The main purpose of a cooker hood is to eliminate any odors produced during food preparation. It is also the main aid in removing any grease that can become airborne when cooking. Although this is fundamentally a simple system, problems with cooker hoods are typically limited to those involving the motor, main control board, or lighting system. The easiest approach to ensure that your appliance operates at its peak efficiency without experiencing any issues is probably to ensure adequate cooker hood maintenance. In general, there aren’t many cooker hood issues that are genuinely caused by broken parts. The majority of complaints, including the perennially frequent “My cooker does not extract rapidly enough” complaint, are typically connected to problems with cooker hood installation and maintenance.
So in this blog, discover the most common cooker hood problems and how to troubleshoot them.
The Common Cooker Hood Problems and How to Solve Them
1. There is a Recognizable Humming Sound from the Cooker Hood Motor
Often, if the cooker hood makes a humming noise when it is turned on, the exhaust fan motor is to blame. In the majority of situations, the motor is broken, and the exhaust motor may have electrical windings that are shorted. This type of issue can also arise from motor shaft bearings that are entirely worn out and incapable of carrying out their intended job. Usually, the hood motor cannot be repaired and needs to be replaced. The Fan Motor and Blower Motor may also be affected by these problems, so it is advisable to inspect them for any indications of such damage.
This type of noise may also indicate that there is an outside object caught inside the blower wheel housing, or it may indicate that the blower wheel is striking the blower housing as it rotates. By manually rotating the blower wheel, you may check that it can turn freely. The wheel alignment needs to be adjusted if it’s contacting the blower housing. Moreover, make sure the fan blade can freely revolve by looking at it.
If none of these fixes the problem, you might need to replace the motor since it is burned out.
2. Cooker Hood Lights Are Inoperative
If the cooker hood lights are not working, you may have a faulty Light Assembly. The Light Assembly has no interchangeable parts, thus the entire thing needs to be changed.
Install a replacement bulb with the right rating if the cooker hood lights stop working. Moving on to the on-off switch should be your next step if this does not resolve your issue. You should inspect any halogen lamps or bulbs that are used in your range hood. A halogen lamp’s condition cannot be determined just by looking at it. An Ohm meter should be used to check for continuity.
The light socket may need to be replaced if the bulbs have been checked and are found to be in good operating order. You can examine the Push Button Switch’s condition if the light bulbs and socket are functioning properly. Electrical (Ohm) meters should be used to verify the switch for continuity.
3. Cooker Hood Light and Fan Not Functioning
If the cooker hood light and fan don’t seem to be operating, there might be an issue with one of the appliance’s switches. The Micro Switch, Switch Kit, Rocker Switch, Rotary Switch, and Selector Switch should all be inspected for any flaws. An Ohm meter should be used to test each one for continuity. These switches can be replaced if any of them are broken.
If the issue remains even though your switches are in good working condition, you should detach the thermal fuse and test its continuity.
For indications of a malfunction, you can also look at the User Control and Display Board. Control board issues are quite unusual, though.
4. The Downdraft Vent on the Cooker Hood Does Not Stay Up
This kind of issue will often point to a problem with the Rocker Switch or Selector Switch, so it is important to examine these switches to ascertain their condition. A broken switch has to be changed.
5. The Downdraft Vent on the Cooktop is Not Upward
An Ohm meter should be used to check the Rocker Switch for continuity if the downdraft vent isn’t working properly.
In some circumstances, the Drive Motor’s malfunction or burnout may also be the root of this issue. In these situations, an Ohm meter should be used to check the motor for continuity. The motor may have seen a serious level of wear and tear if it appears to be operating, but it is moving slowly or looks strained. Although the motor is still working, it is shortly to fail and needs to be replaced before it stops working.
6. The Sound of the Cooker Hood Motor is Too Loud
If the Drive Motor seems to be making this noise, there may be an issue with the motor itself. If the noise becomes intolerable, this component cannot be repaired and must be replaced.
