen ventilation.

Each elbow adds air resistance to your ductwork, which makes it harder for air to make it to the outside and taxes your hood in the process.

A couple of elbows are OK; you might need them just to navigate through your walls. But don’t use more than two to keep your hood running as efficiently as possible.

When adding elbows to your duct, keep the following in mind:

  • For each elbow in your duct, reduce the total length of your duct run by 5’ for an equivalent air pressure. For example, a 30’ straight run is about equivalent to a 20’ run with two elbows.
  • When installing your duct, include at least 18″ of straight run before adding an elbow. (24” is even better)
  • 18” or more is also needed between any two places in the airflow where the air needs to bend. If you can leave at least 24 inches, that’s even better.
Diagram illustrating correct range hood venting with measurements, including 18-inch and 24-inch pipe segments and a 20-foot vertical height for proper kitchen ventilation.

3. Install your ductwork in the shortest unobstructed path to the outside of your home.

Diagram comparing a direct unobstructed venting path versus an indirect path with too many elbows for a range hood, demonstrating optimal airflow for kitchen ventilation.

When possible, orient your ductwork so that you use the shortest run possible with the fewest elbows. This way, the unwanted air encounters the least amount of resistance and vents out of your home with ease.

Ignoring aesthetics, the shortest and straightest run of ductwork is the best for the power, efficiency, and longevity of your vent hood.

  • Do not use more than 30’ of ductwork. The longer your duct, the more resistance it has.
  • If your duct is longer than 30’, the air will really struggle to make it to the outside efficiently, even with a powerful range hood.

4. Use rigid galvanized steel or metal HVAC ducting only. Do not use plastic or flexible duct.

A range hood should last you 10+ years, but flex duct simply won’t hold up that long. Rigid duct is much more durable. It’s your best option.

Rigid ductwork will also encounter less air resistance than flex duct systems, so all the cooking exhaust will move smoothly away from you and your guests.

Diagram comparing rigid ducting with laminar airflow versus flexible ducting with turbulent airflow for range hoods, highlighting the benefits of rigid ducts for efficient ventilation.

Make sure that you use the appropriate sized duct to keep your duct system efficient. Duct size depends on the CFM of your range hood.

Chart displaying the minimum range hood duct size requirements based on CFM, showing 10-inch ducts for 1200 CFM, 8-inch ducts for 900 CFM, 6-inch ducts for 600 CFM, and 4-inch ducts for 400 CFM or less.

For example, if you have a 900 CFM hood, and if you have to reduce the size of your ductwork, don’t reduce the diameter of your pipe below 8”. See the graphic below.

Diagram comparing the impact of duct size reduction on airflow for range hoods, showing proper airflow in a 10-inch to 8-inch transition versus restricted airflow in a 10-inch to 4-inch transition.

Once you’ve installed the appropriate duct, seal it to your hood using aluminum tape.

5. Seal the end of your duct run with a wall or roof cap.

A cap keeps dirt and debris out of your duct. It also prevents back-drafting, dirt, debris, and wildlife from getting into your rangehood or ductwork

Then, use caulking to seal any exterior openings around the cap.

This keeps the cap secure and prevents excess noise and the elements from getting into your kitchen setup.

More info on roof caps here.

Or you can place the blower in the ductwork with an inline blower

Beautiful outdoor kitchen with a stainless steel range hood and built-in grill, set in a covered patio with a view of a landscaped garden and open greenery.

How far can you vent an outdoor range hood?

The maximum recommended duct length for venting a vent hood depends on the number of elbow turns in the ductwork:

  • For a straight run with no turns, the duct should not exceed 30 feet.
  • If there is one 90-degree elbow turn, the maximum duct length is 25 feet.
  • With two 90-degree elbow turns, the maximum recommended duct length is 20 feet.

The reason for these limits is that longer duct runs with multiple turns reduce the airflow, causing inadequate venting.

Portions of the very air you are trying to expel from your cooking space and guests may fail to expel fully to the outside and instead backdraft or recirculate into the kitchen.

Keeping the duct as short and straight as possible ensures proper venting and removal of cooking fumes and odors.

Related Articles

10 Pros and Cons of Outdoor Kitchens

Outdoor Range Hood Buyer’s Guide (7 Things to Consider)

Outdoor Kitchen Range Hood Ideas To Inspire You!

Three Ways To Treat Wood for Outdoor Use

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