Ducting a range hood where no duct exists

[EdFNJ]

Our stove is against an inside wall (backed up to guest bathroom) and there is no outside vented duct for a range hood. My wife is a vegetarian and cooks the most "stinky" foods imaginable Broccoli is the absolute worst! Makes me nauseous. :D.

Anyone had a range hood with ducts through the ceiling added where there was no duct or hood before? The above the stove microwave has a built in circulating ductless fan with carbon filters but it's really useless. We'd obviously have to remove the microwave and go to a countertop model.

Suggestions for who does this kind of work and recent cost? Not looking for a kitchen remodel just a ducted hood over the stove. I am assuming it can be ducted straight up to and through the roof assuming there is no roof supports in the way or any building code against that. No access to outside wall just UP. It's the "usual" stove with above stove mounted microwave configuration.

[retiredguy123]

Lowe's sells range hoods and they will also install it.

[Caymus]

Does venting into an attic meet code requirements? The vapors will contain grease and moisture.

[dtennent]

We could not find someone to vent through the roof though our search was not exhaustive. Most people who do the inside work don’t want to get involved with the roof.

[retiredguy123]

Does venting into an attic meet code requirements? The vapors will contain grease and moisture.
Definitely not. You cannot even vent the bathroom exhaust fans into the attic anymore.

[pjwenz]

Try contacting a roofing contractor for the install of the duct work. I have installed two different hoods in my house using 4” round duct pipe, it was not very complicated. You can get an electrician to do the hood install.

[Keefelane66]

You will need some trade person to fabricate ductwork into the attic either vent through the roof or soffit. Range hoods provided by builder will need to be replaced to ducted model.

[kkingston57]

Lowe's sells range hoods and they will also install it.

Bet they will not install necessary duct to vent air outside. Expensive job as it will entail roofing work.

[villagetinker]

Op, double check twice I have seen microwaves installed with the vent blocked. Look in the attic or roof for a rectangular vent.

[EdFNJ]

Does venting into an attic meet code requirements? The vapors will contain grease and moisture.. Not referring into the attic, THROUGH the attic and out the roof, just like a dryer vent which probably has 20x more moisture.

[EdFNJ]

Op, double check twice I have seen microwaves installed with the vent blocked. Look in the attic or roof for a rectangular vent.. In MY case, the microwave does have a OPTIONAL knockout vent but was NOT vented when the house was built (~2009) and there are not cutouts anywhere or could there be due to the configuration. (The microwave there now has been replaced since the original and the original also had a sealed knockout for an optional duct. Would obviously have to remove the microwave for a range hood and go "countertop" for it.

[SusanStCatherine]

You buy the vent hood. Ask appliance stores if they install if you buy through them. Try Agressive Appliances. You may need a roofer and an HVAC to coordinate. Good luck!

[villagetinker]

. In MY case, the microwave does have a OPTIONAL knockout vent but was NOT vented when the house was built (~2009) and there are not cutouts anywhere or could there be due to the configuration. (The microwave there now has been replaced since the original and the original also had a sealed knockout for an optional duct. Would obviously have to remove the microwave for a range hood and go "countertop" for it.

Ed, I would get a stud finder to see where the studs are, if you are lucky, they will be to the right and left of center where the microwave is located. If that is the case you may be able to have the vent installed inside the wall. If this is load bearing, then you may have to go through the cabinet, and outside the wall and then through the ceiling. Depending on what is on the other side of the wall you may be able to go through the wall to the other side and then up through the ceiling and to the roof.
IMHO, you will have the same concerns if you remove the microwave that put in a hood, so getting the vent in for the microwave is probably the best option and least cost option.

[Topspinmo]

Our stove is against an inside wall (backed up to guest bathroom) and there is no outside vented duct for a range hood. My wife is a vegetarian and cooks the most "stinky" foods imaginable Broccoli is the absolute worst! Makes me nauseous. :D.

