How to Install Range Hood | Venting, Height & Mounting

Install a range hood by shutting off power, picking a venting method, marking the centerline, cutting the duct opening, mounting to studs, and connecting the duct and wiring.

The trickiest part of any range hood install isn’t the lifting — it’s the prep. Get the venting method and mounting height right before you pick up a tool, and the rest falls into place. The steps below follow the sequence manufacturer installation guides use, with the clearance numbers that matter most.

Step 1: Shut Off Power And Choose The Venting Method

Flip the breaker feeding the range hood circuit before you touch anything. This applies whether you’re swapping an old hood or wiring a fresh one — the circuit must be off before removal or installation.

Next, decide how the hood will move air. You have three options:

• Ducted through the roof — best performance, requires cutting a roof opening.
• Ducted through the wall — common for exterior walls, vents horizontally.
• Ductless (recirculating) — no outside vent; air passes through charcoal filters and returns to the kitchen.

Ductless installs skip the cutting entirely, but they don’t remove moisture or cooking odors as thoroughly as ducted setups. Most manufacturer guides cover both, yet the hardware differs by model, so confirm which kit your hood expects.

Step 2: Mark The Centerline, Duct Opening, And Cable Locations

Measure and mark the vertical centerline on the wall or ceiling where the hood will sit. From that line, mark the duct opening and the electrical cable entry before cutting anything. A misaligned duct hole is the mistake you can’t easily undo.

Cut the vent opening with a reciprocating saw, saber saw, keyhole saw, or hole saw — the right tool depends on your wall or ceiling material. Remove the filters, fan parts, and electrical housing cover before installation so you can reach the mounting slots and wiring compartment.

Mounting Height: What The Manuals Actually Say

Clearance above the cooktop is model-specific, and the numbers vary more than you’d expect. Other manuals specify 27.56 to 31.5 inches, or 24 to 33 inches.

Because these ranges differ, the exact height must come from the unit’s own installation guide, not a general rule. When in doubt, 30 inches sits within most manufacturers’ acceptable bands.

Step 3: Mount The Hood To Studs Or Brackets

Install the mounting brackets or use the hood’s mounting slots, then secure them to wall studs or the cabinet structure. A range hood full of metal and motor is heavy — plan for two or more people to lift and align it. Trying to hold, level, and screw at the same time is how hoods get dropped.

If your setup includes a chimney, install the sections now; some guides note the inner chimney slides into the outer chimney for height adjustment.

For ducted installs, connect 6-inch round aluminum duct to the hood and the existing duct system, sealing every joint with clamps or HVAC foil tape. Skipping the seal lets conditioned air leak into the attic or wall cavity.

Step 4: Wire The Circuit And Test Operation

Confirm the circuit is still off, then connect the wiring. A Dacor manual specifies hard-wiring to a dedicated, 3-wire, grounded, single-phase circuit rated 120 Vac 60 Hz, 15 Amp, complying with the National Electric Code ANSI/NFPA plus local codes. Other manuals instruct connecting to a standard outlet, 120V/60Hz AC only.

One rule appears in every guide: the air outlet must not connect to chimney flues, combustion gas ducts, or ventilation ducts serving fuel-burning appliances. That connection risks pulling carbon monoxide back into the house.

After wiring, replace the electrical cover, reinstall the filters, and restore power. Verify the hood is level and vertical — a hood hung slightly crooked is visible from across the kitchen. Then test the blower and light before you call it done.

If you’d rather let a shop do the engineering, our tested roundup of best ceiling mount range hoods covers models that simplify ducting and mounting.

Common mistakes: installing without cutting power, using the wrong clearance for the specific model, running the vent pipe too long or with too many bends, skipping duct sealing, and connecting exhaust to an improper flue.