1960s hood on a small old duct
A 1960s hood is often both weak and worn out. Replacement is usually the better investment.
Range Hood Installation →Serving Des Plaines & nearby Mount Prospect, Park Ridge
Kitchen Ventilation & Range Hoods in Des Plaines, IL
Smoky kitchen, a dead fan or a greasy hood? We install, repair and clean range hoods in Des Plaines homes.
- Installers working in Des Plaines ZIP 60016, 60018
- Hookups by licensed trades where the code calls for it
- Old unit hauled away on request
Kitchen ventilation problems we fix in Des Plaines
A kitchen that stays smoky, smells of last night's dinner or leaves grease on the upper cabinets has a ventilation problem. In Des Plaines we install new hoods with proper ductwork, repair the ones that stopped working and deep-clean the ones choked with grease.
Grease buildup above the stove
Built-up grease in the hood and duct is a hazard. Cleaning removes it before it becomes a problem.
Residential Kitchen Hood Cleaning →New range, old hood
A wider or more powerful range often outgrows the old hood. We match the new hood to the cooktop width and the burners.
Range Hood Installation →Fan stopped working
Most fans that stop are repairable with a new switch, board or motor.
Range Hood Repair →Cold draft from the hood
Grease or a bent flap keeps the damper from sealing. We free it or install a new one.
Range Hood Repair →Hood that only recirculates
Recirculating hoods are a compromise. When a wall or roof path is possible, a ducted hood clears the kitchen far better.
Range Hood Installation →Kitchen stays smoky when you cook
A hood that lets smoke roll out from under it is often undersized for the cooktop or recirculating instead of ducted. Replacement solves it.
Range Hood Installation →No hood over the range
If your stove sits under bare cabinets, we can install a hood and a new duct to the outside.
Range Hood Installation →What the install includes
- Diagnosis on siteWe look at the hood, the fan, the filters and where the duct goes before recommending anything.
- Hood sizing and selectionWe help choose a hood that fits the range and the route outside.
- Ductwork and exterior capsNew or upgraded ducts run as short and straight as the house allows.
- Permits and makeup airWe confirm village rules before a new duct or a large hood goes in.
- Hood installationNew hoods installed at the maker's mounting height and tested.
- Lights and dampersLight and damper repairs that stop dark cooktops and cold drafts.
- Deep cleaningA full hood cleaning down to the fan and the reachable duct.
Models, parts and fittings
Wall chimney hoodsHoods for range walls without cabinets above.
Install, repair or cleanGrease: clean. Broken part: repair. Wrong hood or no duct: install new.
Ducted vs recirculatingOutdoor venting removes heat and moisture; ductless is the fallback.
Island hoodsCeiling-hung hoods over island cooktops.
Under-cabinet hoodsThe most common hood style in home kitchens.
What the work looks like in Des Plaines homes
Before
Installed
DetailDes Plaines kitchen, 1980s two-story: kitchen ventilation & range hoods
The site: a 1980s two-story in Des Plaines. What we started with: white appliances and white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim. The reason for the call: an old hood with greasy filters. The result: a new chimney range hood vented outside.
Before
AfterA Mount Prospect 1980s two-story: before and after
The site: a 1980s two-story in Mount Prospect. The kitchen as it was: black appliances and golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above. The reason for the call: a smoky kitchen and a hood that barely worked. The result: a new chimney range hood vented outside.
Kitchen Ventilation & Range Hoods in Mount Prospect →
Before
AfterA Des Plaines 1960s ranch: before and after
Finished: cabinets in light butter yellow with satin brass pulls, creamy quartzite-look quartz counters, a green zellige-look tile backsplash, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Des Plaines →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1960s ranch in Des Plaines
The same doors sprayed in pale sage, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Des Plaines →
Before
AfterCabinet Refacing in a 1960s ranch, Des Plaines
New five-piece shaker doors in creamy white uppers and navy lowers on the existing boxes, matching face-frame veneer and unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls.
Cabinet Refacing in Des Plaines →How the install goes
- Send photos or callA few photos and a description usually tell us where to start.
- Look on siteWe check the hood, the fan, the filters and the duct route.
- Written estimateA clear written price with what's included.
- We do the workThe work is done with the kitchen protected and the hood tested afterward.
Kitchen Ventilation & Range Hoods questions from Des Plaines homeowners
Do I need a permit for a new range hood?
It depends on the work; new ductwork is what usually triggers a permit.
Ducted or ductless: which is better?
Ducted, when a duct path exists. Ductless hoods catch grease and some odor but keep heat and moisture in the kitchen.
How often should a range hood be cleaned?
Filters often, the full hood periodically, depending on how much you fry and sear.
How high should a range hood be above the stove?
Each hood specifies its mounting height. We follow it and adjust for your ceiling.
Do I need a range hood?
A ducted hood removes smoke, grease, moisture and combustion byproducts. Over a gas range it's strongly recommended.
Do I need a Des Plaines-registered contractor for kitchen ventilation project?
Contractors must register with the City (via the online portal); registrations expire Dec 31. We take care of that before work starts.
What does Des Plaines ask for on electrical work?
Electricians need a City contractor license and fees plus an Electrical Test Certificate. New circuits and wiring are done by licensed electricians.
Des Plaines building permit for kitchen ventilation project: where do I apply?
Permits go through Community and Economic Development Department - Building Division, phone 847-391-5380. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a permit for kitchen ventilation project in Des Plaines?
It depends on the scope. Des Plaines's rule in short: A building permit is required for any residential kitchen remodel; non-structural work uses the Kitchen/Bath Non-Structural permit ($150 fee, rough and final inspections). We handle the permit when one is needed with Community and Economic Development Department - Building Division.
Do you work in my part of Des Plaines?
Yes. Our crews work across Des Plaines — ZIP 60016, 60018 — and nearby Mount Prospect, Park Ridge, Elk Grove Village.
Working in Des Plaines
- A lot of Des Plaines kitchens date from the 1960s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Des Plaines homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Community and Economic Development Department - Building Division handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60016ZIP 60018
Kitchen Ventilation & Range Hoods nearby
Other kitchen services in Des Plaines
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.
Cabinet RefacingNew doors and fronts on your existing cabinet boxes.
Countertop Fabrication & InstallationQuartz, granite and butcher block, templated and installed.
Kitchen Backsplash InstallationTile backsplashes with clean lines and flush outlets.