How To Make Your Range Hood Last
According to RangeCraft, a quality range hood should be able to keep your kitchen smoke- and odor-free for over a decade. However, as with any kitchen appliance, proper care and maintenance will ensure that your range hood stays in exceptional condition for as long as possible. If you put a lot of time and thought into choosing the right range hood for your home, then maintaining and caring for it is a no-brainer.
While your range hood's aesthetics might take a back seat to its functionality, keeping its exterior blemish-free is still important. According to Hauslane, your range hood's exterior can be stained by certain kitchen residues if they're not quickly cleaned, so routinely wiping down your range hood's exterior is a great way to keep it looking like new. That being said, be sure to use only non-abrasive cleaners that won't damage the surface of your range hood. Generally speaking, those who frequently cook greasy food in their kitchen will have to clean their range hood more frequently than those who rarely cook. Thankfully, however, it only takes a moment to hit your range hood with some warm soapy water and a microfiber cloth, which will effectively eliminate most exterior blemishes you come across.
Basic range hood maintenance
Although wiping down your range hood's exterior will keep it looking like new, you'll also want to extend some love and care to its internal components in order to maximize its lifespan. According to Proline Range Hoods, cleaning or replacing your range hood's filters is one of the best ways to extend its life while minimizing the need for other maintenance. If you invest in a range hood with machine-washable filters, this will be a fairly easy task that should be done about once a month in order to preserve your home's ductwork. However, range hoods with charcoal filters should have their disposable filter replaced every three to six months.
Although routinely cleaning or changing your range hood's filters will generally keep its internal components clean, it's still a good idea to familiarize yourself with your range hood's blades and vent. According to Hauslane, greasy gunk build-ups can be incredibly taxing on your range hood's motor, so cleaning its fans whenever necessary is a great idea. If you notice your range hood isn't sucking up smoke and odors like it used to, you might also have to clean its vent. Accumulated grease in a range hood's vent will minimize your range hood's effectiveness and also represents a fire risk for your home, so keeping your range hood grease-free is well worth the trouble.
Protecting your investment
Although keeping your range hood clean is important, tweaking how you operate it can also affect its longevity. According to Proline Range Hoods, one way to extend your range hood's life is by using its motor on a less powerful speed setting. Using your range hood at full blast every time is bound to take a toll on its motor sooner or later. For this reason, investing in a range hood with a powerful motor is a great idea, since this means it will be more effective at eliminating smoke and odors in your kitchen even when used at a lower speed setting.
One reason some homeowners primarily use their range hood on high-power settings is because their range hood was improperly installed. If your range hood sits too far away from your kitchen range, you are likely going to have to push it to its limits just to achieve passable results in terms of smoke dispersion. Per Proline Range Hoods, indoor range hoods should be installed between 28- to 36-inches above the cooktop for optimal results. If your range hood sits too high, consider investing in an extension kit to allow your range hood to operate more efficiently without putting a costly strain on its motor.