How the hood works
Any class of exhaust equipment is designed the same, regardless of cost. So a coarse filter is installed in the lower part, it is also called a grease trap. It traps substances that can harm the device. Often this element is located behind the grille.
Manufacturers install a fan in the air intake, which is driven by motors. If the system is direct-flow, then an air duct is located next, and it is built into the general house ventilation system.
There are also recirculating hoods, where behind the fan there is another filter, most often a carbon one. It cleans the air of unpleasant odors and then returns it to the kitchen.
The coarse filter is made from aluminum materials. This engineering solution allows you to wash this element with a sponge and regular detergent in the sink or dishwasher.
The body is made of wood, plastic, metal or glass, sometimes covered with a layer of enamel. It may have noise-reducing materials, as well as an oblique appearance.
You can understand the elements of the hood in more detail using videos on thematic forums, where each piece of equipment is demonstrated and described in detail.
Malfunctions and their elimination
And now it will be easier to understand what the symptoms and reasons may be that the kitchen hood is not working properly and how to deal with it.
Smells
If there are excessive odors in the kitchen even when the hood is on, this does not mean that it is not drawing in air. The problem may be due to improper use. So, the hood should be turned on a little before the start of the cooking process, and turned off a few minutes after that. This approach is the most effective for preventing the accumulation of odors in the room.
Another reason for this symptom is low filter efficiency. It needs to be replaced or cleaned (if provided by the manufacturer). It's also a good idea to clean the grille, as grease can accumulate on it and prevent proper airflow.
In some cases, the contact between the fan and the motor is broken. Thus, no power is supplied to the device, so the fan does not spin. In this case, you should call the contacts and eliminate the cause.
Doesn't turn on
- The device may not be connected. You should make sure that there is voltage in the network and that the plug is well inserted into the socket. No matter how simple it may sound, such reasons for the device not working are quite possible. And they even meet often.
- The button doesn't work. You can use a tester to determine its performance. A call will help determine the cause. If a breakdown occurs, the button will have to be replaced with a new one or this one repaired.
- The wire or plug is damaged. These elements need to be checked. Replace if necessary.
- The fuse has failed. If so, it will have to be replaced.
- Disconnection of the electrical circuit inside the device. You should use a tester to check everything. If there are bad contacts, they need to be cleaned and processed.
- The engine has failed. If such a problem occurs, it is unlikely that the unit will be able to be repaired, especially on its own. Therefore, as a rule, it has to be changed. However, very often such a procedure is not economically profitable. And then it is more efficient to replace the entire hood.
- The engine control unit does not work. As a result, speeds may not change. The reason may lie in the breakdown of the starting capacitor. A multimeter is used to check functionality.
The hood in the kitchen does not work: reasons
If the hood is not working well, there are reasons for this. It is important to consider each of the most likely ones in order to find a solution to the situation.
The hood does not draw at all and does not eliminate odors
When the hood installed in the kitchen does not work well, the reason may be the carbon filter. This element is installed in recirculation devices, and its main task is to eliminate odors.
If there is smoke hanging in the kitchen, and odors from the stove are not removed by the hood, then you need to replace the filter. Detailed instructions for this procedure are supplied with the equipment.
The hood makes noise, but does not pull
When the device begins to make noise, although the hood does not draw air, then you should look for the reasons among the list of the most likely:
- manufacturing defect;
- it is necessary to replace filter elements through which air does not pass;
- The hood is installed incorrectly, the connections are not sealed.
If the problem appears some time after installation, then the reason is in the filters.
Blows in the opposite direction
Causes of reverse thrust:
- deposits have formed on the ventilation duct;
- the temperature in the ventilation duct has increased;
- the room had not been ventilated for a long time.
In all of the above cases, the problem arises due to a changed vector of air movement. Instead of “taking in” odors and smoke, all the aromas of general ventilation and your own dishes on the stove are mixed in the apartment or house.
For a private house, the problem with the chimney is also relevant when it has poor draft, which is why the hood also suffers. The problems may be the same - the pipe is clogged or the filters, if any, need to be replaced.
If it gets worse every day, then all that remains is to call a specialist who will make a diagnosis and establish the exact causes of the backdraft.
Doesn't turn on
When you cannot turn on the equipment, you need to make sure that there are no following problems:
- the equipment is not connected to the outlet;
- the switch or plug is broken;
- there is a gap in the wiring;
- fuse is blown;
- The electric motor broke down.
Of all these cases, you will be able to independently determine the breakdown only in those situations where it is associated with a plug or switch. Other faults are diagnosed by an electrician.
Doesn't stretch well
When a hood installed in the kitchen does not remove odors and fumes well, the first thing you need to do is check the filter. If it is clean, then it is worth looking into the air duct and shaft. They should not be littered, as this interferes with natural draft and creates unnecessary stress on the equipment. A lighter or match is used for diagnosis.
