How To Fix A Leaking Range Hood

So you are fed up with the constant dripping of the range hood and staining your range. There can be quite a few reasons why it is happening.

I will help yous get to the bottom of the problem once and for all!

The range hood is dripping because of condensation inside the frazzle duct. The condensation occurs if – warm and moist indoor air comes into contact with a cold surface. In this case the exhaust duct wall.

The Moist air will condensate when the temperature of the duct wall is at or nether the dew point. This is why this is a "winter problem"

There can be many reasons why the duct is cold and causes oily water to baste from the range hood.

Nosotros will discuss all possible reasons in detail so y'all can observe out exactly which one is the culprit in your kitchen.

I will commencement from the most mutual problem and work my way downward to the least mutual.

Leaking/Missing Backdraft Damper

This is by far the most common reason why the duct is cold and leads to greasy liquid dripping downwards.

A backdraft damper is a simple flap that is operated either by gravity or a leap. Information technology will keep the duct working as it should. Open up merely to the outside and only when the range hood is running. This volition keep wasps and other insects out of your house and ventilation system.

Here is an helpful guide if you would like to larn more about ventilation dampers.

When the range hood is turned off the flap must be in a closed position. This means that no outside air should leak in.

Related Article: eight Reasons Why A Range Hood Is non Effective

However, nigh dampers on the market are of very poor quality. Some don't even take rubber seals, it'south only metal against metal.

Don't even get me started on the gravity-operated dampers. In lodge for them to create even a remotely tight air seal, they require the duct angle to exist simply right.

If the pitch is just a piffling off they will not completely close and that can exist the cause of your dripping range hood.

I strongly recommend against using gravity-operated dampers. (Pictured above)

They can make the range hood drip, waste product energy, and make the range hood noisy when it is windy outside.

I highly recommend AC infinity dampers _{(Amazon link)} . They usequality safe seals to prevent noise and any air leaks. This ensures that the duct stays warm and then that the range hood won't drip.

They have dampers from 4 to eight inches to fit most applications.

Even if you have an external damper on the wall y'all can still employ this, just install information technology right after the range hood. Since information technology is jump operated it can exist mounted both horizontally and vertically.

Poor Duct Insulation

Information technology is important to insulate the range hood duct the entire style to the external termination betoken(roof or wall vent).

The insulation must cover the duct 100%. There can be no gaps.

Condensation can occur even if there are small spots where insulation is missing or inadequate.

Warm indoor air will hit the common cold spot and condense to water. This condensed h2o will run down the duct and somewhen it will end up as an oily liquid dripping down from your range hood.

There are three options to insulating the ventilation duct. I will shortly go through each so you lot tin decide what's the right solution for you.

Insulate Your Existing Duct

You might be tempted to endeavour and relieve money past using regular fiberglass and using zip-ties to wrap it effectually the duct. Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to get 100% coverage doing this.

The practiced news is that there are many options available that work great.

One of them is foil-backed cotton duct wrap(amazon link). This works great for people with allergies since it won't emit dust like fiberglass.

Be enlightened though that it is quite thin, so yous need to wrap at least two layers on the duct.

Make sure you buy quality aluminum tape for the seams. Otherwise, over time the adhesive will let become and you will have to climb to the cranium once more 🙂 let'due south exist honest, nobody wants to become there more than than absolutely necessary.

Install Pre Insulated Duct

Depending on how your duct is installed this might be the easiest option.

Alert: Flex ducts are not approved by lawmaking in many places. Check local building code before installing ane.

Often at that place is non very much room in the attic to wrap insulation around the duct.

When space is express, and you are uncomfortable it is difficult to become a good result. Since the insulation must cover the entire duct it might be easier to disconnect the old duct and install a new pre-insulated duct_{(amazon link)}

A new duct might be a good thought if yours is very former, or has been used without fat filters(retrieve grease on the walls). This can exist a fire hazard.

It'south best to buy at to the lowest degree 1 ft more than you think you need, don't forget the clamps and check the duct dimension before ordering.

Dirty Fatty Filters

So you accept confirmed that the damper and insulation are fine. Why else can the range hood drip?

Then it must be the fat filters. If left uncleaned for as well long they can really get-go dripping grease. Although this requires them to exist extremely dirty.

Luckily they can be very easily cleaned.

Just throw them in the dishwasher, gear up the highest temp program, and let the machine take care of the grease.

A dirty fat filter combined with poor duct insulation will make the dripping liquid very nasty. It will be well-nigh like used deep fryer oil from your local fast food joint.

If your fat filters are fine and the range hood is nevertheless dripping then go back and cheque the insulation and damper since they must be the reason information technology is dripping.