How Do You Clean Your Outside Range Hood Vent?

13 years ago

Hi to Everyone! :)

Finished my kitchen over a year ago, so I haven't been around. Tried to do a search on this and found mostly advice on cleaning the 'inside' hood parts.

But how do all of you clean your duct on the outside of the house? And how often?

Vaguely remember reading "once a year" (and obviously I haven't done it yet!) ... so is my house in imminent danger of burning down??? Also have a vague idea that I read somewhere that one wraps rags around a broom handle, sprays it with a degreaser cleaner, and pokes it up there?

Does this sound right?

(and how do people who live in high rises in NY do this?!)

TIA!

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Comments (6)

User
13 years ago
In my experience with my 1400 cfm Tradewind liner with baffles there would be no need to ever "clean" any parts except the baffles. My rationale for this is the following.

Once a week ( more often if it warrants it ) I remove the baffles and clean them. depending on how much stir fry and deep fat frying we have done they are quite greasy, sometimes very very oily and one or two times , before I realized that they capture everything they were dripping droplets of golden oil.

I also wipe down the surrounding area and there is never anything on this area at all. I have pushed the damper up and tried to wipe in that area and felt up there with my hand and there is nothing up there either.

The process of using your hood correctly should remove any need for cleaning other than the baffles. The hood should be turned on at least 5 min. before you begin cooking and remain on at least that long at the end. This insures that all grease products are trapped on the baffles and then the remaining products, steam/heat/odors are removed to the outdoors.

I hope this helps you with your decision. The baffles or your mesh should be very dirty on a regular basis, depending on your cooking style. Also there should not be any grease on any part of your surrounding area in the kitchen. If there is then the vent is not working correctly or you can adjust your use of it. Good Luck c
biochem101
Original Author
13 years ago
No, no. Of course I clean the inside.

I mean that I read (somewhere on here I thought) that one should clean the pipe leading into the house from the outside once a year. I know you can hire people to do this. There are plenty of duct cleaning services. Like chimney cleaners.

I just planned to do it myself using the method I'd read. It's been 2 years now and so many posts apparently disappeared I can't find it by searching. Maybe I should try the appliance forum?

Just wondered how it went if other people were doing it. So you are saying you have never cleaned your duct work? Interesting.
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User
13 years ago
Nope I have never cleaned it...it has been 4 year now of very heavy use. I am still not sure what you would be " cleaning" out of the duct. Everything that would accumulate would be grease and that is on the baffles. Will be interested to hear what else there could be to clean. I am always wanting to learn new things. Glad you posted and wish there were more responses. Let me know if you please. c
stogniew
13 years ago
not completely related- but how do you clean the buffles?
weedmeister
13 years ago
Lets see.. my parents had a Ventahood for about 40 years. They never cleaned the vent on the roof. Never.
User
13 years ago
efs: do you have a range hood ? does it have baffles or mesh grids ? I spray my baffles, there are 3 separate units , with degreaser. I wait a few minutes and then run very hot water over them . Done. You can also just put them in the dishwasher w/o spraying or after spraying , or you can brush then lightly with a pastry brush after spraying. All good. They take about 10 min. per week. Mine get really greasy due to our stirfrying and deep fat frying. Here is a pic of baffles for you if you aren't sure what I am talking about.

How Do You Clean Your Outside Range Hood Vent?

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biochem101
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How Do You Clean Your Outside Range Hood Vent?

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biochem101Original Author

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biochem101
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