How to Install a Ductless Range Hood

On this page (7 sections)

1. What do you need before you install a ductless range hood?
2. How do you install a ductless range hood step by step?
3. Is a plug-in ductless hood easier to install?
4. What if your hood is convertible?
5. What mistakes should you avoid when you install a ductless range hood?
6. How do you know the install is right?
7. Decide if you can install a ductless range hood yourself

Here is how to install a ductless range hood. It is mostly mounting and filter work, with a power connection near the end, and your hood's manual always comes first.

A ductless hood still needs the right space and the right filter, so planning matters as much as the mounting. For the full picture, see the complete ductless range hood guide.

What do you need before you install a ductless range hood?

You need the hood, its manual, the carbon filter it requires, a drill, a stud finder, a level, a pencil and a helper. Check the model number before you buy the filter, since filters fit by model.

A helper makes the job safer and easier. SNDOAS gives its hood's weight as 10.26 kg, about 23 pounds, and the Soonye comes in around 6.7 kg, about 15 pounds.

If you're replacing an old hood, take it down first. Switch off the breaker at the panel, have your helper support the weight while you remove the screws, and leave any hard-wired connection to a qualified electrician.

Look through the box before you start. CIARRA's CAS75918A ships with a 3-prong plug, screws, a vent cover and a damper, and the accessories are tucked inside the hood behind the mesh filter.

How do you install a ductless range hood step by step?

Work in order: confirm the setup, measure, mount, connect power, fit the filter and test. Keep the manual open for each step.

Step 1: Confirm your ductless range hood can recirculate

Not every hood recirculates out of the box, so check the manual before you buy parts. SNDOAS says its 30 inch hood needs the separate CF-0475 carbon filter to convert to indoor recirculation, and Soonye sells a CF007 carbon filter kit separately.

Broan says its 413004 installs as non-ducted only with its charcoal filter in place.

Step 2: Measure the clearance above the cooktop

Measure the cabinet opening, the height from the cooktop to the cabinet and the hood's depth. Broan says its 413004 should sit at least 18 inches above the cooktop, so use the minimum from your own manual.

Depth matters too. The SNDOAS hood measures 19.7 x 29.8 x 5.9 inches, so check that it sits flush with the cabinet front and clears anything on the wall behind.

Look for the outlet as well, since a plug-in hood needs one within reach of its cord.

For width, the hood should match or exceed the cooktop, as covered in what size range hood for a 30 inch cooktop.

Step 3: Mark and mount the hood under the cabinet

Your manual shows where the hood fastens, whether that is the cabinet bottom, the wall or both. Where it calls for a stud, find the framing before you drill and mark each point with a pencil.

A center-find stud finder shows the middle of a stud, which gives you a cleaner mark for each screw. Check the marks with a level before you drill, since a crooked hood is hard to hide.

Have your helper hold the hood against the marks while you check it with the level, then fasten it with the screws your manual calls for.

The DEWALT can't read through plaster, tile or foil-faced materials, and it isn't designed to locate pipes. Treat its live-wire alert as a warning, not proof that the wall is clear.

Step 4: Connect the power

Shut off the power at the breaker before you touch any wiring. Then check your manual to see whether the hood plugs in or is hard-wired.

Plug-in hoods use a 3-prong plug, and some hoods are hard-wired into the wall box. SNDOAS says its hood comes with a 3-prong plug and needs no additional hard wiring.

If the hood is hard-wired, or you're unsure about the wiring, follow the manual and use a qualified electrician.

Step 5: Install the charcoal filter

Each filter locks in its own way, so follow the manual for your model. On the Soonye, you take out the metal filter, hook the charcoal filter over the pins at the end of the motor, then turn it counterclockwise until it clicks.

SNDOAS turns its round carbon filter clockwise to lock it, and it warns that a loose filter can cause noise. CIARRA's CACF006 twists onto the motor and locks, and CIARRA says no tools are needed.

Make sure the filter is fully locked before you close the hood.

