Installing a hood in the kitchen

An air intake device or a household hood is an accessory as necessary in the kitchen as a hob and a refrigerator. Without it, it is difficult to imagine a functional housewife’s workplace in which it will be comfortable to prepare food.

In addition to its main function - organizing direct air exchange through forced air intake, the hood also provides the required level of illumination, since there is not enough light from other sources above the stove.

In this regard, proper installation is extremely important for the ability to effectively use the parameters included in this household appliance. The article will discuss the nuances of installing hoods with your own hands, depending on their design features and configuration.

Installing a hood in a kitchen of different designs

Installation of air intake equipment consists of several types of work: organizing a channel for removing the collected air masses outside the room (with the exception of “flat” models), supplying and connecting to the electrical network, fastening the structure to a supporting surface. The details of the last mentioned stage largely depend on the type of hood you purchased.

There are several main options, the installation of which will be discussed in more detail in the relevant sections. These are the models:

• hanging;
• built-in;
• wall;
• inclined;
• corner;
• island

REFERENCE! Exhaust units are fundamentally divided into 2 classes: recirculation and exhaust. The first are equipped with a system of internal disposable filters that clean the air flow passing through them and return it to the room. Exhaust models involve connection to a centralized ventilation system via an air duct (ventilation duct or corrugated pipe) or direct release of exhaust air through the wall of the room to the outside.

Installation of a suspended hood

There are different ideas about the suspended type of devices. In this article, the term “suspended hood” refers to a flat type of air intake equipment, mainly with a recirculating air filtration system. Sometimes such models are also called visor models. It is believed that they are the easiest to install due to the absence in most cases of the need to organize a channel for air exhaust. Suspended devices are characterized by low power, low weight and, as a rule, do not have high performance.

The hanging model is mounted on the wall surface above the slab. Due to its small size and weight, special skills are not required to install such equipment. The body of the device has holes for its fastening.

REFERENCE! In the case of brick or concrete walls, to drill under the holders you will need an impact drill or a hammer drill with a Pobedit drill. It is also necessary to have a sufficient number of plugs (dowels).To attach it to a wooden support, a drill with a small-diameter drill or a screwdriver will be sufficient. The size of the screws is selected based on the weight of the structure being fastened and the surface on which it will be attached. This is true for installing any type of hood.

First you need to correctly mark the holes for fixing. The distance at which the lower edge of the device should be located is measured from the middle of the slab. This value depends on several factors, but primarily on the type of hob. The height of the suspension can be clarified in the operating instructions supplied with the electrical appliance.

Draw a horizontal line at the measured distance using a level. Use a dot to mark the intersection of the horizontal line with the height raised from the middle of the tile. You have determined the center of the device location. To the right and left, measure half the length of the unit and make notes. Now place your hood so that the bottom edge coincides with the drawn horizontal line, and the adjacent corners coincide with the notches. In this position, you need to mark the points for the mounting holes with an awl or pencil.

Carefully remove the device, drill according to the marks, and use a rubber-headed hammer to drive the dowels to their full depth, flush with the wall. Lift the air intake back and use a screwdriver to screw the fixing screws through the housing mounting holes until they stop. Please make sure that the power cord from the device is not pinched between its back edge and the wall; first route it towards the electrical outlet.

Turn on the plug. Installation is complete.

Installation of built-in hood

The built-in model fits harmoniously into the kitchen design, because...installed inside a wall cabinet above the stove. A distinctive feature is that the product is secured not to the wall, but inside the furniture. The latter is mounted on the wall using special hanging parts. Ventilation ducts and sockets do not spoil the interior, as they remain hidden from view, located behind the cabinet door.

Furniture for a built-in hood must exactly match all its dimensions, so they are purchased together or ordered for a specific model. The bottom edge of the device must coincide with the bottom of the cabinet in which it will be built.

Lay the cabinet on its side and use self-tapping screws to secure the hood in it. In the right place, use an electric jigsaw to make cuts for the ventilation duct and socket.

The weight of the prefabricated element will be quite large, so fastening to the wall must be done with high quality, using durable mounting materials.

Marking the holes for the cabinet can be done using the method described above. Hang the assembly and plug the device into a hidden outlet.

ATTENTION! When drilling holes in the wall, be careful not to touch the electrical wiring of the outlet that powers the hood.

Installation of a wall hood

Wall-mounted models, as the name suggests, are mounted on the wall. Unlike flat devices, they have significant vertical dimensions that do not allow them to be placed under wall cabinets. The body of such devices can vary significantly in shape and size, but the air intake plane is always located parallel to the hob.

Before starting fastening, you need to partially disassemble the device by disconnecting the upper part of the housing and remove the filters.Next, you need to make markings “in place” or using the template supplied with the instructions, drill holes, insert plugs into them, and screw the screws to the required depth. Hang the device on the protruding heads of the hardware, if necessary, pressing the structure against the wall using a powerful screwdriver.

After connecting the ventilation ducts or corrugations to the hood and connecting to the power supply, strengthen the upper part of the housing back by extending it to the desired height and fixing it with bolts. Return the filters to their working position and turn on the device.

Installation of an inclined hood

The specificity of this form of the device allows it to be installed significantly lower than other models. The minimum distance to the electric stove is 35 cm, and to the gas hob – 55 cm. Otherwise, the installation sequence is the same as when installing wall-mounted options:

1. Make markings.
2. Drill holes and insert dowels into them.
3. Tighten the screws or anchors.
4. Hang the device and secure it.
5. Connect to the air exchange system through a corrugated pipe or plastic boxes (if necessary).
6. Insert the plug of the device into the socket located behind the air intake.
7. Hide visible communications with decorative elements.

The hood is ready for use.

ATTENTION! When organizing an air duct using ducts, remember that the maximum number of right angles in the duct should not be more than three. Otherwise, air exchange will be significantly less due to loss of power.

Corner hood installation

Corner models are designed for hanging exhaust hoods above hobs located in the corner of the kitchen, provided that the angle between the walls of the room is not beveled and is 90⁰.

REFERENCE! Corner installation “on a bevel” is completely identical to the installation of a suspended version of the equipment.

When installing the hood at a corner, it is advisable to use a square or laser level to check the correct geometry of the walls. If the actual value of the angle differs significantly from the straight line, installation may be difficult, or the device will fall into place without adhering closely to the walls, which will look unsightly.

The main difference in the installation process is a slightly simplified marking procedure. You don't have to look for the vertical axis of symmetry, since it will coincide with the line of the angle.

Installation of island hood

The fundamental difference between island air intake devices is that they are not fixed to the vertical surface of the wall, but to the ceiling. This specificity follows from the scope of application of such models - they can be located anywhere in the room, usually not adjacent to the walls. The place in the kitchen for organizing a work area in the middle of the room is called an island. Hence the name of the hood.

Attaching an island unit is considered the most difficult. The markings will have to be made on the ceiling, and in this case it will be extremely difficult to do without a laser tape measure with a level. You will have to align in at least two planes, and taking into account the fact that communications can be hidden behind a false ceiling, then perhaps in all three (if anchored).

Ceiling installation must be carried out extremely reliably, since in this case the force of gravity will be directed in the direction opposite to the fixing elements - screws, brackets, studs, etc.

Installation details vary significantly depending on the island hood model you choose. The delivery set includes the following components:

• mounting platform;
• frame;
• additional fasteners.

The main structure of the hood, including the motor, can sometimes be fixed with cables or with pins.

Special attention should be paid to the hidden supply of communications, since it is unlikely that there will be a ventilation vent or a vacant power outlet in the immediate environment.