We just finished our new home and noticed that our range hood (stainless) is condensing on its surface when running. Additionally in the gap between the drywall and corner cabinet, on the same wall as the range, air is leaking out and it gets worse when the range is running. It seems as the range may not be working and the vent itself isn't sealed properly? Thoughts?
Condensation on range hood and air coming out behind cabinets.
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Some photos would help us to be able to help you.
Is this a range hood that exhausts outside (roof/wall?) or just recirculates air into the room after going through a filter? If the former, have you put your hand over the exhaust outside to confirm that air is moving?
For the “condensing” issue, are you saying that when you’ve got a boiling pot of water on the stovetop/cooktop that some of the steam is condensing on the fan hood? That’s not unusual. Or are you saying that this condensation is happening just when the fan is operating, regardless of whether steam is being produced below it?
Assuming that the fan exhausts outside, if you seal the duct termination on the exterior of the house temporarily, does the airflow that you’ve described behind the corner cabinet stop?
Chris
Is this a range hood that exhausts outside (roof/wall?) or just recirculates air into the room after going through a filter? If the former, have you put your hand over the exhaust outside to confirm that air is moving?
For the “condensing” issue, are you saying that when you’ve got a boiling pot of water on the stovetop/cooktop that some of the steam is condensing on the fan hood? That’s not unusual. Or are you saying that this condensation is happening just when the fan is operating, regardless of whether steam is being produced below it?
Assuming that the fan exhausts outside, if you seal the duct termination on the exterior of the house temporarily, does the airflow that you’ve described behind the corner cabinet stop?
Chris
Not enough information. A photo may help. Is this an exterior wall or interior wall ?
But on the information provided, makes me wonder if the hood exhaust is running through a rectangular duct inside the wall. But even if the duct is blocked, it does not fully make sense. Around the cabinet, are you sure the air is blowing OUT, and not INTO the gap?
But on the information provided, makes me wonder if the hood exhaust is running through a rectangular duct inside the wall. But even if the duct is blocked, it does not fully make sense. Around the cabinet, are you sure the air is blowing OUT, and not INTO the gap?
Sorry. I was in the mobile version of the site and apparently you can't add anything to a post.
Here's a photo. The air escaping (I held a piece of paper over and the paper is being pushed down away from the gap) seems to be coming OUT into the kitchen. It also makes sense why my humidity is reading 63-66% since we moved in and hasn't changed (we're running a Geothermal system with R-49/raised heel trusses, ICF basement, and Nuwool in the walls).
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The corner is on the right side of this photo.
Here's a photo. The air escaping (I held a piece of paper over and the paper is being pushed down away from the gap) seems to be coming OUT into the kitchen. It also makes sense why my humidity is reading 63-66% since we moved in and hasn't changed (we're running a Geothermal system with R-49/raised heel trusses, ICF basement, and Nuwool in the walls).
The corner is on the right side of this photo.
It vents outside on the same wall the stove/range is on (exterior).
The condensation only happens when cooking, but nevr seemed to have that problem on older ranges in homes past.
As for sealing it off, I haven't tried it, but could try that.
Yes, that is correct.
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Condensation on the metal surface of the fan isn’t an issue unless it accumulates to the point where it drips onto the cooktop below. Is that the case? That shouldn’t happen in a well-designed unit if the fan is pulling air at an appropriate rate. Maybe the damper on the external vent is stuck closed, so even though the fan is working the air isn’t exiting the building. Let us know what is the answer to:
“..have you put your hand over the exhaust outside to confirm that air is moving?”
If the damper is stuck closed and the installer didn’t seal the ducting between it and the fan properly it could be that air is being pushed out of the duct behind the cabinetry. That doesn’t explain why you’re seeing a draft there when the fan is not operating, though. That suggests that possibly the damper is stuck in the open position and allowing wind to push air into the house where it is again leaking out the ductwork behind the cabinet.
Chris
“..have you put your hand over the exhaust outside to confirm that air is moving?”
If the damper is stuck closed and the installer didn’t seal the ducting between it and the fan properly it could be that air is being pushed out of the duct behind the cabinetry. That doesn’t explain why you’re seeing a draft there when the fan is not operating, though. That suggests that possibly the damper is stuck in the open position and allowing wind to push air into the house where it is again leaking out the ductwork behind the cabinet.
Chris
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