Located directly above your stove, range, or cooktop, a range hood is a convenient appliance that either circulates or vents hot air away from your kitchen.
Not all kitchens have a range hood, but this appliance can improve the quality of your indoor air, regulate the temperature in your home, and eliminate cooking smells.
What is the average range hood durability? When is it time to replace your old range hood? You’ll find the answers to these questions and more below.
How Long Does a Range Hood Last?
A range hood can last anywhere from 10 to 20 years. The average life expectancy of a rage hood is around 15 years.
A failing electric fan motor is the most common issue that reduces the average life expectancy since it’s the moving part that goes through the most wear and tear.
However, your vent hood can also reach the end of its life expectancy due to electrical issues. In some cases, range hoods can fail due to the control board going bad.
The average life expectancy can vary a lot based on the make and model. Your cooking habits can also have a significant impact on how long your appliance will last.
Differences in Design and Quality
There are two main categories of range hoods:
- Some range hoods vent hot air outside thanks to a duct system.
- You can also find ductless models that recirculate hot air throughout your kitchen.
If you have a kitchen hood that vents air outside, the duct system can influence the range hood durability. For instance, a duct system that uses too many elbows will require the range hood fan to work harder, which could reduce the life expectancy of the appliance.
Beyond differences in design, you’ll find that quality can vary a lot from one manufacturer to another. The price of a vent hood is usually a good reflection of the overall quality of the product.
A budget range hood might use components that will fail faster or lack features that make the appliance easy to clean and maintain.
Your Lifestyle
Some households use their range hood more than others. If you occasionally rely on this appliance to eliminate cooking smells, it will last longer compared to a family that turns their range hood every time they cook.
Here are a few factors to consider:
- If you live in a hot climate, you’ll be more likely to use your range hood often to regulate the temperature inside your home.
- It can be difficult to regulate the temperature inside a home with limited shading. You might have to use your vent hood more often.
- Large households that cook a lot of food on a daily basis will probably use their range hoods more often.
- The type of food you prepare can impact the average lifespan of your range hood. If you fry foods or cook a lot of greasy dishes, buildups will be more likely to shorten the lifespan of the appliance.
- If there is poor ventilation in your kitchen, you’ll rely on your range hood more often. Households with a well-ventilated kitchen might be able to open a window instead of turning on their range hood.
When Should I Replace My Range Hood?
Is it time to replace your range hood? Should you repair it instead? There are a few signs that indicate it’s time to invest in a new appliance.
You can run into a number of technical issues with your vent hood that call for buying a new one:
- You’re hearing loud grinding noises coming from the electric fan.
- The appliance is not turning on at all.
- The fan isn’t doing much to circulate or vent hot air.
- The range fails to remove fatty residues and smells from your kitchen.
- It takes a lot longer than usual to regulate temperature and remove cooking smells.
- The controls have stopped working.
- Your electricity bill is going up, and you think the range hood could be the culprit.
Some households opt to replace their old range hood for aesthetic reasons:
- If you’re redecorating your kitchen, your old range hood might not fit the new aesthetic.
- Range hoods work best if you install them directly above your range or cooktop. If you’re changing the layout of your kitchen and moving your cooking appliances, you might need to install a new range hood.
- You can upgrade your kitchen by replacing your old range hood with a microwave hood combination.
- Some households need a new range hood because their needs are changing and they’re now cooking with a larger or smaller cooktop.
- You should consider a replacement if your kitchen hood shows signs of damage or has become an eyesore.
Another common reason to replace an old vent hood is to upgrade to a ducted appliance. If you find that your ductless appliance isn’t efficient enough to remove grease and cooking smells from your indoor air, you should think about replacing it with a ducted range hood.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Range Hood?
The total cost of replacing a range hood can vary from $350 to over $5,000. The price range is so wide because the price of the appliance and installation can vary based on the quality and installation method.
How Much Does a Range Hood Cost?
Here’s what you can expect to pay for the appliance itself:
- An under-cabinet kitchen hood is the most affordable option. Prices start at $150 but they can be as high as $2,000.
- A wall-mounted range hood can cost anywhere from $400 to over $5,000 depending on the material and overall quality.
- Prepare to spend $200 to $5,000 for an island range hood. Again, the quality will influence the price.
Prices can range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars because not all manufacturers offer the same quality or use the same materials. Size and design are also important considerations.
Here’s what influences the price of a range hood.