Anyone had a range hood with ducts through the ceiling added where there was no duct or hood before? The above the stove microwave has a built in circulating ductless fan with carbon filters but it's really useless. We'd obviously have to remove the microwave and go to a countertop model.

Suggestions for who does this kind of work and recent cost? Not looking for a kitchen remodel just a ducted hood over the stove. I am assuming it can be ducted straight up to and through the roof assuming there is no roof supports in the way or any building code against that. No access to outside wall just UP. It's the "usual" stove with above stove mounted microwave configuration.

Don’t just love these open room concepts. I thought most villagers didn’t cook? :oops:

Probably be easier to put Ceiling exhaust fan in kitchen crack window and suck the whole house out? :shrug:

[EdFNJ]

Don’t just love these open room concepts. I thought most villagers didn’t cook? :oops:

Probably be easier to put Ceiling exhaust fan in kitchen crack window and suck the whole house out? :shrug:


:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1 rotfl:

Unfortunately, no window nearby just the door into the garage. Well, if there was GOOD vegetarian restaurant around here (other than lettuce, tomato & pepper sandwiches) she wouldn't have to cook that vile stinking broccoli and other gross vegetables!

After reading all the dept of health ratings of so many restaurants around here that also makes going out less "appetizing." Download the "LIFE KITCHEN" app (IOS and Android). It takes all the health dept RESTAURANT ratings across FL (GOOD AND BAD) and puts it into one app with all the gross and disgusting details. :D

[EdFNJ]

You buy the vent hood. Ask appliance stores if they install if you buy through them. Try Agressive Appliances. You may need a roofer and an HVAC to coordinate. Good luck!. Thanks, but that isn't the issue in question. "Appliance stores" certainly won't do major work to duct through walls, ceilings, attic & roof with a vent. I have installed range hoods on existing duct work. That's a simple job.

[JoMar]

Purchased the hood through Aggressive Appliance, they installed the pipe into the attic, then needed to get Munns to take the pipe through the attic and to the roof, then Quality First Roofing took it through the roof and attached the roof vent. That was to insure it was installed according to code and who was licensed to do what part of the install. We elected to do it by the code, expensive and a pain to coordinate but we made the decision to do it that way and avoid the risk.

[Topspinmo]

:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1 rotfl:

Unfortunately, no window nearby just the door into the garage. Well, if there was GOOD vegetarian restaurant around here (other than lettuce, tomato & pepper sandwiches) she wouldn't have to cook that vile stinking broccoli and other gross vegetables!

After reading all the dept of health ratings of so many restaurants around here that also makes going out less "appetizing." Download the "LIFE KITCHEN" app (IOS and Android). It takes all the health dept RESTAURANT ratings across FL (GOOD AND BAD) and puts it into one app with all the gross and disgusting details. :D


I rarely eat out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyoPaVxMyWY

No one knows what’s goes on behind closed doors! And if you did you wouldn’t be eating there!

[huge-pigeons]

We had an appliance store put in a range hood with a pipe going into the attic then exiting the roof. You never would want to have grease and exhaust gases exiting into the attic, I would think you would get mold and critters in the attic.

[terryf484]

In my son's house, the vented to the soffit. works just fine.

[Two Bills]

Get your wife to microwave veg.
Tastes better, cooks quicker, and hardly any smell.
Problem solved!

[La lamy]

If you can't get the smells to air out of your kitchen at a decent price, maybe your wife could get used to doing them outside on a grill. Delicious!

[GizmoWhiskers]

Our stove is against an inside wall (backed up to guest bathroom) and there is no outside vented duct for a range hood. My wife is a vegetarian and cooks the most "stinky" foods imaginable Broccoli is the absolute worst! Makes me nauseous. :D.

Anyone had a range hood with ducts through the ceiling added where there was no duct or hood before? The above the stove microwave has a built in circulating ductless fan with carbon filters but it's really useless. We'd obviously have to remove the microwave and go to a countertop model.

