INSTALLING A RANGE HOOD

Prepare The Range Hood

After you unbox your range hood and confirm that all the necessary parts are included, plug it in and power it up to test all functions before installing.

Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for specific guidance on preparing the hood for installation. For example, on the model shown, we had to attach an adapter (and rubber gasket ring) at the top of the hood, which connects to a 6-inch duct.

Secondarily, we had to remove the panel filter and bottom cover to gain access to the mounting holes from the bottom of the hood. The panel covers usually snap into place, but refer to your instructions on how to remove it.

Find A Helper

Range hoods are best installed by two or more people due to their size and weight. In fact, Hauslane’s user manual recommends that you hire a certified technician for installation to reduce the risk of damage or injury. However, the unit simply plugs into an outlet, so if you can mount it in place, then you can make the connection.

Prepare The Cabinet Jack

If you are leaving the oven range in place during installation of the hood, place a sheet of plywood (30x24 in.) over the cooktop to avoid possible damage from the cabinet jack.

Incidentally, that 6-in. fitting required us to modify our 8-in. duct with an 8-to-6-inch reducer, which is an accommodation you might also have to make.

Important note: Cabinet jacks are available in a range of sizes that extend and retract to various lengths. Through trial and error, we learned that our shortest cabinet jack was too short to raise the hood into place, while our medium-sized jack was too long to fit between the cooktop and cabinet bottom. Our solution was to screw wood blocking to the bottom of our shortest cabinet jack to provide the necessary reach once extended. The blocking at the bottom also broadened the area of the footplate, which provided more stability to the cabinet jack.

You should save time and frustration by first measuring the extended reach of your cabinet jacks, compare it to the reach needed to install the range hood, then make any necessary adjustments. Also, avoid measuring from the cooktop to the lowest edge of the hood, because the cabinet jack will contact the hood’s interior ceiling, which is recessed inside the hood a few inches deeper than its bottom edge.

You should also attach a second piece of plywood on top of the cabinet jack to broaden its contact surface and provide better stability.

Place the cabinet jack (or jacks, if using two) on the plywood and have your assistant help you lift the range hood onto the cabinet jack.

Carefully raise the jack to lift the range hood into place under the cabinet. Keep the hood steady as you situate it into the proper position.

Make sure the outlet adapter and power cord enter the cabinet openings and that the cord isn’t pinched between the hood and the cabinet.

In the top of the PS38 hood are four keyhole slots, the shape of which suggest they’re designed to slip over the screw heads after they’ve been driven partially into place. However, the size and shape of the hood make it difficult to shift it incrementally. Instead, we recommend you move the range hood into its final position, ensuring it is level, and then drive the mounting screws with washers through the narrow slots of all four screw holes. To easily reach the mounting holes, use a bit extender for your power drill or impact driver.

Be sure the hood is securely attached before removing the cabinet jack and plywood.