1970s hood on an old duct
Original 1970s ventilation was sized for a different era of cooking. A modern hood often needs a larger duct and a new exterior cap.
Serving Downers Grove & nearby Lisle, Woodridge
Range Hood Installation in Downers Grove, IL
We install under-cabinet, wall chimney, island and insert range hoods in Downers Grove, ducted outside wherever the house allows.
- Serving Downers Grove ZIP 60515, 60516
- Installed level, sealed and tested before we leave
- Clear price for the install before the visit
Range hood installs we handle in Downers Grove
Most kitchen ventilation complaints come from the install, not the hood: a duct that is too small, a long run full of elbows, or a fan that blows grease into the cabinet above. Our Downers Grove installers set the hood, the duct and the exterior cap as one system.
Flexible foil duct behind the old hood
Crinkled foil duct traps grease in its ridges and slows the air. We replace it with rigid, smooth metal duct with sealed joints.
High-CFM hood and makeup air
A big fan in a well-sealed home can backdraft a water heater or furnace flue. We confirm what your village requires and plan makeup air when it applies.
Custom hood cover that needs an insert
Built-in hood covers look like cabinetry, but the insert inside still has to be sized and ducted properly. We handle that part.
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.
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.
Old hood that only recirculates
If your current hood has no duct and just pushes air back toward you, the fix is usually a ducted replacement with a proper exterior cap.
Gas range that needs stronger ventilation
Gas burners add combustion byproducts and heat to the air, so a gas range usually calls for more capacity than an electric cooktop. We size the fan and duct together.
Included with the install
- Site check and sizingWe measure the cooktop, the space above it and the possible duct routes, then size the hood.
- Blocking and mountingSolid wood blocking added in the wall or ceiling so the hood is anchored to framing.
- Duct runRigid smooth metal duct sized to the hood outlet, joints sealed with foil tape and supported.
- 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 setupDuctless installs get the maker's charcoal filter kit and a clear plan for replacing it.
- Test and cleanupWe run the hood, confirm the damper opens and closes, and haul away the old unit.
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.
Inserts and linersThe working core of a decorative hood, ducted like any other hood.
Under-cabinet hoodsHoods that mount under a wall cabinet, with the duct running up through the cabinet or out the back.
Ducted vs recirculatingVenting outdoors removes heat and moisture; ductless filtering is the fallback when no duct path exists.
Duct, caps and dampersRigid galvanized or stainless duct, wall caps and roof jacks with backdraft dampers.
Before and after: kitchens near Downers Grove
Before
Installed
DetailDowners Grove kitchen, 1980s two-story: range hood installation
The site: a 1980s two-story near Denburn Woods. Before: white appliances and white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim. What bothered the owners most: a recirculating hood that left the kitchen smoky. The result: a new stainless chimney range hood ducted to the outside. Work included blocking and mounting, duct run, plus test and cleanup.
Before
AfterA Lisle townhouse from the 1990s: before and after
The site: a townhouse from the 1990s near The Meadows. The kitchen as it was: white appliances and oak flat-panel cabinets. The main complaint was cooking smells that stayed in the house for hours. After: a new stainless chimney range hood ducted to the outside. The job covered site check and sizing, wall cap or roof jack, plus electrical connection.
Range Hood Installation in Lisle →
Before
AfterKitchen Remodeling in a 1960s ranch, Downers Grove
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 Downers Grove →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Painting in a 1960s ranch, Downers Grove
What changed: the same doors sprayed in pale sage, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Downers Grove →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 sizingOn site we size the hood, pick the duct route and check permits and makeup air.
- Written estimateA clear written price with duct and electrical work listed separately.
- Install and testHood mounted, ducted and wired, then every speed tested and the damper checked.
Range Hood Installation questions from Downers Grove homeowners
Can a range hood vent into the attic?
It shouldn't. Grease and moisture in an attic cause damage; the duct must end outside with a damper.
How high should a range hood be above the stove?
Follow the maker's instructions; most specify a range that is often around 24 to 30 inches above the cooktop, sometimes higher for gas.
Who installs a range hood: a plumber, an electrician or a contractor?
It's mostly a ventilation and carpentry job with an electrical connection. We do the mounting and ducting and bring in an electrician when new wiring is needed.
How much does range hood installation cost?
It depends on the hood type, whether a new duct and exterior cap are needed, wiring and any permit. We give a written, itemized estimate after the visit.
What size range hood do I need?
Start with width: match or exceed the cooking surface. Then pick a fan sized for what you cook and the duct you can run.
Downers Grove building permit for range hood installation: where do I apply?
Permits go through Community Development Department, Building Division (https://cvportal.downers.us), phone 630-434-5515. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Does a Downers Grove historic district affect range hood installation?
Downers Grove has locally reviewed areas, including Shady Lane Estates, E.H. Prince Subdivision and Maple Ave/Main St corridor. Exterior changes there can need review; interior-only work usually does not. We check before anything changes on the outside.
Who inspects kitchen hoods and fire safety in Downers Grove?
Downers Grove Fire Department, Fire Prevention Division, 630-434-5983. We schedule the inspection and have the paperwork ready.
Do I need a permit for range hood installation in Downers Grove?
It depends on the scope. Downers Grove's rule in short: Village states most projects require a permit and applications are submitted online; First review about 10 business days. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department, Building Division.
Do you work in my part of Downers Grove?
Yes. Our crews work across Downers Grove, including Denburn Woods, Shady Lane Estates, E.H. Prince Subdivision — ZIP 60515, 60516 — and nearby Lisle, Woodridge, Oak Brook.
Working in Downers Grove
- A lot of Downers Grove kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Downers Grove homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
Denburn WoodsShady Lane EstatesE.H. Prince Subdivision
ZIP 60515ZIP 60516
Range Hood Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Downers Grove
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.