Range hoods are very important in any home’s kitchen. They help keep the kitchen free of excessive smoke and other unwanted dirt. However, as you continue to use your range hood, you might notice that it is starting to wear off even after a series of thorough cleaning. Personally, I specialize in fixing, repairing and replacing range hoods, so I have the experience needed to talk about these products. In the recent past, the question that I have received from most of my audiences is one concerning how to replace a range hood. In this article, I address that problem in particular.
What you will need
As is the case with any other home repair, you will need the following tools when replacing your kitchen range hood:
- New range hood
- Screwdriver
- Wiring nuts
- Screws
- Circuit tester
It is important to note that it is very difficult to replace your range hood alone. You will need a helping hand to help you mount the new range hood amongst other activities here and there. Also, keep in mind that you will be dealing with electricity so keep safe.
- Begin by shutting off electricity
Even though your old range hood might be out of favor, it still runs on electricity. Before letting the joy of replacing it with a new one overwhelm you, switch off electricity and wait for about 20 minutes. Counter check to ensure that there is no other electricity supply to your old range hood. I insist on taking precautionary measure because the risk electrocution is always there if you are not careful.
- Carefully remove the old hood
When you are sure that there is no other power supply to your range hood, proceed to remove your old hood carefully. Begin by removing the electrical cables then unscrew the screws while your friend holds the old hood safely. Slide the range hood off after removing the screws ready for the next step.
- Check the condition of the wires
Check the condition of the old wires to see if you need to rewire or use the ones in place. The wires should be at least 12 inches to connect the hood and the wall efficiently. If your range hood does not have vents, skip step four and jump to step five.
- Get the ducts
If you are using a range hood with vents, the ducts will be very important in sealing the openings to avoid leakages. Locate the fan or the vent duct and make an opening equal to the size of the vents of your range hood.
- Install the new range hood
After opening up the wires, the next step is the actual installation of your new range hood. I recommend that you have a friend to help you at this stage because it is a bit technical. Take the new range hood and with the help of your friend, mark the places where you want the screws to fit. Put the range hood down and screw in the screws halfway. Take your range hood, slide it on the screws but do not tighten them yet.
- Finish up the wiring process
Taking the wires that you opened up in the previous stages, connect them according to their respective colors. The black should connect with the black, the white with the White and the green wires should connect to the green ones. Again, I strongly recommend that you take utmost care in this stage because any blunder can lead to back electrical damages.
- Tighten the screws and test
After connecting the electricity wires carefully, the next step is to tighten the screws in place so that they hold the hood tightly. Switch on the electricity to test that everything is working correctly.
Conclusion
Replacing your range good is not as hard. However, the process can be frustrating especially if you have to do it without the help of a friend. Also, you need to take care of all the precautionary measures especially when dealing with electricity. In my experience, changing range hoods can be a fun activity until something is not right. It is therefore important to be keen in all the stages for better results.
I would appreciate it if you left a comment below stating whether this article was meaningful to you. I hope that these tips will help you replace your range hood successfully. More Link…
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