How does a Kitchen Hood work?

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September 8, 2023 - Updated at January 28, 2025
Tiziano B.
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If you're a DIY enthusiast and love understanding how things work, this article is perfect for you. It will guide you through the workings of kitchen range hoods, helping you handle repairs independently in case of malfunctions.

Before diving into how to repair a kitchen hood, it's essential to know its structure, identify its components, and understand how it operates.

This ingenious device, often underestimated, plays a crucial role in keeping the kitchen environment fresh, clean, and free of unpleasant odors.

Get your tools ready because we’re about to explore the world of kitchen range hoods! After reading this article, you’ll know all their secrets.

The Essential Function of a Kitchen Range Hood

The kitchen range hood is a fundamental appliance designed to capture and remove fumes, vapors, and odors produced during cooking.

Its primary function is to purify the air in the kitchen, improving air quality and creating a more comfortable and healthier environment.

Proper care, including regular cleaning and maintenance, is essential to ensure the hood works effectively over time.

How a Kitchen Range Hood is Built

What are the key components of a kitchen hood and what is their function?

Each part plays a vital role, and if worn or improperly installed, it can compromise the hood’s performance, affecting its ability to extract and filter air effectively.

Components of a Kitchen Range Hood

Below is a table listing all the components found in any kitchen range hood, regardless of its model or type (built-in, island, etc.), along with a description of their functions.

It’s worth noting that there are two main types of hoods: ducted hoods and recirculating hoods.

Ducted hoods direct fumes and vapors outside,
Recirculating hoods filter and reintroduce the cleaned air into the kitchen.

For each component, the table specifies its function and whether it is found in ducted hoods, recirculating hoods, or both.

* Components in the table are listed from the outermost to the innermost part of the hood.

Name	Function	Component
Control panel	Located on the external surface of the hood, it allows you to turn it on, adjust the suction speed, control the lighting, and manage other specific functionalities of the hood.	Ducted hood Recirculating hood
Outer shell	The external casing contains the suction system. It defines the style and design of the hood.
Lights	Illuminate the cooking surface below. These lights can be LED or halogen, in the form of bulbs or spotlights.	Ducted hood Recirculating hood
Grease Filters	Located inside the hood to capture grease and solid particles from cooking fumes. These filters are removable and washable.	Ducted hood Recirculating hood
Activated Carbon Filters	Positioned further inside than the metallic grease filters, these filters further neutralize odors and fumes from the cooktop.	Recirculating hood
Motor	The motor drives the airflow in the hood.	Ducted hood Recirculating hood
Impeller, turbine or blade	The blade, powered by the motor, generates the airflow that enables the suction of cooking vapors and fumes.	Ducted hood Recirculating hood
Ducts	A system of pipes connects the hood to the outside, directing fumes and vapors outward. Proper installation is crucial to avoid efficiency loss. They should be installed correctly to avoid loss of efficiency.	Ducted hood
Non-return Valve	Ensures cold air or odors from outside do not enter the kitchen through the pipes and motor.	Ducted hood

How a Kitchen Range Hood Works

Now that we’ve understood the structure of a kitchen range hood and its essential components, let’s move on to the crucial part of this article: understanding how a range hood works.

Once you grasp how it functions, you’ll also be able to diagnose issues and malfunctions and know where to start for repairs.

Let’s now take a step-by-step look at how a kitchen range hood works, following the airflow path:

Control Panel or Buttons: the hood is activated via a control panel that allows you to turn it on, adjust the suction speed, and activate any lights.
Metal Grease Filters: the air begins its journey by passing through a grease filter located at the bottom of the hood. This filter serves as the first barrier, capturing grease particles and other impurities present in cooking vapors.
Fan: the air continues upward and reaches the fan. The fan, also called an impeller or blade, is responsible for propelling the air through the filtration system and towards the outside.
Activated Carbon Filters (if present): activated carbon filters are typically found in recirculating/filtering hoods. After being pushed by the fan, the air passes through a carbon filter. Thanks to its density and adsorptive properties, this filter is designed to capture odors and substances from cooking vapors.
Ducts or Exhaust Pipes: in ducted hoods, the air propelled by the fan is directed outside the building through exhaust ducts. This is the most effective method for completely eliminating odors and fumes from the kitchen.
Non-Return Valve: in ducted hoods, the air traveling through the exhaust ducts encounters a non-return valve. If present, this valve prevents cold air or odors from outside from entering the kitchen via the pipes and motor.
Exit Grille: the filtered air or the air expelled through the ducts exits through a grille, which can be located on the ceiling or the exterior wall of the building.
Air Recirculation: in the case of filtering hoods, the filtered and cleaned air is reintroduced into the kitchen through a series of exhaust vents.

By understanding these steps, you can better identify potential issues and keep your range hood running smoothly!

Range Hood Spare Parts

Like all household appliances, a range hood is subject to wear and requires regular maintenance.

Over time, grease and dirt can accumulate on the filters and internal components of the hood, compromising its suction efficiency and, consequently, the air quality in your kitchen.

To maintain its functionality, we recommend:

Regularly checking and cleaning grease filters: Ensure they are free of buildup to maintain proper airflow.
Replacing activated carbon filters: This helps preserve their filtering capacity.
Monitoring for abnormal noises: If you hear loud rustling or metallic sounds from inside the hood, refer to our guide to identify the cause.
Ensuring the hood doesn’t emit unpleasant odors: This could indicate a maintenance need.

If you notice significant wear, you can order replacement parts directly from the Filtro Cappa website. We stock over 10,000 types of spare parts for all hood models and brands.

(And if you don’t find it, contact us! We’ll source it for you! ?)

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