These maintenance tips will help keep your vent hood running smoothly and keep it from needing an appliance repair Kelowna homeowners always find inconvenient.
You can hear it working in the background while you’re sizzling away on your on your Gaggenau 200 series gas cooktop. It’s the sound of your vent hood sucking up smoke from your kitchen space. To make sure it stays working at peak performance, and to avoid a costly appliance repairs, Kelowna homeowners should perform a series of simple maintenance tips.
Vent hoods are perhaps one of the least understood appliances in the kitchen, yet they provide an essential role in keeping fresh air circulating in your home while you cook. In addition to removing smoke from your cooking area, they also help expel:
- Heat
- Steam
- Odour
Plus, if you’ve ever had to scrub that thin film of grease off your cupboards, appliances and other kitchen surfaces, it’s usually because you don’t own (or forgot to turn on) a vent hood. This is because they also filter out air-borne grease before it has time to settle, which saves a ton of time in cleaning.
Now that you understand why vent hoods are so important, here’s what you can do to keep them running smoothly. As a warning, before you perform any maintenance, be sure your vent hood is turned off.
1. Clean the vent surfaces
Using a non-abrasive household cleaner or degreaser, remove any built up grease from both the interior and exterior of the hood. If there are any light bulbs or other electrical components, avoid spraying them directly.
2. Inspect and clean or replace the filter
Many vent hoods have a thin metal screen that acts as a grease filter. Its main function is to trap airborne grease and prevent it from reaching the blower and exhaust vent.
To clean it:
- Remove the filter and soak it in a warm detergent solution
- Rinse with warm, soapy water to remove excess detergent
- Place it on the upper rack of your dishwasher and run it through a cycle
- Replace filter only once it’s dry
If your grease filter is damaged, discoloured or just plain gross, you might be better off replacing it. Depending on the make and model, your vent hood might have multiple filters. Others contain activated charcoal filters that need to be replaced periodically.
3. Inspect the vent port
For hoods that vent to the outside of your house, it’s important to regularly inspect the vent port for grease buildup. If there is buildup, it’s considered a fire hazard and you’ll need to contact a vent cleaning professional to have it properly serviced.
4. Listen to fan motor
Fan motors are usually well-built and don’t require much in the way of maintenance. However, if you notice excessive vibrations or that the fan is slowing down, it could mean the bearings have started to fail or the blower wheel has become greasy or dirty. You can replace the bearings and clean the blower wheel.
Is your old vent hood beyond the level of appliance repair Kelowna specialists can provide? If so, come and talk to the appliances experts at Genier’s in Vernon to learn about a suitable replacement that fits your cooking needs and budget. We carry the best selection of top brands in the Interior.