Hood - a device that cleans the air in the apartment from the smells of cooked food on the stove, the smallest particles of fat and gas combustion products. It is believed that the installation of the hood in the kitchen improves the microclimate of the living room, ensures normal air exchange, is part of the supply and exhaust ventilation.
For the installation of a household appliance, you do not need to hire a specialist: thanks to detailed instructions, diagrams and equipment, you can install it yourself. However, this requires basic skills in tool ownership and a small supply of knowledge.
In the article we tried to explain all the subtleties of the installation process - we listed the main requirements of the installation, and also prepared a step-by-step master class on attaching the hood and connecting it to the duct and mains.
Rules for installing exhaust devices
Installation depends not only on external conditions, but also on the characteristics of the device itself: type, shape, size, weight, purpose, set of functions.
Some hoods are built into furniture modules, others are hung in the middle of the kitchen - above the “island”, others are simply mounted on wall mounts.
Before installing, be sure to get acquainted with the technical specifications and recommendations of the manufacturer: it may be necessary to invite an assistant or even hire a team to fix a heavy device due to the heavy weight
All home hoods can be divided into 2 categories:
- duct devicesthrough which the exhaust air is discharged into the ventilation shaft;
- circulating type devicespurifying air with filters.
The former have greater performance, but are more difficult to install, the latter are easily mounted on the wall, but they clean the air efficiently only until the filters become clogged. But there is a third option - combined, combining the capabilities of both categories.
Today it is easy to get confused in the range of exhaust devices. You can find everything in household appliance stores: from the simplest “visors” with carbon filters to expensive “island” units designed for installation in spacious rooms.
Image Gallery
Photo from
The main difficulty during installation will be the preparation of the installation site - a small cabinet that is mounted directly above the stove, as well as the placement of channels for venting fumes
Popular hoods requiring free installation space. They have a beautiful design, more efficient, but the connected duct after installation requires masking
If the working surface is not traditionally located - against the wall - but in the middle of the kitchen, then you can not do without special hanging equipment fixed to the ceiling
The hood is fixed to the shelf or the bottom plane of the kitchen cabinet, and the duct, if any, is built into this cabinet
Device for installation in a kitchen cabinet
Wall mounted unit of inclined or dome type
“Island” units with custom installation
Economical pendant
Even with a quick inspection of the devices, it becomes clear that they are installed in different ways. What do you need to consider when installing a kitchen hood yourself?
If you leave aside the technical nuances of the equipment and focus only on installation, then the following rules will come in handy:
- the device should be compact, suitable in design and size that fit into the interior;
- Before installation, it is necessary to prepare a place: check the strength of the load-bearing wall or select a furniture module;
- if the gas pipe passes nearby, you need to consider installing it on an arm or choose a more expensive option - transferring the pipeline;
- according to requirements, the device is mounted at a certain height: 65-75 cm for electric stoves, 75-85 - for gas stoves (except for some models, which can be installed below);
- installation of air ducts is planned in advance - the dimensions of ducts or exhaust pipes, the number of turns, the “route” of passage.
Even when choosing equipment and the installation height of the hood, such nuances as the size of the hob and the height of the person who will be engaged in cooking are taken into account.
The wider the stove, the larger and more efficient the hood should be. And the height of the installation depends on human growth - the screen should not interfere with doing business
Ideally, the exhaust screen should be slightly wider than the stove, no matter which one it is, gas or electric, but remember that combustion products are released during gas combustion, so it’s better to purchase a more powerful unit.
The main stages of the installation of the hood
Island appliances are less common, and they are also recommended to hire at least two workers for their installation. Therefore, we will consider how to properly install a cooker hood of a simpler model in the kitchen with your own hands - built-in or wall-mounted.
The equipment is connected to the mains and the air duct according to the same principles, however, the installation is carried out in different ways: the built-in integrates into the cabinet, the wall is attached to the wall.
Step # 1 - preparing the tool and installation location
The greatest difficulties are expected from the preparation itself, since you will either have to hammer the main wall under the dowels, or cut out the mounting holes in the cabinet.
Procedures for the direct installation of the hood body are carried out easily by assembling and tightening screws or screws.
The easiest to install are wall-mounted models, for hanging which you need to install either a pair of mounts, or a special bracket on which it is suspended
So, for work you will need:
- laser level;
- tape measure and marker for marking;
- for a concrete wall - a perforator or impact drill, for a wooden one - a screwdriver;
- set of keys and screwdrivers;
- for processing cabinet and plastic boxes - hacksaw, jigsaw, milling cutter, sandpaper.
The air duct usually has a prefabricated design, so a sealant, preferably silicone, is also useful. We recommend all work to be done with protective gloves, and drilling of concrete walls with special glasses.
