pre-1940 hood on an old duct
Original pre-1940 ventilation was sized for a different era of cooking. A modern hood often needs a larger duct and a new exterior cap.
Serving Highland Park & nearby Northbrook, Glenview
Range Hood Installation in Highland Park, IL
We install under-cabinet, wall chimney, island and insert range hoods in Highland Park, ducted outside wherever the house allows.
- Serving Highland Park ZIP 60035
- Installed level, sealed and tested before we leave
- Clear price for the install before the visit
Range hood installs we handle in Highland Park
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 Highland Park installers set the hood, the duct and the exterior cap as one system.
Old hood that only recirculates
A hood that blows air back into the room through a charcoal filter catches some grease but leaves heat, moisture and smoke inside. When a duct route exists, we convert it to vent outdoors.
Long duct run with many elbows
A duct that snakes across the ceiling to a far wall can starve even a strong fan. We look for a shorter path, sometimes straight up through the roof.
Island hood over a new island cooktop
An island hood hangs in open air, so it needs a wider canopy, solid ceiling blocking and a duct route through the joists. We plan the route before the ceiling is opened.
Hood that vents into the attic or soffit
We sometimes find an old hood ending in the attic with no cap at all. The duct is carried through to the outdoors and fitted with a damper.
Duct too small for the new hood
Many older hoods ran on a small round or rectangular duct. A stronger hood often calls for a larger duct, and squeezing it into the old one makes it loud and weak.
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.
No hood over the range at all
Kitchens without a hood often have greasy upper cabinets and lingering smells. A new ducted hood, sized for the cooktop, takes care of both.
What we hook up and check
- Site check and sizingWe measure the cooktop, the space above it and the possible duct routes, then size the hood.
- Removing the old hoodPower off, old hood disconnected and taken down, the old duct inspected or removed.
- Blocking and mountingMounting points set at the height in the maker's instructions.
- Duct runRigid smooth metal duct sized to the hood outlet, joints sealed with foil tape and supported.
- 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.
- Test and cleanupWe run the hood, confirm the damper opens and closes, and haul away the old unit.
Options to choose from
Wall chimney hoodsWall-mounted hoods with a tall cover, often used where there is no cabinet above the range.
Inserts and linersFan units built into a custom wood, plaster or metal hood cover.
Duct, caps and dampersSmooth metal pipe and a damper-equipped exterior termination.
Island hoodsCeiling-hung hoods for cooktops in an island, usually wider than the cooking surface.
Under-cabinet hoodsHoods that mount under a wall cabinet, with the duct running up through the cabinet or out the back.
Before and after: kitchens near Highland Park
Before
Installed
DetailHighland Park kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: range hood installation
A 1990s two-story colonial in Highland Park, a typical kitchen for Highland Park. What we started with: 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. The result: a new stainless chimney range hood ducted to the outside. On site this meant blocking and mounting, electrical connection, plus recirculating setup.
Before
AfterNorthbrook kitchen, 1980s two-story: range hood installation
This one is a 1980s two-story near Downtown Northbrook. The kitchen as it was: almond appliances and honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs. What bothered the owners most: a decades-old hood that blew grease back into the room. After: a new stainless chimney range hood ducted to the outside. Work included removing the old hood, duct run, plus electrical connection.
Range Hood Installation in Northbrook →
Before
AfterA Mount Prospect suburban townhome: before and after
A suburban townhome in Mount Prospect, a typical kitchen for Mount Prospect. What we started with: white appliances and oak flat-panel cabinets. What bothered the owners most: a recirculating hood that left the kitchen smoky. After: a new stainless chimney range hood ducted to the outside. The job covered removing the old hood, recirculating setup, plus test and cleanup.
Range Hood Installation in Mount Prospect →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1950s ranch in Highland Park
Finished: cabinets in white uppers and dusty blue lowers with matte black pulls, bright white quartz counters, a terracotta-look square tile backsplash, black-and-white checkerboard tile flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Highland Park →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1960s ranch in Highland Park
What changed: the same doors sprayed in pale sage, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Highland Park →From the old unit to the new one
- Photos and modelTell us what you cook on and show us the space; a model number helps.
- 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 testWe install, test the airflow and clean up the same day in most cases.
Range Hood Installation questions from Highland Park homeowners
Ducted or ductless: which should I choose?
Venting outside works better. Ductless is the fallback for condos and spots where no duct can run.
How high should a range hood be above the stove?
There's no single number. We mount it at the height the hood and range makers call for, adjusted for your ceiling and your height.
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.
Can I install a range hood myself?
A simple swap on the same duct can be DIY. When the job involves a new duct route, a roof jack or a permit, it's worth hiring it out.
How many CFM does my range hood need?
It depends on the range type, the burner output and the duct you can run. Gas ranges need more than electric, and very high CFM can trigger makeup-air rules.
Highland Park contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
The City publishes contractor requirements on its Building Division page (new building codes effective March 1, 2026). We take care of that before work starts.
Do you work in my part of Highland Park?
Yes. Our crews work across Highland Park, including Ravinia District, Downtown Highland Park, Port Clinton, St. John's — ZIP 60035 — and nearby Northbrook, Glenview, Buffalo Grove.
Working in Highland Park
- A lot of Highland Park kitchens date from the pre-1940. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Highland Park homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Older paint is treated with lead-safe practices: containment, HEPA cleanup and a clean hand-over.
Ravinia DistrictDowntown Highland ParkPort ClintonSt. John's
ZIP 60035
Range Hood Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Highland Park
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.