How to Install a Kitchen Exhaust Fan

A kitchen exhaust fan can be very useful and effective in exhausting smoke, moist air, and unpleasant smells from cooking on your kitchen stove. Most newer homes are constructed with these fans already built into the area in the kitchen above the stove. But for older homes that don't have these exhaust fans, you may need to know how to install a new fan. Here's that information:

Step 1 -  Plan for Your Ceiling Exhaust Hole

You'll need to cut a hole in your ceiling between ceiling joists, through which your exhaust pipe will fit. To locate a place for this hole between joists, use a stud finder to locate a place on your ceiling where you can safely cut your hole. When you have located the right spot, push the tip of your drywall saw through the ceiling drywall far enough that you will see this tip when you look into the space above the ceiling. Go into your attic where you can see the space above your kitchen stove and can see the blade of the drywall saw. If there is insulation around the saw blade, remove the insulation and return to your kitchen.

Step 2 – Insert Your Vent Pipe

Hold your vent pipe end against the ceiling where you inserted your saw blade. Use a pencil to draw a circle on the ceiling, using the edge of the vent pipe as a guide. Use your drywall saw to cut this circle out of your ceiling drywall, then insert the vent pipe up through this hole.

Step 3 – Attach a Duct Elbow

Return to the attic and attach a 4-inch elbow to the exhaust port you cut, using foil duct tape to make the attachment.

Step 4 – Attach the Vent Fan

To the fan housing, attach a cable connector. Place your new vent fan and brackets into the ceiling hole. Attach the brackets to a nearby ceiling joist with screws, and feed the cable through the cable connector. Attach the flex duct to the elbow you connected to the vent fan, using duct tape.

Step 5 – Cut an Exhaust Hole

On an attic wall, close to the vent fan you inserted  into the ceiling, and between exterior wall joists, select a place for your exhaust hole. Using your cordless drill and a long, narrow bit, drill a hole through the wall, leaving the bit protruding into the outside space. At the outside wall, cut a hole into the exterior wall where you find the bit protruding.

Step 6 – Attach Connector Duct to Outside Hole

Back in the attic, attach the connector duct to the wall cap and insert the cap through the exterior wall hole. Add a rubber gasket, seal the edges with silicone, screw the cap to the interior wall surface, and connect the exhaust duct end to the wall cap, using foil duct tape.

Step 7 – Finish

In the kitchen connect necessary wiring to the fan, and attach the fan grill. When finished, test the fan by turning the power on and open the fan switch.