Does the thought of drawing out your kitchen hood’s filter make you nervous? That’s probably because you do not know how to remove range hood filter screens – and the process is super-easy.
To remove a mesh or baffle filter sitting on the rim inside the hood, lift the filter plate and slide it back. Then, pull it out from the front. And for charcoal filters, remove the protective screen and unscrew the blower’s housing to take out the filter in it.
Essentially, the process of taking your kitchen hood’s filter is hassle-free. Let’s take a look at the steps in detail.
Table of Contents
Types of Kitchen Hood Filters
Before we check out the steps of removing filters, you must know about the different types. There are three kinds of range hood filters. They are as follows –
- Baffle Filter – These are stainless steel filters popularly used in ducted hood models. They have large, straight grooves for better airflow and suction power.
- Mesh Filter – These are aluminum filters used in inductions systems for their lightweight structure due to the wire-like structure with large pores. A good example is the COSMO COS-QS75 Under-cabinet Range Hood.
- Charcoal Filter – These are usually seen in ducted hood models. They are made of charcoal to absorb oil and dust in the kitchen and need to be replaced.
Steps to Remove Range Hood Filter
Whether you want to clean your hood’s mesh or baffle filters or replace the charcoal filters, removing them first is mandatory. But the good news is that it’s a walk in the park. Here are the steps to remove different types of filters.
A. Removing Baffle or Mesh Filters
To remove baffle and mesh filters, use the following steps –
Step 1 – Remove Protective Casing.
- Unscrew and remove any casing that may surround the hood canopy’s base and reveal the filter plate. Most mesh/baffle hoods don’t have it.
Step 2 – Unlock the Filter.
- If the filter is held to the hood with screws, T-lock, fastener, latch, etc. – unlock it.
Step 3 – Position the Filter.
- Now that it sits freely, supported by the rims in the hood, slide it to the front.
- Then, lift the filter in the back with your hands or with the handle on the filter.
- In this angled position, slide the filter back a little so that the front edge is visible.
- After that, tilt the front of the screen further down.
Step 4 – Take the Plate Out.
- Pull out the metallic plate from the hood. Remember to avoid the edges while doing this by hand, as the edges may be sharp.
Here are two videos that demonstrate how to remove baffle filters and mesh filters.
B. Removing Charcoal Filters
If your filter uses charcoal filters, here’s what you need to do to remove them:
Step 1 – Remove the Protective Screen.
- Charcoal filter hoods usually have a metallic screen attached to the bottom of the canopy with a sliding lock, screws, etc. Unlock and take it out first.
Step 2 – Unscrew the Housing.
- Locate the hood’s blower, which is a cylindrical part mounted inside the hood.
- Find its plastic housing and rotate it to the left to unscrew it.
Step 3 – Remove the Charcoal.
- The charcoal filters are inside the plastic housing. Take them out.
Check out the below video that shows you how to remove and change charcoal filters.
Once you get the hang of removing the filters, you’ll automatically understand how to put them back by reversing the steps above.
Why You May Need to Remove Filters
You must have understood that removing kitchen hood filters can be a piece of cake. But you may wonder what purpose it will serve. Here’s why you may need to remove them –
- Regular Maintenance: Mesh and baffle filters must be removed and cleaned every 3-6 months for maintenance purposes and to prevent fire.
- Clearing Blockages: If you last cleaned the hood a while ago, grease and dirt may start to clog the filters, which must be cleared to continue using the hood.
- Replacing Filters: Charcoal filters must be replaced after 120 hours of cooking – or at gaps of 1-3 months. For this, you’ll need to take out the filter first.
FAQ
1. Is it safe to remove range hood filters at home?
It is safe and easy to remove filters from the kitchen hood at home. You don’t need to be an expert at this. Just remove metal filters, clean them, and put them back to save money you’d otherwise spend on expert service. You can also replace charcoal filters at home.
2. How can you clean charcoal filters after taking them out?
Charcoal filters absorb kitchen grease and dirt – and gradually degenerate. You cannot clean them and put them back into the kitchen hood. Instead, once you take them out of the hood, you have to put new charcoal filters into the appliance to replace the used ones.
3. How can you clean range hood filters?
To clean a baffle or mesh filter, take it out of the kitchen hood and soak it in a solution of warm water with detergent or dish soap for 15 min.
You can apply degreaser on stubborn stains for some time before brushing the filter and rinsing it. Repeat the steps if needed.
4. How do you remove the range hood grease tray?
Some kitchen range hoods come with grease trays. You must clean them besides cleaning the filter. For that, locate the tray in the back of the hood.
First, remove the filter and then lift the tray. You have to remove spacers on the edges before taking out the grease tray.
Final Words
People usually hire kitchen cleaning or appliance maintenance service providers for this. Now that you know how to remove range hood filter screens, cleaning and replacing filters at home can help you save a lot of money!
