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Ventahood mystery solved (attention all VAH owners)

16 years ago

See my earlier thread for background: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/appl/msg101923329543.html?21

The distributor was very, very helpful and after receiving their first call about my problem on Thursday sent an actual VAH rep this morning. Yesterday was a holiday here.

I know there are quite a few of you with similar issues of the internal dampers not opening fully. Turns out that when the unit settles into place the box shifts a bit, meaning that the little plastic dampers were catching on the lip of the duct opening.

I scored about 1/4" off the side of each damper with a utility knife and that was that. They now open fully (i.e. swing 6" all the way up until they are vertically pinned in their housing) on both low and high.

I love easy solutions and I love good customer service. Everyone who owns a VAH should get out a flashlight and look up at your dampers when the fan's on. If they're not opening all the way they're not performing optimally.

Now if I could only get my Wolf sorted out.

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Comments (7)

john_com
16 years ago
Thank for the work and hard earned solution, Detective keitel.

Where is my utility knife?

You done venting now? (Sorry, couldn't pass that one up.)

Seriously, you've helped quite a few here with your findings
ashlander
16 years ago
keitel:
Thank you for the info on the vent-a-hood damper. After I read your post, DH checked and our damper only opened about an inch. He took everything apart, and then I heard strange sounds coming from the kitchen (I was afraid to check).

He cut a little off the 'metal flange' and re-bent the flaps further so the plastic dampers can open all the way.
BIG difference in venting! Also, it seems to be a little quieter.
Thanks for persevering!
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keitel
Original Author
16 years ago
Yeah, I suppose adjusting the metal flange would affect the same change. We decided to cut the dampers just because the rep and I decided that they seemed easier to replace if something went wrong. Glad it helped, and I agree, it makes it much quieter given that the air has free flow now.
bayareanative
16 years ago
I'm so glad you posted this. Our VAH (1200 cfm) was installed last Sept. and the blowers on the left side only had one speed. I showed this to DH last night, he checked and, yep, that was the problem.

He bent a couple of tabs and the unit is working better, and MUCH quieter. He did mention that the clearances are very close, so not unexpected that this could be an issue.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!
keitel
Original Author
16 years ago
I'm glad to hear that the information helped you. Ah, the beauty of Garden Web.
bob411
16 years ago
The flaps on my VAH are aluminum, and I have the opposite problem, the flaps don't fall down. I noticed it the last time I cleaned it. They are not hung up on the sides, I think where they bent the metal, to for a hinge is too tight, or it's filled up with grease, and gunk. I sprayed WD40, but it didn't help, finally gave up, and put it back together.
engineer54
10 years ago
bob411, if there's a grease accumulation, I've found that WD40 is usually not the solution. WD40 is a light lubricant mixed with a penetrating solvent and it will temporarily free up binding mechanisms with old grease on them, but after a while much of the solvent evaporates and the old grease thickens again, causing the original problem to reappear. The proper solution is to wash ALL the old grease out with a solvent and then apply the correct type of fresh lubricant, if any. Exhaust vent louvers and flaps should work with no lubricant at all. Paint thinner works well for removing petroleum grease from most metals; you may need to use a small natural fiber brush, such as a disposable acid brush, to accelerate the action of the solvent. Accumulated rancid cooking grease can be removed with liberal application of Simple Green and/or household ammonia, full strength, followed by a water rinse.

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