Clean the range hood’s grease filters
Greasy filters stop pulling smoke and can feed a fire.
Who: You can do it yourself.
How often: Every 1-3 months (Broan), about 6 months (GE); monthly with lots of frying; charcoal filters replaced every 3-6 months. For: the range hood.
Which do you have?
- Which kind is yours: ducted (metal grease filters, washed) or ductless/recirculating (metal filters plus a charcoal filter that is replaced, never washed). The product label names the filter type. Ducted: steps 1-3. Recirculating: steps 1-4.
Safety first
- Controls off and the hood cool (Broan: unplug it first).
- No ammonia.
- Never run it without the grease filters, or with them caked.
- Turn the hood on when cooking at high heat.
What you need
Time: Soak 15-20 minutes a side.
The part, and finding the right one
- Grease filters (metal) (range hood). Washable; clean them every 1-6 months by maker, monthly with lots of frying. Replacements, if one is damaged, by the hood’s model number.
- Charcoal filter (range hood). Only on hoods that recirculate air instead of venting outside; never washed, replaced every 3-6 months. The part number is in the owner’s manual or on the filter.
On a home’s record, each piece of equipment’s page links its manual and a search for its parts by brand and model. All filters and parts
How to do it
- Release the filter: slide it out with the tabs; on newer models, pull the filter lock down, then pull the filter down and out.
- Soak it in hot water and detergent for 15-20 minutes a side and brush lightly; or run it through the dishwasher (it may discolor; that’s cosmetic).
- Let it dry completely, put it back, and lock it closed.
- Recirculating hood: turn the charcoal filter left to take it off, put the new one on the pins, and turn it right. Every 3-6 months (Broan), or up to 6 (Whirlpool).
Needs attention
- A grease film, lingering odors, weak suction, or more noise.
Call an appliance repair technician if
- Noisy motor bearings: replace the motor with the exact service motor.
Keep track of it
Add your home to My homes: each piece of equipment gets this on its own schedule, with “Mark done” and reminders you can turn on.
Sources
Your owner’s manual comes first: where it says something different for your model, follow it.
Still stuck?
Email us at hello@tradewrench.com. Tell us which page you were on and what you were trying to do.