Carefully read the instructions - all the basic installation rules are set out in it. There you can find schemes with dimensions that will be required in the first stage
If mounting on a wall, check for strength. Usually, the wall near which the slab is installed is a supporting one, so it does not raise doubts about reliability.
However, the lining may disappear during operation if it is a tile, a decorative screen made of plastic or a laminated plate, which, by the way, is not recommended to be placed near a gas hob.
For the built-in model, prepare the cabinet - remove the bottom plane, make a hole at the top to bring the duct out. Replace it - just like the adjacent cabinets.
Often, kitchens are made to order, after the acquisition of the hood, so the owner of the apartment needs only to provide an installation diagram - factory workers will do everything for him
If the duct will “hide” behind the mezzanine or be built into the suspended ceiling, this should also be taken into account in advance. For this reason, the installation of suspended structures is usually postponed until the end, the ceilings are equipped after the installation of the kitchen.
Step # 2 - unpacking and checking the configuration
To make sure that the installation process goes smoothly, you need to get the hood out of the package and carefully examine all its parts.
Sometimes it is one big case with filter niches and a short branch, sometimes it’s a complex prefabricated design with a large screen or dome.
Pay attention to the mounting kit. The screws and brackets do not always correspond to the required strength - you may need to replace them with more reliable parts that are suitable in size
Pay special attention to the control panel and decorative parts - scratches and small dents are sometimes the result of a blow and indicate possible damage.
The electric wire with the plug must be sealed with insulation.
Often in the kit you can find a stepped adapter. It is necessary to connect the hood with a pipeline through which air is vented out. Use a knife or hacksaw to cut a segment suitable for diameter
Check for filters - they are not supplied with all models. However, in circulation and combination hoods, the starter kit is usually present. It includes an anti-greasy element - a metal mesh, as well as carbon filters - 1-2 pieces.
If everything is in order and you do not need to purchase additional parts for installation, you can start marking.
Step # 3 - marking work
Any household appliance will work with 100% efficiency if installed correctly, so first we take a level, tape measure, pencil or marker and draw two perpendicular lines on the wall.
The first is the vertical, going from the stove to the installation site, which centers the hood and the stove, and the second is the horizontal of the working surface of the hood.
The hood screen and hob must be placed strictly one above the other, in parallel. Offset is wrong, not only due to safety or functionality requirements, but also from an aesthetic point of view.
To beat the vertical and horizontal using a level. If during the work you notice that the plate itself is located with a slope, then it is better to immediately take measures to level it
Next, you need to look at the instructions and, according to the installation diagram, designate the mounting points of the bracket or other device for hanging on the wall.
If the hood is built into the cabinet, then you just need to take its body, attach it to the walls of the cabinet and also mark the mounting points.
Now manufacturers are trying to maximally ease the installation of devices by the hands of buyers themselves, so they complete the hoods with templates and stencils, with which you can quickly and easily determine the mounting points
This marks the end of the marking work. If you plan to install an air duct, we recommend that you pre-plan the laying path and the possibility of fixing pipes or ducts to the wall (cabinet).
Step # 4 - Attaching the hood to the surface
The processes for wall mounting and embedding in a cabinet are different, so consider both.
Installing an Inclined Wall Model
The installation process of an inclined wall hood is one of the simplest.
Please note that usually a kit includes fasteners for concrete or brick walls. If the base material is different, other fasteners will be required.
The procedure is as follows:
- We fix the template on the wall with tape so that the horizontal lines on paper and on the wall coincide in height, as well as the center line.
- According to the template, we drill holes in the wall with a drill. Usually their diameter is 10 mm, but it is better to clarify in the instructions. Depth - not less than 50 mm. If the wall is tiled, first we use special drills so as not to break the tiles.
- We remove the template from the wall, and insert 10 mm dowels into the holes.
- We screw the screws into the holes so that between the hat and the wall there is a small distance for hanging the device.
- We take the hood housing, remove and set aside the filters. On the inside of the case we find mounting holes that are reminiscent of a keyhole in shape - we hang a hood for them on the wall.
If only the circulating operation of the device is planned, this is the end of the installation.
To connect the duct, you need to install a false pipe.
A raised pipe or raised box is a decorative part, often with the possibility of extension due to the telescopic design. Used to mask the duct
First we install the air duct, and then the false pipe. For its fastening, two special holes are used on the inside of the hood and two self-tapping screws screwed into the wall.
When all the hood elements are installed, it remains to insert the filters, and you can proceed to the next steps - further installation of the duct and connecting to the power supply.
Mounting the integrated hood
The built-in hood is mounted differently:
- We check with the help of a level whether a cabinet is installed exactly relative to the hob.
