Plaster walls and old framing
In prewar kitchens the route to the outside can run through brick or thick walls. We core the opening cleanly and seal around the duct.
Serving Berwyn & nearby Oak Park, Chicago
Range Hood Installation in Berwyn, IL
We install under-cabinet, wall chimney, island and insert range hoods in Berwyn, ducted outside wherever the house allows.
- Serving Berwyn ZIP 60402
- Installed level, sealed and tested before we leave
- Clear price for the install before the visit
Range hood installs we handle in Berwyn
Swapping a tired hood for a new one can be a short job, and adding a hood where there was none takes more planning. Either way, we work out in Berwyn where the duct can run, what the wiring needs and whether the village wants a permit, before you order.
No hood over the range at all
If your range sits under bare cabinets, we can install a new hood with a new duct, a new exterior cap and a switched circuit.
Flexible foil duct behind the old hood
Flex duct sags, collects grease and is a poor choice for a kitchen exhaust. The new run goes in as rigid metal pipe, taped and supported.
Duct too small for the new hood
The maker's instructions list the duct size the hood needs. If the existing duct is undersized, we enlarge the run rather than reduce at the hood.
Hood too narrow for the cooktop
When the outer burners sit beyond the edge of the hood, much of what they produce escapes. A wider canopy captures more of the plume.
Custom hood cover that needs an insert
If your cabinetmaker built a decorative hood, the working part is a hood insert. We fit it, duct it outside and wire it to the switch.
High-CFM hood and makeup air
Bigger isn't always better. Above a certain airflow, many codes call for makeup air, so we size the hood to what you actually cook.
Swapping an over-the-range microwave for a hood
An over-the-range microwave is a weak ventilator. Replacing it with an under-cabinet or chimney hood is a common install for us.
Included with the install
- Site check and sizingCooktop width, fuel type and duct path are checked before a model is chosen.
- Permit and approvalsWe find out whether the village needs a mechanical permit for a new duct penetration and pull it when it does.
- Removing the old hoodWe take out the old unit and check what is behind it before the new one goes up.
- Blocking and mountingMounting points set at the height in the maker's instructions.
- Wall cap or roof jackExterior wall cap or roof jack with a backdraft damper, flashed and sealed against weather.
- Electrical connectionPower brought to the hood and connected per the maker's instructions.
- Recirculating setupWhere ducting outside isn't possible, a recirculating kit with charcoal filters is installed.
Options to choose from
Internal and remote blowersMost hoods carry the fan inside; some use an inline or exterior blower to cut noise in the kitchen.
Island hoodsHoods suspended above an island, supported from the ceiling framing.
Under-cabinet hoodsThe most common style, tucked under the upper cabinet above the range.
Inserts and linersThe working core of a decorative hood, ducted like any other hood.
Ducted vs recirculatingVenting outdoors removes heat and moisture; ductless filtering is the fallback when no duct path exists.
What the work looks like in Berwyn homes
Before
Installed
DetailBefore and after: a prewar foursquare in Berwyn
A prewar foursquare near LaVergne, a typical kitchen for Berwyn. The kitchen as it was: an almond range and refrigerator and 1980s honey-oak raised-panel cabinets installed over the old plaster. The main complaint was a decades-old hood that blew grease back into the room. After: a new stainless chimney range hood ducted to the outside. On site this meant removing the old hood, blocking and mounting, plus electrical connection.
Before
AfterAn Oak Park vintage courtyard condo: before and after
The site: a vintage courtyard condo in Oak Park. What we started with: a 24-inch apartment gas range and a narrow white refrigerator and 1980s white laminate flat-panel cabinets with peeling edge banding. The main complaint was a small range with no real ventilation above it. The result: a new stainless chimney range hood ducted to the outside. The job covered removing the old hood, wall cap or roof jack, plus recirculating setup.
Range Hood Installation in Oak Park →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Oak Brook
A 1980s two-story in Oak Brook, a typical kitchen for Oak Brook. Before: white appliances and white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim. What bothered the owners most: cooking smells that stayed in the house for hours. After: a new stainless chimney range hood ducted to the outside. Work included permit and approvals, removing the old hood, plus blocking and mounting.
Range Hood Installation in Oak Brook →
Before
AfterKitchen Remodeling in a prewar brick bungalow, Berwyn
Finished: soft sage-green inset-style cabinets with unlacquered brass hardware, honed white marble-look quartz counters, a white handmade-look square tile backsplash, restored oak strip floor and schoolhouse pendant lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Berwyn →
Before
AfterBerwyn kitchen, prewar foursquare: kitchen cabinet painting
Finished: the same doors sprayed in soft white, new matte black pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Berwyn →Install day
- Photos and modelSend photos of the range wall, the old hood and the cabinet above, plus the model you like.
- Duct route and sizingWe decide where the duct can run and which hood fits that route.
- Written estimateAn itemized estimate for the hood install, duct, exterior cap, wiring and any permit.
- Install and testHood mounted, ducted and wired, then every speed tested and the damper checked.
Range Hood Installation questions from Berwyn homeowners
Do I need a permit to install a range hood?
A straight swap on an existing duct often doesn't. A new duct through a wall or roof often needs a mechanical permit; we check with the village.
Who installs a range hood: a plumber, an electrician or a contractor?
Usually not a plumber. A hood install combines carpentry, ductwork and electrical work, which is what our crews handle, with an electrician for any new circuit.
Ducted or ductless: which should I choose?
Ducted, whenever there is a reasonable path outside. A ductless hood with charcoal filters catches grease and some odor but returns heat and moisture to the room.
What size range hood do I need?
Width should usually be at least the width of the cooktop, and more over a gas or pro-style range. Fan capacity is chosen along with the duct size.
Can I duct a hood outside in my Berwyn condo?
It depends on the building. We review the rules and the existing vent with you first.
Berwyn contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
Contractors must be licensed and bonded with Berwyn; $10,000 surety bond and liability insurance naming the City per license (per licensing form. We take care of that before work starts.
Berwyn building permit for range hood installation: where do I apply?
Permits go through Building Department, City of Berwyn, phone 708-788-2660. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Who inspects kitchen hoods and fire safety in Berwyn?
Fire Prevention Bureau (Fire Marshal), (708) 749-6523. We schedule the inspection and have the paperwork ready.
Do I need historic review for range hood installation in Berwyn?
Berwyn has locally reviewed areas, including Central Berwyn Bungalow Historic District. Exterior changes there can need review; interior-only work usually does not. We check before anything changes on the outside.
Do I need a permit for range hood installation in Berwyn?
It depends on the scope. Berwyn's rule in short: City permit list includes any kitchen and bathroom remodeling, all electrical work, and plumbing/sewer work (faucet or toilet replacement excluded). We handle the permit when one is needed with Building Department, City of Berwyn.
Do you work in my part of Berwyn?
Yes. Our crews work across Berwyn, including South Berwyn, South Oak Park area, Depot District, LaVergne — ZIP 60402 — and nearby Oak Park, Chicago, Oak Brook.
Working in Berwyn
- Most Berwyn homes are prewar. We work around plaster walls, radiators and out-of-square rooms every week.
- Most Berwyn homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in the Central Berwyn Bungalow Historic District? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
South BerwynSouth Oak Park areaDepot DistrictLaVergneOgden Avenue
ZIP 60402
Range Hood Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Berwyn
Range Hood RepairFans, motors, switches, lights and rattles on kitchen range hoods.
Oven, Range & Cooktop InstallationGas and electric ranges, wall ovens and cooktops, safely connected.
Kitchen Electrical WorkNew circuits and outlets for kitchen appliances.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.