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.
Serving 49 Chicago-area suburbs
Range Hood Installation in Chicago & the Suburbs
We install under-cabinet, wall chimney, island and insert range hoods in Chicagoland, ducted outside wherever the house allows.
- Serving the Chicago suburbs, from Naperville to Evanston
- Installed level, sealed and tested before we leave
- Clear price for the install before the visit
Range hood installs we handle in Chicagoland
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 Chicagoland where the duct can run, what the wiring needs and whether the village wants a permit, before you order.
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.
High-CFM hood and makeup air
Very powerful hoods can pull more air out of a tight house than leaks back in. High-CFM hoods can trigger a makeup-air requirement under local code, and we check that before you choose one.
Swapping an over-the-range microwave for a hood
Microwave vents capture far less than a real hood. We remove the microwave, check the duct and install a hood that fits the space.
Hood too narrow for the cooktop
Upgrading to a 36-inch range under an old 30-inch hood is a common mismatch. The new hood should cover the full cooking surface.
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
Island cooktops lose smoke to cross drafts. We mount a ceiling hood sized for the cooktop and run the duct across or between the joists to the outside.
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.
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.
- Permit and approvalsWe find out whether the village needs a mechanical permit for a new duct penetration and pull it when it does.
- 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.
- Wall cap or roof jackThe duct ends outside under a damper that closes when the fan is off.
- Recirculating setupWhere ducting outside isn't possible, a recirculating kit with charcoal filters is installed.
- Test and cleanupEvery fan speed and light tested, the damper checked from outside, the area cleaned up.
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 hoodsThe most common style, tucked under the upper cabinet above the range.
Island hoodsHoods suspended above an island, supported from the ceiling framing.
Duct, caps and dampersRigid galvanized or stainless duct, wall caps and roof jacks with backdraft dampers.
Range Hood Installation across Chicagoland
The same job looks different in a 1920s bungalow, a 1970s split-level and a new subdivision. Here is what we plan for in different parts of the region.
Prewar towns
Plaster walls and old framing
Older Evanston and Berwyn houses often have plaster walls and odd framing behind the range. We locate studs and add blocking so a heavy chimney hood is solidly anchored.
Postwar suburbs
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.
Schaumburg, Buffalo Grove, Crystal Lake, Mount Prospect, Bolingbrook, Glendale Heights
Condo and townhome towns
Venting rules in a Schaumburg and Woodridge condo
Many condo associations control any change to the exterior or to shared shafts. If ducting outside isn't allowed, a quality recirculating hood is the fallback.
Schaumburg, Woodridge, Oak Park, Evanston, Itasca, Carol Stream
Recent installs around Chicagoland
Before
AfterLisle kitchen, suburban townhome: range hood installation
This one is a suburban townhome 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. Finished kitchen: a new stainless chimney range hood ducted to the outside. The job covered site check and sizing, wall cap or roof jack, plus test and cleanup.
Range Hood Installation in Lisle →
Before
AfterRange Hood Installation in a 1990s two-story colonial, Addison
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial in Addison. Before: black appliances and golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above. The main complaint was cooking smells that stayed in the house for hours. The result: a new stainless chimney range hood ducted to the outside. The job covered permit and approvals, duct run, plus recirculating setup.
Range Hood Installation in Addison →
Before
AfterRange Hood Installation in a 2000s two-story with an open kitchen, Plainfield
A 2000s two-story with an open kitchen in Plainfield, a typical kitchen for Plainfield. The kitchen as it was: stainless appliances and cherry-stained shaker cabinets. What bothered the owners most: an old hood that was loud and pulled very little air. The result: a new stainless chimney range hood ducted to the outside. On site this meant duct run, recirculating setup, plus test and cleanup.
Range Hood Installation in Plainfield →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 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.
Before the install
Can I duct a hood outside in my Chicagoland condo?
Many condo boards must approve any exterior penetration. If it's not allowed, a recirculating hood is the option.
How much does range hood installation cost?
Duct length, wall or roof penetration, electrical work and the hood style drive the price. We put it in writing after we see the kitchen.
Do I need makeup air for a big hood in Chicagoland?
If the hood's rated airflow passes the local limit, makeup air may be required. We confirm the Chicagoland rules first.
What size range hood do I need?
Cover the full cooktop and size the fan to your range and duct. Island hoods usually need extra width.
Can a range hood vent into the attic?
No. Kitchen exhaust has to go all the way outside through a wall cap or roof jack, never into an attic, soffit or joist space.
Which towns do you serve?
Chicago and 49 suburbs, from Naperville and Aurora to Evanston, Schaumburg and Orland Park. Pick your town below for local details and ZIP codes.
Range Hood Installation near you
Pick your town for local details, ZIP codes and nearby projects.