Cooking is a pleasure, but the aftermath of a hearty meal is never easy to deal with, especially when it comes to the smoke and odors that get trapped in your kitchen.
That’s where range hoods come in, as they help to extract those unwanted fumes and keep your kitchen fresh and clean. But what if you have a chimney nearby? Can you connect your range hood to the chimney and vent it that way?
This question has puzzled many homeowners who want to upgrade their kitchen ventilation system, and the answer is not always straightforward.
Can You Vent Your Kitchen Range Hood Through Your Chimney?
Certain circumstances allow you to vent your kitchen range hood through your chimney. For this to work, there must be an unused flue in your chimney big enough to vent the proposed hood without issues.
Knowing whether you have this chute available in advance is crucial to shopping within the parameters of your kitchen vent, since they have different requirements.
It is best to contact a professional if you would like to vent your chimney range hood through your chimney. During the consultation, he/she will determine if it is possible to do this with your chimney.
You should also note when your last chimney inspection took place if you are considering your chimney as a venting option.
Annual chimney inspections are recommended. Be sure to follow our fireplace inspection checklist before you begin using an old fireplace.
You should also have your chimney cleaned every year or as necessary. In that regard, chimney extensions might be of interest to you.
What’s A Chimney Extension?
Chimney extensions are a chimney accessory that either attaches directly to your range hood or to your existing chimney to cover your ductwork.
You should buy a chimney extension if you need more chimney than your hood has – or if your hood doesn’t have a chimney at all.
You may or may not need an additional chimney extension depending on your kitchen ventilation setup, your ceiling height, and whether your range hood came with a chimney.
Do I Need A Range Hood Chimney Extension?
Chimneys are commonly installed on range hoods, either wall-mounted range hoods or freestanding range hoods above islands.
Generally, range hoods don’t require an extension for standard ceiling heights. There may, however, be a need for an extension if the ceilings are high.
Final Words
I am aware of no building codes that allow you to do that. There are some areas, however, where you may be allowed to do this if you install a proper metal vent liner from exhaust all the way up to the roof cap.
Make sure that the other chimney penetrations are permanently blocked, so that the next owner doesn’t inadvertently use the flue for the furnace.
Kitchen exhausts contain grease and moisture, which can cause masonry degradation and pose a fire hazard when they build up. Fireplace flues are designed differently.
A vent should be run through the wall at the shortest distance possible in order to be as safe and efficient as possible.