Materials
The material is a key consideration when choosing a new range hood. The right material should be durable and easy to clean. Some materials are also more popular than others because they result in a stylish appearance that makes your kitchen look sleek and modern.
Copper and stainless steel are popular options. These materials don’t rust, and they are easy to clean. However, you can splurge and get a range hood made from bronze or tempered glass for a unique look.
Design
A simple design helps keep manufacturing costs low. If you want a functional range hood, you can save by choosing an appliance with a simple design.
However, some manufacturers offer beautiful kitchen hoods with ornamented details that will add a touch of style to your kitchen.
It can be worth it to spend a little more to get a kitchen hood with a stylish design. This appliance can become a focal point for your kitchen and even enhance the value of your home.
Size
Manufacturers offer a wide range of range hood sizes. A larger unit is going to cost more since the manufacturer has to use more materials and incur higher costs linked to storing and transporting the product.
How Much Does the Installation Cost?
There are some major price differences for the installation process since some appliances are ductless while others require the installation of a duct system.
Installing a ductless range hood costs $200 to $400. You can find contractors who will install a ducted range hood in a similar price range if you have existing ducts that don’t require any upgrades.
Installing a duct system can cost $750 to $1,500 or even more. The price tag depends on the layout of your home and on the shorter path to take to vent hot air outside.
Installation costs can also vary from one contractor to another, and you should expect to pay more for parts and labor if you live in an HCOL area.
What Is the Most Reliable Range Hood?
Picking a reliable appliance can extend the average lifespan of a range hood by several years. It’s why CopperSmith offers a selection of elegant and durable range hoods.
This manufacturer also offers customization options so you can choose a finish, height, and fan width that work for your kitchen.
These range hoods come with built-in lighting features for convenience, and they use copper material to reduce the environmental impact of this purchase.
You can explore the CopperSmith range hood selection to find out more about these appliances and find a style that will work with your kitchen.
Tips for Extending the Average Life of a Range Hood
Whether you’re thinking about investing in a brand-new range hood or want to extend the lifespan of the appliance you already have, there are a few steps you can take to protect your range hood.
Invest in a Quality Appliance
Saving on the initial purchase cost can be tempting, but you’ll end up regretting choosing a cheap range hood. It’s best to spend a little more and invest in a quality appliance built to last.
Online reviews are a good way to compare manufacturers and learn more about the quality of their appliances.
You should also pay attention to the materials used. The most durable range hoods use copper, stainless steel, or another metal.
The price tag can also be a good indication of the overall quality of the product, especially for the moving parts or the electronic controls.
Lastly, check the warranty offered by the manufacturer. A brand with a warranty that covers your range hood for several years has confidence that its products will last.
Limited Exposure to Grease
Even with a quality range hood, grease can build up and coat the inside of a range hood. Once grease builds up on moving parts, it can reduce the efficiency of the appliance and cause more wear and tear. Plus, buildups in the ducts can become a fire hazard.
Fat deposits can also get into the controls and make some buttons unresponsive or cause the entire control board to fail.
You can protect your range hood by limiting exposure to cooking oils:
- Use lids to cover pots where you cook greasy foods.
- Replace frying with other cooking methods that use less fat.
- Consider investing in an air fryer so you can prepare all your favorite fried foods with a fraction of the fat content.
- Take a few minutes to wipe your range and prep area to remove any residues after cooking.
- Clean the range hood regularly to eliminate residues.
Clean or Replace the Filter
Kitchen hoods have filters that catch grease and other debris. A clogged filter will result in the electric fan working harder to move air out of your kitchen, which increases the likelihood of the fan motor failing and reduces the average lifespan of the kitchen hood.
Add cleaning your range hood filter to your list of monthly household chores. You’ll typically find the filter tray in the back of the unit.
You can slide the filter out and let it soak in some warm water and baking soda to remove greasy residues. Replace the filter once a year.
Regularly Clean the Fan Blades
Wiping the electric fan blades can limit the amount of grease that ends up in the ducts. Some models have fan blades that you can unscrew and soak in warm water or even clean in a dishwasher.
If your range hood needs further cleaning or regular maintenance, consider calling a professional who can clean the entire duct system to remove clogs.
Final Thoughts
With regular maintenance and cleaning, a range hood can last 15 to 20 years as long as you pick a quality appliance. If you’re in the market for a new range hood, we recommend looking at what CopperSmith offers.
This manufacturer focuses on quality and offers a diverse selection of range hoods that you can easily customize to match the style of your kitchen. You can count on this brand to stand behind its products and offer excellent range hood durability.