How to Install a Vent Hood Through a Roof

Preparing the Area

• 1

  Shut down the circuit breaker or fuse box usually located in a master room, basement, or utility room. Inform family members that you’ve started your work.

• 2

  Take the fan and parts from the box. Find the electrical knockout plug on the housing of the vent hood that matches where your electrical cable will come through and knock it out. Cover the wall facing the duct hole on the vent hood with a piece of cardboard box and duck tape. Leave the upper duct hole open.

• 3

  Place the hood vent on the cabinet where it will go and mark an outline on the bottom and top part of the cabinet for the knockout plug, duct location, and path you’ll need to take to reach the attic with a marker.

• 4

  Drill a starter hole in the cabinet and attic pathway. Place the reciprocating saw in the starter hole on the cabinet and cut out the outline. Perform the same step for the attic pathway. Cut out the hole for the electrical wiring and feed the cable through.

Install Vent Hood and Ducting

• 5

  Make a template of the ducting using a piece of the cardboard box. Climb inside of the attic with the template, marker, drill, and reciprocating saw and find a location that’s not far from the vent hood. Place the template on the roof of the attic and mark the location. Drill a starter hole and cut out the template on the roof from the inside.

• 6

  Climb out of the attic and go back into the kitchen. Put the cable through the knockout hole and attach the cable with the clamp. Put the hood against the wall and secure using the screws included in the package. Install the ducting and wrap the joints with duct tape. Secure the duct in place by attaching it to a stud in the attic. Watch to see that the hood damper moves freely.

• 7

  Put roof cement underneath the flange to prevent leaks. Slip the duct flashing over the hole in the roof and slide the flange underneath the shingles. Insert the final ducting and attach below. Put the vent cap over the vent duct.

• 8

  Put the fan, light cover and filter in the hood. Connect the electrical wires -- black to black, white to white, and copper to ground screw. Cover the electrical connections with wire nuts and the entire wiring assembly with the housing cover. Power the home back on from the main circuit breaker and test the vent hood.