18 guides
Range Hood Troubleshooting: Fixes for Common Problems
Weak suction, strange noises, dead fans, grease drips and smells. Find your symptom, work through the checks in order, and know when to call a pro.
Airflow and venting
Range Hood Not Venting? 9 Causes of Weak Suction and Fixes
Why your range hood has weak suction and how to fix it: clogged filters, a stuck damper, blocked or undersized ducts, missing makeup air and more.
Range Hood Duct Blocked? How to Check Your Ductwork Step by Step
How to tell if your range hood duct is blocked: simple airflow tests, where to look from inside and outside, and what to clear yourself versus leave to a pro.
Range Hood Vent Flap Stuck? How to Free Wall and Roof Caps
Range hood vent flap stuck or not opening? Fix painted-shut, greasy, iced or bent flaps on wall and roof caps, clear clogged guards, and stay safe on a ladder.
Range Hood Motor Overheating and Shutting Off: Causes and Fixes
Range hood fan shuts off after a few minutes and restarts later? Learn why the motor overheats, what the thermal protector does, and which fixes to try first.
Noise
Range Hood Making a Loud Humming Noise? Causes and Fixes
A loud hum from your range hood usually means a failing capacitor, a greasy or unbalanced blower, worn motor bearings or vibration. Here's how to tell which.
Range Hood Rattling Noise? How to Find and Fix the Loose Part
A rattling range hood usually has a loose filter, a fluttering damper, loose mounting screws or a blower wheel out of balance. Find the source in 15 minutes.
Power, lights and controls
Range Hood Not Turning On? 7 Causes to Check in Order
Range hood completely dead, no fan and no light? Check the breaker, GFCI, plug, control lock, thermal fuse and control board in this order before calling a pro.
Range Hood Fan Not Working but Light Works? 7 Causes and Fixes
If your range hood light works but the fan won't run, power is reaching the hood. The fault is the motor, capacitor, thermal protection, wiring or controls.
Range Hood Light Not Working? 6 Causes and How to Fix Them
Range hood light not working but the fan runs? Check the bulb type and fit, then the socket, light switch, transformer or LED driver. Step-by-step fixes inside.
Range Hood Buttons Not Working? Fix an Unresponsive Control Panel
Range hood buttons or touch panel not responding? Check for grease, lock modes, a power reset at the breaker, and failed membrane switches or control boards.
Grease, drips and smells
Grease Dripping From Range Hood? 7 Causes and How to Stop It
Grease dripping from your range hood usually means saturated filters, a full grease cup or grease draining back from the duct. Here's how to find and fix it.
Range Hood Dripping Water? Condensation Causes and Fixes
Why water drips from your range hood: cold ducts in attics or exterior walls, missing insulation, rain getting past the cap, no damper, and steam on low fan.
Range Hood Smells Bad Even After Cleaning? 7 Hidden Causes
Range hood still smells after you cleaned the filters? Find the source by smell: grease on the blower, spent charcoal, a greasy duct, a nest, or a hot motor.
Grease Buildup in Range Hood Ductwork: Fire Risk and Cleaning
How grease builds up in range hood ducts, the signs to look for, what to do in a hood or duct fire, and when to clean it yourself or hire a professional.
Cleaning and filters
How to Clean Range Hood Filters (and How Often to Do It)
How to clean range hood grease filters in the dishwasher or by hand, plus a cleaning and replacement schedule by filter type and how much you cook.
Charcoal Filter Replacement for Ductless Range Hoods
When to replace a ductless range hood charcoal filter, how to find the right replacement by part number and shape, and how to swap it in about 10 minutes.
How to Remove Baked-On Grease From a Range Hood Exterior
Remove baked-on grease from a stainless, painted or glass range hood without scratching it: degreaser steps, what to avoid, oven cleaner cautions and polish.
Repair or replace
Sizing a new hood? The CFM calculator gives you airflow, width and duct size for your cooktop and kitchen.
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