Indicators of a problem with the exhaust fan motor include noise. This typically happens when the fan motor bearings have worn excessively. You might try to manually turn the motor shaft. This motor should not move because it is fastened in place. If it does move, noise will undoubtedly be produced during normal operation. The motor bearings cannot be repaired or lubricated, and the motor will need to be replaced. The fan motor and blower motor should also be examined to make sure that their bearings are in good condition.
7. The Keypad on the Cooker Hood Is Unresponsive
The Touchpad, User Control and Display Board, or the Main Control Board could all be defective if the cooker hood keypad doesn’t seem to be working. For indications of a burn out, these components should be examined. These can be replaced if they are damaged.
8. No Cooking Emissions are Vented Outside Through the Cooker Hood
The Fan Motor, Exhaust Fan Motor, or Blower Motor are typically to blame for ineffective venting via the cooker hood. These components are visible to the naked eye while the cooker hood is running. In the event that any of these fan blades don’t seem to be spinning, that specific part needs to be replaced since it is broken.
Moreover, physical damage should be inspected on the exhaust fan blades. The appliance will have less effective ventilation if any of the blades are broken or loose. You should attempt to tighten any loose exhaust fan blades you may have. The blade needs to be changed if you are unable to do it yourself.
If every fan is operating as intended, there can be an outside object stuck in the blower wheel or housing. Also, while the blower wheel revolves, it’s possible that it comes into touch with the housing. Any obstructions must be eliminated if the blower wheel is unable to move freely in order for it to operate correctly.
How to Utilize Cooker Hood Filters
The filter is one of the cooker hood’s most crucial parts. Any suspended grease particle (or other contaminants) that are released into the air while cooking must be captured by the filters. When you have a vented cooking hood, any emissions from the kitchen are carried directly outside through the vent, which may make this less of a concern. Stopping grease particles from getting inside the fan or motor unit is still necessary, though.
Fabric filters and metallic filters are the two main types of cooker hood grease filters that are frequently utilized. Cloth filters need to be replaced frequently since they have a finite lifespan. They lose effectiveness over time, and grease particles can get past them and into the cooker hood filtration system if they aren’t replaced on a regular basis. Due to their propensity to encourage bacterial growth, these filters may also prove to be a health risk in the kitchen.
In contrast, metallic filters are more durable and are readily cleaned in a dishwasher. To capture any grease that may be present in cooking emissions, this kind of grease filter uses a steel mesh. For your cooker hood, metal filters are typically a superior long-term choice.
Basic Methods for Cooker Hood Maintenance
1. Filters
Making sure the cooker hood filters are kept in optimal shape is one of the essential maintenance responsibilities. Grease and oils in the air are caught by the silver, metallic grease filter, which keeps them out of the exhaust or blower vent. This filter can be cleaned rather easily. This filter should be removed and given a 10-minute soak in a degreaser. You can wash the filter in warm water and soap after the grease has been removed. The filter can then be run through a typical wash cycle in the upper dishwasher rack.
If the filter in your cooker hood is activated charcoal, it needs to be replaced every three to four months.
2. Interiors
Any industrial degreaser or cleaner can be used to clean the internal surfaces of the cooker hood. Avoid using the cleaning spray directly on the light bulb or light bulb socket (be careful to turn the device off before cleaning it).
3. Exteriors
A degreaser or a cleaner and a non-abrasive cleaning instrument can be used to clean the hood’s outside surfaces.
4. Vent Cleaning
To make sure there are no accumulations of grease or oil, it’s also crucial to inspect the vent that connects the cooker hood to the outside. Also, you should periodically inspect the blower wheel. This part is prone to getting gritty and filthy. A degreaser can be used to remove and clean the wheel.
Don’t let cooker hood problems ruin your cooking experience. Contact expert technicians for quick and effective solutions to get your hood running smoothly again.
