It’s important to clean a kitchen range hood filter once a month to remove grease and grime that can make the fan less effective and shorten the fan’s life. Here’s how to go about it:
- Metal Filters: Soak metal filters in hot, soapy water. You can also add a small amount of degreaser or ammonia to the water to help break down stubborn build-up.
- Charcoal Filters: Charcoal filters can’t be cleaned, so replace them every 3-4 months.
Further Information
- Choosing a Range Hood (article)
- Advantages of Kitchen Range Hoods Over Microwaves (video)
- Calculating Kitchen Range Hood Fan Size (article)
- How to Replace a Range Hood in Your Kitchen (video)
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
A range hood filter clogged with grease and grime will make the fan work harder—reducing the life of your range hood, and making it less effective at removing the grease and toxic smoke from your cooking area. That’s why it is important to clean your filters.
Once a month, soak metal filters in hot, soapy water; or for stubborn build-up add a degreaser or a small amount of ammonia to the water. Charcoal filters for non-ducted applications cannot be cleaned, so replace them every three to four months to ensure peak performance.
I cleaned my filters, let them dry good and put them back but the light continues to blink. I held the button for 30 seconds or longer and the light will not quit blinking.
Great product – I have tr CJD1 model, installed Nov 2017…works great, not too noisy. Light started blinking but I finally got around to calling Brian and learned about the filter warning. All good now.
Can I use a nonducted charcoal filter in a ducted range hood.
Hi, Betty,
We always recommend installing ducted range hoods, because they vent to the home’s exterior and because ducted range hoods don’t need charcoal filters.
Also, remember, those charcoal filters need replacing every four months or so, depending on use. That’s an extra, and unnecessary, expense.
Thanks for your question!
We just replaced our 30″ Sears non-ducted range hood with a Nu-tone range hood, which is also unducted (because of location in kitchen). There is poor directions as to what kind and size of filter to buy, but I would want the metal, so I can wash it frequently. How do I figure out the right filter to buy?
Hi, Mary,
We recommend contacting the manufacturer for product-specific questions.
Here’s where you can do that: http://www.nutone.com/nutone-customer-technical-service-support
Good luck!