Suggestions for who does this kind of work and recent cost? Not looking for a kitchen remodel just a ducted hood over the stove. I am assuming it can be ducted straight up to and through the roof assuming there is no roof supports in the way or any building code against that. No access to outside wall just UP. It's the "usual" stove with above stove mounted microwave configuration.
I have the same problem, sensitivity to certain foods cooking. Beef, toast, eggs with pepper, sesame oil, the list goes on and on. My other half has a hard time cooking as sometimes the smells cause me to have head aches or I can't breathe.

The no outside exhaust is a problem. I use an ion air filter to radicate them and open doors. It's a pain in the arse sometimes and I feel bad for my spouse.

We bought a moveable induction cooktop to cook on the porch or in the garage. I wish they did put stove top vents up thru the attic like bathroom vents when building these houses. That would be a dream come true.

[nn0wheremann]

Our stove is against an inside wall (backed up to guest bathroom) and there is no outside vented duct for a range hood. My wife is a vegetarian and cooks the most "stinky" foods imaginable Broccoli is the absolute worst! Makes me nauseous. :D.

Anyone had a range hood with ducts through the ceiling added where there was no duct or hood before? The above the stove microwave has a built in circulating ductless fan with carbon filters but it's really useless. We'd obviously have to remove the microwave and go to a countertop model.

Suggestions for who does this kind of work and recent cost? Not looking for a kitchen remodel just a ducted hood over the stove. I am assuming it can be ducted straight up to and through the roof assuming there is no roof supports in the way or any building code against that. No access to outside wall just UP. It's the "usual" stove with above stove mounted microwave configuration.
Be glad she’s not into Brussels sprouts

[SusanStCatherine]

. Thanks, but that isn't the issue in question. "Appliance stores" certainly won't do major work to duct through walls, ceilings, attic & roof with a vent. I have installed range hoods on existing duct work. That's a simple job.

See post #17. It is what we did. I said you may need to coordinate with a roofer and an HVAC company. We used Agressive Appliances and we also used Quality First Roofers. We used a different HVAC company I can't remember but may have been Sunshine. It was pretty costly I can't remember but maybe $2,000. Call the roofers and Munns. See what they say before purchasing a hood from anywhere. Maybe they can vent your microwave to the outside but a hood would be stronger.

There is another solution I thought of: Febreeze is a fantastic product and works wonders on odors. It actually cancels them out scientifically fascinating how it works!

[SusanStCatherine]

Get your wife to microwave veg.
Tastes better, cooks quicker, and hardly any smell.
Problem solved!

Or eat the broccoli raw! Even better yet!

[SusanStCatherine]

We had an appliance store put in a range hood with a pipe going into the attic then exiting the roof. You never would want to have grease and exhaust gases exiting into the attic, I would think you would get mold and critters in the attic.

Name of the appliance store you used that put the pipe through the attic and roof please? The OP wants that info and says appliance stores don't do that.

[jarodrig]

Here’s an off the wall suggestion….

New wife
OR
New house

The latter will probably be less expensive ! LOL !!

[Justputt]

We did this in our old house. If your microwave is built into cabinets such as pictured above (cabinets don't go to the ceil), they'll just box in the area between the cabinet top and ceiling, run a vent pipe through the cabinet above the microwave (so you lose that space) and into the attic space and put a damper roof vent to carry it away. We had this mounted on the roof and connected to the vent pipe that went through the upper cabinet, boxed space above it. and through the roof. Lowes link works, not sure why it says this Access Denied (https://www.lowes.com/pd/Broan-Universal-Roof-Cap-Black/1245637)

[Two Bills]

Or eat the broccoli raw! Even better yet!

Definitely.
Or.
Liquidize all the veg, and drink it.
No cooking at all. :coolsmiley:

[bark4me]

Our stove is against an inside wall (backed up to guest bathroom) and there is no outside vented duct for a range hood. My wife is a vegetarian and cooks the most "stinky" foods imaginable Broccoli is the absolute worst! Makes me nauseous. :D.

