Proper ventilation in a kitchen is necessary to prevent a build-up of odors in the home while cooking. To vent a stove, you need to install a range hood and connect it to a duct pipe that will carry the odors outdoors. This article will explain how to vent a stove through an exterior wall.
1Measure the length of vent pipe required to extend through the exterior wall to the outside of the home.Ad
2Purchase a range hood, vent pipe (duct pipe), pipe elbows and a vent cap.
- The range hood should be wide enough to extend 3 inches (7.5 cm) on either side of the stove.
- The vent pipe (duct pipe) should be 6 inches (21cm) in diameter and the same length as the measurement in Step 1.
3Examine the manufacturer’s instructions and design to determine whether the ductwork will go into the wall directly behind the range hood or whether the pipe will extend above the range hood.
4Measure a distance of 24 to 30 inches (60 to 75cm) above the stove for the placement of the range hood. Use a level to determine placement of the bottom of the range hood.
5Hold the template in place, if you have one, and use a pencil to mark the spots for the screws to fasten the range hood to the wall and where the vent pipe will enter the wall. If there is no template, temporarily raise the hood in place to mark the spot for the vent pipe.
6Run wires from the nearest electrical outlet if no existing wiring is available to power the range hood fan and light. Cover any visible wires with conduit.
7Cut a hole in the wall for the vent pipe.
- Put the vent pipe against the wall and trace around its diameter with a pencil.
- Drill a hole in the center of the circle with a spade bit, and then cut around the circle with a reciprocating saw. Wear goggles for safety.
- Center the drill in the circle and use a long bit to drill through to the outside of the home.
- Go outside and center the vent pipe on the hole you drilled.
- Trace around the pipe’s diameter and cut out the circle to create a hole for the vent pipe.
8Put silicone caulking underneath the vent cap, and then screw it into the exterior wall over the hole. The vent cap will keep out animals and the weather and hide an unsightly hole.
9Turn off the electrical power to the stove area.
10Mount the range hood on the kitchen wall with screws and connect the electrical wires for the blower motor on the fan and the range hood light to the household circuits.
11Connect the vent pipes and any necessary elbows to run the pipe outside and tape the pipes with aluminum duct tape. The final pipe leading outside likely will require trimming with tin snips.
12Turn on the power back on and test that the fan and light work on the installed range hood.Ad
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- If you don’t have a reciprocating saw to cut the hole for the duct pipe, drill a series of holes around the perimeter of the circle and knock it out.
- If you’re not comfortable with electrical work, get someone experienced to connect the wiring and make sure the kitchen circuits aren’t overloaded.
- Failure to turn the power off before attaching the wires for the fan blower and range hood light could cause a harmful electric shock.
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Range hood
- Vent pipe and elbows or flexible ductwork
- Vent cap
- Reciprocating saw
- Silicone caulking
- Aluminum duct tape
- Tin snips