Kitchen Ventilation & Exhaust Planning
I plan and build the whole kitchen exhaust path (hood ducting, the right exterior cap, and make-up air where a powerful hood needs it) so the kitchen actually clears smoke and steam.
What I do
- Plan the full exhaust route from hood to exterior during a kitchen renovation
- Duct range hoods with smooth rigid duct sized to the hood
- Install wall caps or roof caps suited to the route and finish
- Flag and rough in make-up air for high-output hoods
- Move recirculating hoods over to true ducted exhaust
Common problems I fix
- Recirculating hoods that only filter and never clear the air
- Steam fogging windows and grease building up on cabinets
- A new hood that has nowhere to duct to in the existing layout
- Doors that are hard to open when a strong hood runs (missing make-up air)
Good-fit projects
- Kitchen renovations before cabinets go in
- High-output gas ranges that need real exhaust
- Open-plan kitchens in tighter, newer homes
- Older homes converting a recirculating hood to ducted
A kitchen only vents well when the whole path is planned together: the hood, the duct behind it, the exterior cap, and, for stronger hoods, the make-up air that replaces what gets blown outside. A renovation is the moment to get all of that right, while walls and cabinets are still open.
Plan the exhaust before the cabinets go in
Once uppers and a hood liner are installed, the duct route is locked in. Coming in during the renovation lets me route smooth rigid duct on the most direct path to the exterior, pick a wall or roof cap that suits the route, and avoid the long flex-and-elbow runs that choke airflow. If the hood is going on an island or an interior wall, the route matters even more.
Why recirculating hoods fall short
A recirculating hood passes air through a filter and pushes it back into the room. It does nothing for steam and little for grease and odour over time. Where there is any way to reach an exterior wall or roof, ducting the hood outside is the difference between a kitchen that clears and one that stays hazy. I convert recirculating setups to ducted exhaust when the layout allows it.
Make-up air for powerful hoods
A strong hood can move more air than a well-sealed home can replace on its own. That shows up as doors that resist opening, whistling gaps, or other vented appliances backdrafting. I check the hood’s rated airflow against the house and rough in a make-up air path where it is needed, so the hood can actually pull and the rest of the home stays balanced.
Where I provide this service
I serve Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, and nearby Sea to Sky communities. See service areas.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between kitchen ventilation and range hood venting?
Range hood venting is the duct run from the hood to the outside. Kitchen ventilation is the whole picture (the hood duct, the right exterior cap, and make-up air for powerful hoods) planned together during a renovation so the kitchen clears smoke and steam properly.
Does a kitchen renovation need make-up air?
A high-output hood can pull more air than a tight house can replace, which makes doors hard to open and can backdraft other appliances. During a renovation I check the hood's airflow against the home and rough in make-up air where the numbers call for it.