Anyone had a range hood with ducts through the ceiling added where there was no duct or hood before? The above the stove microwave has a built in circulating ductless fan with carbon filters but it's really useless. We'd obviously have to remove the microwave and go to a countertop model.

Suggestions for who does this kind of work and recent cost? Not looking for a kitchen remodel just a ducted hood over the stove. I am assuming it can be ducted straight up to and through the roof assuming there is no roof supports in the way or any building code against that. No access to outside wall just UP. It's the "usual" stove with above stove mounted microwave configuration.
It's connected to the bathroom vent and vented that way

[Switter]

I did mine in two of my houses. One I was able to vent out the side which was much easier. The other I had to go through the cabinet above the microwave, through the attic and out the roof. it's quite a bit of work and unless you've done it before, I'd hire out. I'm not sure what they would charge but I'd say it took me about 3-4 hours. It's not much in materials, just tin ductwork, a roof vent, and some aluminum tape. Both of the houses had a soffit above the cabinets so I didn't have to wrap the ductwork between the cabinets and the ceiling.

You'll have to take the microwave down and flip the fan too.


** Caveat **

Even after doing it, it didn't make as huge a difference as I hoped it would. It does help some but those microwave fans are really weak. Anything you cook on the front burners of a stove barely gets pulled in to the fan. If you want anything more than that you're gonna have to replace your microwave with a high-quality hood vent, and they're probably not cheap. Bathroom fans are more effective because it's a small room and you can close the door, which creates somewhat of a vacuum. Most kitchens are open to the main living area of the house which is much larger, so it's more difficult for the fan to do its job unless it's really powerful.

I just want to set your expectations.

Another alternative is a gas grill with a burner and to cook the stuff outside, lol. I eat a ton of fish and that's what I'm gonna start doing, cooking it on the grill.

[MandoMan]

Our stove is against an inside wall (backed up to guest bathroom) and there is no outside vented duct for a range hood. My wife is a vegetarian and cooks the most "stinky" foods imaginable Broccoli is the absolute worst! Makes me nauseous. :D.

Anyone had a range hood with ducts through the ceiling added where there was no duct or hood before? The above the stove microwave has a built in circulating ductless fan with carbon filters but it's really useless. We'd obviously have to remove the microwave and go to a countertop model.

Suggestions for who does this kind of work and recent cost? Not looking for a kitchen remodel just a ducted hood over the stove. I am assuming it can be ducted straight up to and through the roof assuming there is no roof supports in the way or any building code against that. No access to outside wall just UP. It's the "usual" stove with above stove mounted microwave configuration.

I’m not a vegetarian, but I love broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, and other vegetables that are stinky. I don’t like the smell of food in my house after I’ve eaten. I suspect that a survey showed that an over-the-stove microwave oven would be a very popular selling point and would be cheaper than putting in a good range hood that vented through the roof. Range hood venting has to be metal all the way through the roof in case of a fire on the range. Also, a lot of range hoods really don’t suck the heat and smells up very effectively, due to their shape. Some are better than others. Those combined with microwave ovens NEVER work well because they aren’t big enough. You need something that sucks perhaps 300 feet per minute, ideally with the quietest fan you can find, and it has to be rated for stove venting. This is all expensive.

Here’s a cheaper solution I’ve been thinking about. A lot of kitchens here share a wall with the garage. (In some bigger houses, there is a laundry room between the kitchen and the garage.) What if you had a bathroom exhaust fan installed on that wall, perhaps above the door or above the cabinets? There are fans that are ultra quiet but still exhaust 150 cubic feet of air per minute. Just exhaust it into the garage. I think it would be far enough away from the stove so that it wouldn’t count as a stove vent fan or be a fire hazard, but it would vent broccoli smells the same way it vents bathroom smells. You could have it installed with a timer switch so it vents for five minutes to an hour. The smell would then be in your garage, but so what? It might add a little humidity to your garage, but it’s already humid. There’s no insulation to get wet. The only oils it would exhaust is what is already floating through your kitchen.

