Here are four steps on how to install a range hood insert:
A vent hood or range hood insert is a great option for your custom hood. You can design the custom hood however you like and slide the range hood insert inside in just a couple of minutes.
If you ever encounter any issues during the installation of your Proline vent hood, call us at (877) 901 - 5530.
Our video is meant to be somewhat generic — to apply to anyone who wants to install a range hood insert in their home. But if you want to see the insert installation process in action, we thought we would round up a few range hood insert and custom hood installation videos and give you our two cents on them. We'll go over their installation process as well.
In the video below, the installers include a great suggestion at the end: to cut out a panel on the side of your hood so that you can access it to tape up the ductwork and do any additional maintenance in the future.
If that will work for you, we recommend doing it. It will save you from having to uninstall the whole thing should you ever need to work on the insert itself or the ductwork. Years down the line, this will make replacement easy too.
Next, you'll want to make sure that all air is properly vented to travel outside your home and that none is escaping into your kitchen.
Also, when installing your range hood insert, mount it between 28" and 36" from your cooktop. This will maximize the efficiency of your hood, filtering the right amount of air out of your home...not too much and not too little.
In the above video, a couple is installing a vent hood liner from GE Appliances in their kitchen.
Here's a quick overview of their installation process.
Once these steps are done, you've finished your custom hood. Now it's time to install your range hood liner or insert.
Note: Inserts and liners are the same, although sometimes called differently by professionals.
When installing range hood inserts, you have nearly unlimited options for design. The walls can be tile, drywall, or finished wood. And you can match that design with your custom hood or go with contrasting styles. At Proline, we've seen some fantastic and unique custom hoods, like this massive metal one below.
Customers have also used inserts to build beautiful custom hoods that integrate seamlessly with their cabinets or walls, like the couple in the video above. Rather than make a strong statement, the insert can be subtle and sleek.
We love the recommendation to seal the ductwork with aluminum tape. It's important that the ductwork is airtight to maximize the efficiency of your range hood insert. Great tip!
To set your insert inside the custom hood, you need to do a few things first.
From the outside of your home, cut a hole in the wall for your ductwork. This can be done with a sawzall as shown in the video.
When cutting a hole for your ductwork, be sure to cut the hole about a half-inch larger than your ductwork. For example, if you have 8-inch ductwork, cut a hole that is approximately 8.5 inches in diameter.
If you cut the hole to just 8 inches, it will be difficult to fit the ductwork. On the other hand, you don't want to cut it much larger either.
Second, cut out a final piece of your custom hood material that will go on the underside of your custom hood. Then, cut a hole in this bottom piece large enough so that you can lift your vent hood insert into the custom hood. Secure the wooden slab in place with a nail gun.
Third, lift your insert into the custom hood.
And finally, use some caulking glue to attach the wall cap to the outside of your house.
Over the course of just a couple of days, this couple was able to complete the installation of their range hood insert and their custom hood. They loved the result. For a detailed step-by-step guide on the installation, check out their blog.
These next two videos focus on the frame that holds the range hood insert. You can build your custom vent hood either with a custom hood kit or from scratch.
This short video from Lowe's summarizes the custom hood installation process. We'll go over it below.
For more details on the above process, refer to the above video. Or for a more detailed guide on installing your custom hood like the one shown in the video, click here.
The custom hood in this video replaces the upper cabinets, which is the most popular place for range hood inserts. As you build your custom hood, remember to allow for between 28 and 36 inches from your cooktop.
This video details how to build and install your custom hood from scratch. As we did above, we'll outline the steps below.
1 - Like in the video, unpack the vent hood insert and put it together as much as possible to use as a reference when building the custom hood. The last thing you want is for the range hood insert to not fit inside your new custom hood!
Also, his hood is ducted, so he will need to make sure that the framing accommodates adequate ductwork.
2 - Consider finding a place in your garage or shed to install the range hood insert just like it would be installed in your home. This way, if you make any mistakes the first time through, you can learn them and apply it to the actual permanent installation. This way you won’t need to worry about fixing these mistakes in your kitchen.
3 - Third, you can find a couple of pieces of wood in your garage that you won’t use for your installation, just to use as a reference point or straight edge when making your measurements.
4 - Consider the backsplash material to use in your kitchen. Each backsplash material has a different thickness, which needs to be accounted for during the installation process. His kitchen has subway tile so he accounts for its thickness to make more precise measurements.
Take a look at the fully built frame here.
For island range hoods, your ductwork vents through the ceiling and outside your home. Here is a helpful video on how to install your vent through the ceiling.
For a detailed step-by-step guide, click here.
The average homeowner can install a range hood through the wall in one to two hours. We’ve broken down this process right here in the video below.
To learn more about installing your wall hood, click here.
There you have it; two videos on how to install your vent hood insert and two videos on how to install your custom vent hood. If you don’t have the time or tools for the DIY method in the last video, the custom hood kit from Lowes will be less time consuming. Or, call your local range hood supplier to discuss custom vent hood options.
For more range hood installation tips, check out the articles below.
How to Install a Range Hood - Complete Guide