SNDOAS says the CF-0475 is made for its US0475B, US0475BPB, US0475BTC and US0475A hoods and is not compatible with other brands or models. Compare the model number on your own hood with that list before you order.

Step 6: Test the fan and light

Turn on the light, then run the fan on each speed. Listen for rattles, and check that the filters sit tight and the hood is level.

If the light flickers or the fan sounds wrong, switch off the power and recheck the wiring and the filter lock before you try again.

Mark your filter change date now, since the schedule starts the day you install. How to replace a charcoal filter in a range hood walks through the swap.

Is a plug-in ductless hood easier to install?

Yes, a plug-in model skips hard wiring, which suits renters and condo owners who can't change the wiring. Not every ductless hood plugs in, so check the model before you shop by plug type.

For plug-in options, see best plug-in ductless range hoods. If your hood is hard-wired, that connection is a job for a qualified electrician.

What if your hood is convertible?

A convertible hood can vent outside or recirculate, so the install depends on the setup you pick. Choose the setup first, then gather the parts for it.

A ducted setup needs duct pipe that matches the outlet. SNDOAS and CIARRA both leave the exhaust pipe out of the box, and the outlet sizes differ.

SNDOAS offers a 6 inch round top outlet plus 10 x 3-1/4 inch rectangular top and rear outlets. Soonye gives a 4.72 inch duct size, and CIARRA's top outlet takes a 4.8 inch round damper.

A ductless setup needs the carbon filter instead. On CIARRA's CAS75918A you also fit the outlet cover and turn the adjuster on the motor housing to the ductless position.

If you're still deciding, convertible vs ductless range hood compares the two setups side by side.

What mistakes should you avoid when you install a ductless range hood?

The easiest mistakes to avoid are skipping the carbon filter, leaving the protective film on and ignoring the manual's fastening points. Each one is simple to fix before the hood goes up.

Skipping the carbon filter

A ductless setup needs its filter in place, and for many hoods it is a separate purchase. Check the filter number against your model before you order, since the wrong part may not fit.

Leaving the protective film on

SNDOAS says to remove the protective film from its brushed stainless body before use. A quick look at the hood before mounting catches any film that was missed.

Ignoring the fastening points

Use the fastening points in the manual, and find studs where it calls for them. A hood hung on weak anchors can sag or work loose, so take the time to locate the framing, even if the holes look easy to reach.

How do you know the install is right?

A correct install sits level, the fan and light respond to every control, and the filter is locked in place. Check the hood from the front and both sides for gaps at the cabinet edge, and tighten any loose screws.

Run the fan on high for a few minutes and listen for rattles. A rattle usually means a loose filter, a loose panel or a screw that needs tightening.

Decide if you can install a ductless range hood yourself

Install a ductless hood yourself if it is a plug-in model and the mounting points are straightforward. Bring in a qualified electrician for any hard-wired connection, and get help with the framing if you're unsure.

If you're weighing a ducted mount too, read how to install an under cabinet range hood for the other path.

Frequently asked questions

How high should a ductless range hood be above the cooktop?

It depends on the model, so the manual sets the height, and Broan says its 413004 should sit at least 18 inches above the cooktop. Check the number for your own hood before you mark the cabinet, and measure from the cooktop surface.

Do I need an electrician to install a ductless range hood?

Not always, since plug-in models use a 3-prong plug while some hoods are hard-wired into a wall box. Follow the manual, and use a qualified electrician if you're unsure about the wiring, the connection or the power supply for your kitchen.

Do I need a special filter to install a ductless range hood?

Many ductless setups do, because the carbon filter is what handles odors when no duct is attached. Soonye's convertible hood needs its CF007 carbon filter kit, and SNDOAS sells its CF-0475 separately, so check the part number against your model.

How often should you change the charcoal filter after you install it?

Follow the schedule in your manual, since makers differ: SNDOAS suggests about every 3 months and gives 3 to 6 months for its CF-0475, depending on cooking. CIARRA says its CACF006 needs replacing every 2 to 4 months, or more often with heavy use.