7 Signs That You Need to Replace Your Range Hood
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Your range hood is one of the most important appliances in your kitchen. It helps remove indoor air pollutants, smoke, and grease from your kitchen air. This keeps you and your family healthy.
To keep the pollutants out, you of course want to keep your hood in great condition for years to come. But, range hoods aren’t indestructible. There are a few cases where you might need a replacement. We’ll go over seven signs that you need to replace your range hood.
But before you look for a replacement, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.
Before Replacing Your Hood
A range hood should last you for 10+ years, if not more. Before you pull the trigger on a new hood, make sure it’s absolutely necessary.
We recommend contacting your manufacturers and getting advice from them on how you can possibly fix your vent hood. Often if you have a problem with the touch panel or circuit board, you can get those replaced. You might be able to find a replacement motor too if that’s the issue. And you might be surprised how economical that can be.
But one thing’s for sure: replacing one or two parts will be significantly cheaper than replacing your vent hood.
You Might Need to Replace the Duct, But This is Rare
If you neglect to clean your range hood filters, heavy grease can build up inside the hood and range hood duct. As a result, you may have to replace the duct.
To keep heavy grease out of the duct, clean your filters every month or so.
If your range hood duct is greasy, try cleaning it. It is pretty costly and requires professionals, but won’t be as expensive as replacing the entire system.
7 Signs That You Should Replace Your Range Hood
1. Your current hood doesn’t vent smoke or odors effectively
If you bought a hood that doesn’t have enough CFM, you’re out of options. You can run the hood on higher speeds but unfortunately can’t increase range hood CFM.
So, how do you know if you don’t have enough CFM? Just look around your kitchen after cooking. Is the smoke cleared? Do you smell cooking odors? If so, you’ll need to find a higher CFM hood!
Before you go find a replacement, make sure that your current hood is mounted between 28 and 36 inches from the cooktop. The right mounting height will improve the efficiency of your hood.
Even when on high speed, the fan may only have marginal success at clearing up some of these odors and smoke.
Ideally, you’ll want a hood that can clear smoke and grease from your kitchen with ease at a lower speed. As a nice bonus, it’ll be quieter on the low speeds too!
Watch how our hoods vent air:
2. Your hood has visible dents or damage
The most common way your hood gets dented is in transit. If it gets damaged during shipping, most manufacturers will have a return policy that allows you to send the hood back within a few days or weeks. Be sure to take advantage of this policy and send your hood back for a free replacement within the time frame.
It’s also possible to dent your hood during the installation. In that case, it’ll be much more difficult to replace your hood.
Over the years, you might dent it while cooking. It’s unlikely, but it could happen. Maybe you were rushing through the kitchen and bumped it with a pan or utensil. A small dent might not warrant a replacement, but that’s up to you at the end of the day.
3. You’re remodeling your kitchen
If you’re remodeling your kitchen, you might want to match your modern appliances with a new, modern range hood.
You might also choose a custom hood in your kitchen, or an island hood instead of a wall mounted hood.
You might be getting a larger range and therefore want a larger range hood.
4. Your hood lacks modern features
Depending on how long you’ve had your hood, they might have developed some cool new features! That might be a new more durable stainless steel, auto shut off, Google Voice integration, built-in smoke detectors...the list goes on!
5. You’re cooking more than before
If you’re cooking for more people, you’ll want a more powerful range hood. Maybe you moved in with someone or started a family.
Whatever the situation, you’ll likely be cooking more for your family or friends. That means more cooking fumes and odors. To keep your air fresh, consider a replacement hood! Here is a list of some of the best 1200+ CFM hoods on the market. This is impressive power that’s more than enough for almost all homeowners.
6. The blower or circuitry is damaged
Sometimes, damage to the circuitry or blower will require a replacement hood. Other times, you can replace the motor or circuit without needing a replacement.
But, it’s hard to say exactly when you need a replacement part or hood. We recommend calling your manufacturer and explaining the issue in detail. They’ll be able to talk you through some options.
If they immediately push a replacement hood, make sure that you understand why a replacement is necessary. That way you can make the decision for yourself.
7. Your hood is too noisy—even at low speeds
Once it’s (properly) installed, if your hood is too noisy, you’ll need a replacement.
The max speed will always be the loudest. But you want to make your decision based on the blower speed you use the most.
A noisy hood also often suggests that the motor is not as efficient. The hood may not last as long as you’d like, so you may want to consider a replacement.
How to Extend the Life of Your Range Hood
To keep your hood in great shape:
- Clean filters monthly
- Wipe down surfaces regularly
- Schedule maintenance for internal parts like fans and motors
- Watch for unusual noises or smells and address them early
Proper maintenance can prevent issues like grease buildup, poor suction, or electrical failure. Cleaning with warm water may restore function, but if it doesn’t, it may be time to replace the unit—just like you would with a worn-out stove or fridge.
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Conclusion
Most quality range hoods can last over a decade with proper care. But when yours no longer clears smoke, runs too loudly, or just doesn’t fit your kitchen needs, it may be time for an upgrade. A new range hood will provide better performance, improve air quality, and enhance your kitchen experience.
If you’re ready to explore your options, Proline offers a wide selection of powerful, modern range hoods to suit every kitchen.