Here’s one that is inexpensive and goes through the wall and plugs into a wall outlet (it could share with the refrigerator), has an on/off switch in the cord. 576 cubic feet per minute! At 50 decibels, it’s not very quiet—about like your dryer, but no noisier than most range hoods. I once installed a range hood with a fan that vented through the wall and outside, but that was in Pennsylvania. I’m not sure that’s allowed here, or wise, given our rain and winds.

[Two Bills]

Be glad she’s not into Brussels sprouts

Best way to get unwanted guest to leave early.
Brussels Sprouts with meal, and a couple of pints of Guinness to wash them down.
Lethal combination, and never fail!

[retiredguy123]

I’m not a vegetarian, but I love broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, and other vegetables that are stinky. I don’t like the smell of food in my house after I’ve eaten. I suspect that a survey showed that an over-the-stove microwave oven would be a very popular selling point and would be cheaper than putting in a good range hood that vented through the roof. Range hood venting has to be metal all the way through the roof in case of a fire on the range. Also, a lot of range hoods really don’t suck the heat and smells up very effectively, due to their shape. Some are better than others. Those combined with microwave ovens NEVER work well because they aren’t big enough. You need something that sucks perhaps 300 feet per minute, ideally with the quietest fan you can find, and it has to be rated for stove venting. This is all expensive.

Here’s a cheaper solution I’ve been thinking about. A lot of kitchens here share a wall with the garage. (In some bigger houses, there is a laundry room between the kitchen and the garage.) What if you had a bathroom exhaust fan installed on that wall, perhaps above the door or above the cabinets? There are fans that are ultra quiet but still exhaust 150 cubic feet of air per minute. Just exhaust it into the garage. I think it would be far enough away from the stove so that it wouldn’t count as a stove vent fan or be a fire hazard, but it would vent broccoli smells the same way it vents bathroom smells. You could have it installed with a timer switch so it vents for five minutes to an hour. The smell would then be in your garage, but so what? It might add a little humidity to your garage, but it’s already humid. There’s no insulation to get wet. The only oils it would exhaust is what is already floating through your kitchen.

Here’s one that is inexpensive and goes through the wall and plugs into a wall outlet (it could share with the refrigerator), has an on/off switch in the cord. 576 cubic feet per minute! At 50 decibels, it’s not very quiet—about like your dryer, but no noisier than most range hoods. I once installed a range hood with a fan that vented through the wall and outside, but that was in Pennsylvania. I’m not sure that’s allowed here, or wise, given our rain and winds.
It would need to have a certified fire damper to comply with the building code. You cannot have any air openings between the garage and the living space.

[d1nod1no]

vent into the attic and then duct it to the soffit out to the eaves...outdoors

[skippy05]

Either sell the house and buy one with hood vented or set your wife up a cooking area on the back lanani.

[Pugchief]

Or eat the broccoli raw! Even better yet!

Actually, cruciferous vegetables (cauliflower, cabbage, kale, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, etc) are more nutritious cooked than raw.

[EdFNJ]

Be glad she’s not into Brussels sprouts And she is .... and anything else that stinks. :D. In our previous home in NJ the stove was against an outside wall and the vent went right thru the wall from the stove. About a total of 18". If I had won the lottery I would have redone the kitchen and moved the stove against the outside wall or just moved to a home with a vent. :D :D. Sadly I'll have to live with Lysol.

[EdFNJ]

It's connected to the bathroom vent and vented that way Huh? What?

[EdFNJ]

Either sell the house and buy one with hood vented or set your wife up a cooking area on the back lanani.. Thanks for the options. Appreciate it. Sadly we don't have a "lanani" only a lanai. Would that work?

