Pro Handyman Blog

If your kitchen range hood makes a loud noise when you turn it on, you may want to play handyman and snoop around. True, it may be a motor that is going to die, or it may be something that has come loose in the cabinet. It also may be a clogged filter.

Range hoods come with a filter to try to minimize smells associated with cooking, particularly range hoods that recirculate air back into the room. The motor may be suffering from lack of air. As the motor pulls air from below, the air filter is so clogged that no air gets to the motor and so the motor tends to bow the filter towards it. If you remove the clogged air filter and turn the motor on, you will see what I mean…it should run much smoother.

Some quality range hoods have a filter that you can throw in the dishwasher and clean. The builder-grade units have a disposable filter with a series of layers designed to filter the air. These tend to get so caked up with grease that they stop any movement of air from getting to the motor. I suppose it could be said that they are doing their job, but that the homeowner should have replaced it a long time ago.

You can get replacements from a home center, although for add sizes, you may have to visit an appliance dealer. They just slide out and back in again.