You can see from the fire whether air is leaving the room; you just need to bring it to the opening of the ventilation shaft. If the channel is not clogged, the flame will drag on. Otherwise, cleaning is required. This is a difficult task for residents of apartment buildings, where work requires calling a specialist.
When the hood in the kitchen doesn't work well, there are other reasons for this. One of them was described earlier - insufficient ventilation of the room. If fresh air comes in with difficulty, then it will “go out” in the same way. It is enough to open the window for at least a few minutes a day to freshen up the apartment.
The last reason is especially relevant for rooms with plastic windows, the tightness of which is very high.
Kitchen hood not working: do-it-yourself troubleshooting
Kitchen hoods are a very popular household appliance these days. For many, the need for a hood in the kitchen is absolutely obvious. After all, when cooking food, a large amount of fat, smoke and tiny food particles fly into the air, which not only pollute the room, but are also harmful to health. As a rule, an air purifier in the form of a hood is installed in the kitchen during renovation. Unfortunately, even if it is operated as carefully as possible, it inevitably fails over time. And then the owner has to solve the problem in one of two possible ways: he contacts a service center that repairs kitchen hoods or does everything himself.
How does the hood work?
The design of a standard kitchen hood is very simple - it is an ordinary exhaust fan, which is installed directly above the stove and has an electric motor. Additional filters are also installed in this device to delay harmful fumes coming from the stove during cooking. Hoods are of filtering and exhaust type.
- A filter hood, also known as a charcoal hood, is the simplest device, so its cost is significantly cheaper. You can always install and repair a kitchen hood with your own hands. It works according to the principle of recirculation, i.e. Dirty air, after cleaning in the hood, is thrown back into the room. The cleaning element is carbon filters.
- Exhaust extractors are connected to ventilation shafts to completely remove contaminated air from the kitchen. This type of device is more advanced than a filter device, and it contains a grease trap. Exhaust hoods require a good ventilation system, but you can also repair them yourself. If there is a ventilation shaft, the air is exhausted into it. If there is no channel, then during installation of the hood, specialists install a pipe that goes directly to the street.
Modern models operate in 2 modes. Most of them have a multi-speed electric motor, which is characterized by low power, but their rotation speed can be adjusted. Try to choose a kitchen hood with a decent power reserve. Indeed, over time, as a result of filter contamination, the efficiency of the hood decreases noticeably; it can only be compensated by increasing power.
You should also regularly inspect the grease trap and change it promptly when it becomes dirty; this can be done easily, with your own hands. If you ignore this rule, the work of the hood can be reduced to nothing. The average replacement frequency for grease traps is 3-4 months. But if the shutter speed is used very intensively, this should be done more often. In filter hoods, the service life of carbon filters reaches one and a half to two years. A device can break down for a variety of reasons, and accordingly, repairing a kitchen hood can vary significantly. Let's look at the main breakdowns and action algorithms.
See also:
The hood does not draw and does not remove odors well
This may occur if the device is not used correctly. In order for the hood to effectively cope with odors, it must be turned on in advance, before cooking, and turned off 15 minutes after turning off the stove, and not immediately. By following this basic rule, you will be able to get rid of unpleasant odors in the kitchen forever. A fairly common cause of such “breakdown” is a belated change of filters. Also, carbon filters may simply not work effectively. To repair the hood, the filter must be disassembled, first removed, and the carbon granules replaced with new ones.
To change the grease trap yourself, you need to remove the grate and place it face down, after which you can remove the old dirty filter. The grate should be thoroughly washed with detergent and a new grease trap should be attached to it. Disposable grease traps differ from reusable ones in that they have an inscription that is clearly visible even through the grate. When the filter becomes so dirty that it is time to change it, the inscription is no longer visible. Fiber filters are reusable; after washing and drying, they can be returned to their place, and this can be done repeatedly. Each time you carry out this procedure, you need to thoroughly rinse the grille.
Advice:
How to determine the cause of poor hood performance
When the hood does not draw well, the question arises - what to do. You can check the equipment using the methods described earlier, because sometimes the problem is corrected by a new filter or connecting the equipment to an outlet.
But more serious problems also happen when residents of an apartment or private house cannot cope with the problem. In such cases, it is worth inviting home a specialist who installs and diagnoses hoods. He will determine the cause of the breakdown and tell you what to do correctly.
What to do if the hood in the kitchen does not draw well
If the hood in the kitchen does not work, then there is little a person can do. Calling a specialist is the best option. This is especially true if the owner of the equipment is not confident in his abilities.
You can contact not only those who install such equipment, but also those who check ventilation in bathrooms, toilets and kitchens in multi-storey buildings (panel, Khrushchev or others). Often they are the ones who help overcome bad drafts on the last floors.
You need to carry out independent repairs when you have the knowledge. In other situations, it is better to invite a specialist.