[EdFNJ]

I did mine in two of my houses. One I was able to vent out the side which was much easier. The other I had to go through the cabinet above the microwave, through the attic and out the roof. it's quite a bit of work and unless you've done it before, I'd hire out. I'm not sure what they would charge but I'd say it took me about 3-4 hours. It's not much in materials, just tin ductwork, a roof vent, and some aluminum tape. Both of the houses had a soffit above the cabinets so I didn't have to wrap the ductwork between the cabinets and the ceiling.

You'll have to take the microwave down and flip the fan too.


** Caveat **

Even after doing it, it didn't make as huge a difference as I hoped it would. It does help some but those microwave fans are really weak. Anything you cook on the front burners of a stove barely gets pulled in to the fan. If you want anything more than that you're gonna have to replace your microwave with a high-quality hood vent, and they're probably not cheap. Bathroom fans are more effective because it's a small room and you can close the door, which creates somewhat of a vacuum. Most kitchens are open to the main living area of the house which is much larger, so it's more difficult for the fan to do its job unless it's really powerful.

I just want to set your expectations.

Another alternative is a gas grill with a burner and to cook the stuff outside, lol. I eat a ton of fish and that's what I'm gonna start doing, cooking it on the grill.

That's what i wanted/hoped to do, but not on my own. The attic isn't easy enough access for my 76 yer old body. The microwave exhaust is totally useless. There are some excellent range hoods out there. Our daughter (also a vegetarian) installed one in her home in VA and you'd never know she cooked a piece of broccoli or a fish even if you were staning next to her stove. If you get too close it will suck you out through the roof. :D

[retiredguy123]

The bottom line is that your plan is doable, but it won't be cheap, and you may need more than one contractor.

[d1nod1no]

Some folks (me)are opposed to microwave cooking.

[sowilts]

Does venting into an attic meet code requirements? The vapors will contain grease and moisture.
Cannot vent into an attic, has to vent outside.

[remedythis@sbcglobal.net]

Call me. 5592843317

[Wrhobson]

Our stove is against an inside wall (backed up to guest bathroom) and there is no outside vented duct for a range hood. My wife is a vegetarian and cooks the most "stinky" foods imaginable Broccoli is the absolute worst! Makes me nauseous. :D.

Anyone had a range hood with ducts through the ceiling added where there was no duct or hood before? The above the stove microwave has a built in circulating ductless fan with carbon filters but it's really useless. We'd obviously have to remove the microwave and go to a countertop model.

Suggestions for who does this kind of work and recent cost? Not looking for a kitchen remodel just a ducted hood over the stove. I am assuming it can be ducted straight up to and through the roof assuming there is no roof supports in the way or any building code against that. No access to outside wall just UP. It's the "usual" stove with above stove mounted microwave configuration.

Our above the range microwave is ducted to the outside and it is mounted to an interior wall. So, it CAN be done (with enough money!)

[Maker]

Find a microwave with a good vent fan. Don't waste counter space.
Remember that all exhaust must exit the house - not into attic space.
High CFM also emphasizes need for replacement air that has to come in, from outside somewhere. Would the least path of resistance be other fans' ducts? Or around windows and doors. What temperature is that air going to be?

[villagetinker]

ED, after rereading, the thread, here is what I would do:

1. Contact home warranty and ask them who does this work for new installs.
2. Call this contractor to see if they can work with you to install a new duct.
3. Discuss with above contractor about taking duct from kitchen, 45-degree angle to guest bathroom, and 45-degree angle to ceiling, then straight up to roof.
4. As noted above if the first contractor cannot cut the hole in the roof and properly seal the penetration, have a roofer ready to do this work.
This approach will keep the kitchen clean and will not impact the existing cabinets, and should have minimal impact on the guest bathroom.
The exhaust fan port on the microwaves appear to be centered and a standard size, also the typical UNDER CABINET range hoods seem to share the same location for the fan port. This approach allows for the removal of the microwave and the replacement with a hood at minimal cost. One work of caution, if you get the backsplash tiled (or similar) then you will have an unfinished area when the microwave is removed.
Hope this helps with your project.