Wednesday, November 24, 2010

How do you find/install a replacement over-stove kitchen exhaust fan?

Are is making funny noises and dying. The hood is labeled with the brand Nautilus. But I'm not sure how to tell what the model is. This range is over 10 years old, so not sure what the match it up with a replacement model.



It looks fairly straightforward to replace, but any tips in that area would be great!How do you find/install a replacement over-stove kitchen exhaust fan?Answer coming up as fast as I can type...



REPLCEMENT KITCHEN HOODS:



Manufacturer of ETL listed hoods. Stainless steel and pre-engineered

www.captiveaire.com



Kitchen Range Hoods

Spice up your kitchen design with Italian-made designer range hoods!

www.futurofuturo.com



800-APPLIANCE-San Diego

Free service call with any repair Satisfaction guarantee or don't pay

800appliance.com



Low Rate Appliance Repair

Free service call with repair. Over 20 years experience.

www.lowratesappliancerepair.com



HOW TO CLEAN AND REPAIR A KITCHEN RANGE HOOD:



A range hood that doesn't adequately remove smoke and smells from your kitchen is usually suffering from one of a few common problems: The grease filter or some part of the exhaust ductwork may be clogged, or the fan may be bad. Neither of these repairs should take you much time.



Overall Things You'll Need:



Plumber's Snake

Ammonia

Soap

Replacement Fan

Screwdriver, or nut driver and socket

Old Toothbrush

Heavy Rag

Plastic Pan



Unclogging the exhaust system:



Instructions:



STEP 1: Remove the grease filter by sliding it out of its clips.

STEP 2: Submerge the filter in a plastic pan filled with hot, soapy water and 1/2 cup (4 fl oz/125 ml) ammonia. Let it soak for at least 15 minutes. If it's still dirty, soak it again, then rinse it thoroughly and set it aside to dry.

STEP 3: Remove the exhaust fan. Unplug the fan, then use a screwdriver or a nut driver and socket to take out the screws that attach it to the hood.

STEP 4: Clean the fan blades with an old toothbrush dipped into the ammonia-water mixture (see Warning).

STEP 5: Clean the inside of the exhaust ductwork, using a plumber's snake with a heavy rag tied around the end. Push the snake through the ductwork. Soak the rag in the ammonia and water mixture, then run it through the ductwork. Rinse out the rag and repeat the operation until the duct appears to be clean.

STEP 6: Clean the exhaust hood that's attached to the outside of your house. Use the old toothbrush and the ammonia-water mixture to loosen the grit and grime around the flapper plate. Make sure the plate moves freely when you're done. If it sticks closed, it can prevent the exhaust hood from working.

STEP 7: Reinstall the grease filter.





REPLACING THE FAN MOTOR:



Instructions:



STEP 1: Remove the grease filter by sliding it out of its clips.

STEP 2: Turn on the fan and inspect the motor. It needs to be replaced if it hums rather than turns, turns very slowly, runs for a short time then stalls, or feels very hot and won't turn.

STEP 3: Disconnect and remove the fan, following step 3, above.

STEP 4: Take the fan to an appliance store to get an exact replacement.

STEP 5: Install the new fan.



OVERALL TIPS AND WARNINGS:



Never put a grease filter in your dishwasher to clean it. You could end up with a film of hard-to-remove grease on the dishwasher walls.

Clean your grease filter monthly. It's your first line of defense against grease and grime that can damage the fan motor and plug the ductwork.

When cleaning the blades on the exhaust fan, take care not to wet the motor. The water could short-circuit the motor when you reinstall it.How do you find/install a replacement over-stove kitchen exhaust fan?I have been looking for a new one, too. You don't have to buy Nautilus. Check Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, or any other home improvement store. Measure the old hood and make sure you get your measurements right. Most of them are standard sizes-about 36%26quot;. There are stainless steel, white, off white and I bet other colors. But they would be custom. Good luck!How do you find/install a replacement over-stove kitchen exhaust fan?I found my replacement at Menards (hardware store), my gf found hers at Sears, Most appliance stores carry them. The size is pretty standard but measure to be sure. I had an electrician put mine in; my gf had Sears install hers.How do you find/install a replacement over-stove kitchen exhaust fan?remove entire overhead unit,fan is built in and cheaper and 50 times easy erHow do you find/install a replacement over-stove kitchen exhaust fan?Installing a new hood is easy once you see the how to video in the store, or borrow it from your library; however, the old duct might be very dirty and the built up grease can be blocking the air flow, so you might check into cleaning the duct or replacing it also. We had appliance repair person do the thorough cleaning of the system (1hr service charge) and with a new filter the old hood came back to life. Good luck.How do you find/install a replacement over-stove kitchen exhaust fan?home depot or lowesHow do you find/install a replacement over-stove kitchen exhaust fan?Just be sure you buy the right size to fit your opening. They come with instructions on how to install.