- We remove the bottom panel of the cabinet - the shelf to which it will be attached, and we fix the template with tape.
- With a pencil or awl, we mark 4 mounting holes according to the pattern - they will be located in the corners, as well as the center of the large hole intended for the duct.
- With a compass, measure the radius using the same template, and draw a circle to then cut a hole.
- We take a drill, install a 5 mm drill and drill holes for self-tapping screws in the marked places, and then an electric jigsaw, clearly in a circle, under the air duct.
- We put an adapter on the hood to connect to the ventilation duct or pipe.
- If the cabinet is small, we immediately fix the shelf to the hood, and then we fix everything together in the module; if it’s large - first we put the “bottom” of the cabinet in place, and then - the hood.
- Mount the cabinet on the wall.
The final stage is the installation of filters and connection to the power supply. Laying the duct can be done immediately or later.
To get the pipe inside the cabinet, the upper panel will also have to be reconstructed - cut a hole along the diameter of the duct. If additional shelves are located in the cabinet, you will have to work with them
A cabinet with an extractor hood is not purely technical, that is, it can be used for long-term storage products, dishes, or kitchen utensils.
Step # 5 - Installing the Duct
Duct - a channel for venting fumes and combustion products to the outside. At one end it connects to the hood adapter, the other at the hole leading into the ventilation shaft or done in the wall of the house.
The second option is only suitable for private homes.
An example of an air duct leading from a hood to a ventilation hole in a wall. It is non-separable, as it consists of plastic parts interconnected by a sealant
It is not difficult to select details of the required sizes, make calculations and draw up a diagram. But it is important to take into account one point: do not tightly block the ventilation hole with the duct from the hood, otherwise the natural ventilation of the room will be disrupted.
There are two ways to maintain the supply and exhaust air exchange:
- install double grill, one half of which remains open, and the second is a hole for connecting the pipe;
- equip the outlet with a valve, which can be opened / closed if necessary.
The grid is good because it is always open and does not require additional actions.
Double plastic grilles for mine access equipment can be purchased at the store, or can be done independently, slightly improving the design already installed
Some factory models of grilles are equipped with a pipe that facilitates the connection of a pipe or duct.
The plus is that you can choose a model for a certain size or shape of the hole.
Modules with a valve are also sold in stores, but their design is so simple that, if desired, you can use a fragment of the duct to exit with the curtain in the opposite direction
If you are concerned about the aesthetic side of the issue, then you can choose a model with a check valve, which is installed from the side of the shaft.
As ducts, plastic boxes, corrugated pipes, special ventilation pipes with fittings are used.
How to connect them together and fix on the walls, ceiling or cabinets, depends only on the type of channels and installation conditions.
Plastic ducts of round and rectangular section are presented in a large assortment, so you can always pick up a prefabricated kit for a specific scheme
Before installation, it is advisable to stretch the corrugated pipe - put it on the pipe, and then pull it out as far as possible towards the ventilation hole. Many hollows and protrusions are fraught with the fact that the duct will quickly clog up with grease and soot.
Step # 6 - connecting to the mains
Household hoods can not be compared with the same washing machines or air conditioners, so a regular outlet is enough to connect the device. It is better to install it next to the device, to the right or left.
If the hood is built into the cabinet, then the outlet is placed under it.
Typically, a small section of the wall under the ceiling remains above the kitchen wall cabinets. It can also be used to install an outlet, the only inconvenience is the high location
When installing an electric point, you need to remember two nuances: high humidity and mandatory grounding. The first is easy to accomplish by purchasing an electrical installation with a protection class of IP44 and higher. With the second, problems may arise, especially if the high-rise building is old.
We do not recommend doing any actions on your own, be sure to invite an electrician. He will find a way out of the situation, and at the same time install the missing circuit breakers on household appliances.
The electrical panel, installed directly in the apartment or on the site, must be finalized by including in the electrical circuit an RCD and automatic machines for protecting "kitchen" lines
After installing the hood and connecting it to the power supply, you need to test by installing pre-filters.
Built-in model - detailed instruction:
Video workshop on mounting the "slider":
How to install and connect the dome model:
An example of installing a plastic duct:
The installation of the hood refers to those household chores that you can perform yourself, without the involvement of specialists. The main installation guide is always the manufacturer’s instructions, the rest depends on the specific conditions..
However, for any departures from the manufacturer's recommendations, remember the requirements for the installation and operation of electrical appliances, ventilation, cooking surfaces.
Have something to supplement, or have questions about installing and connecting a cooker hood? You can leave comments on the publication, participate in discussions and share your own experience in the implementation of installation works. The contact form is located in the lower block.