This weekend my wife and I went to a friend’s home. While there, Betty expressed concern over her exhaust hood. In this week’s article I thought I would share with you; the reading audience, a portion of my conversation with her.

Most range exhaust hoods really do not do a good job of eliminating steam, grease, smoke and food odors from the kitchen. Some only re-circulate the air through a small filter and return the air back into the living envelope.

The only true way for a range hood to be effective is it must be vented outside of the home.

Betty was complaining that the air coming out of her range hood smelled hot and greasy. When checking her system, I noticed that the fan blades had a heavy coat of grease film on them. I told Betty because there was an odor coming out of the range vent, I thought the motor was being over worked which caused it to overheat and that’s what she smelled. Using some hot soapy water, I gently cleaned and dried the blades. I also examined her filter system within the hood and it, too, was packed with grease. Using 3 ounces of ammonia and 1 tablespoon Dawn dish soap, I filled her kitchen sink with about ? way full of water. I placed her filters in the water and let them soak for about 15 minutes while I continued to examine her hood. I replaced both of her hood lights because both had burned out. Betty and I went outside and found her exhaust vent for her hood. Using a coat hanger, I explored the vent. Sure enough, when pulling out the coat hanger, attached to the end was a lint-and-grease debris pile almost as large as my fist. I told Betty this was a fire waiting to happen. Betty and I went back into the kitchen, retrieved her range filters. She marveled at how the grease seemed to melt away. I told her that ammonia and Dawn dish soap worked well in combination with each other. The ammonia cuts the grease and the dish soap lifts it off the item being cleaned.

After thoroughly cleaning the hood and venting system of Betty’s stove, I turned on the exhaust hood and let it run for about 30 minutes and then re-checked the fan motor of her system. As expected, it felt cool to the touch and the air being exhausted smelled clean and fresh.

Folks, I highly recommend you do a preventive maintenance check your stove and hood system once a month. Keeping this area and item clean is very important. Note:  If a fire does break out in your hood system, do not turn on your exhaust fan, it will suck the fire up into the structure of your home.

When cleaning with any cleaning product, always wear eye protection and rubber gloves to protect your hands. If you would like to share a cleaning idea or concept with the reading audience, call Ed at NWES (208-255-2266) or toll free at 1-877-311-NWES. E-mail them to nwees@hughes. net  or send them to Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St. , Sandpoint, ID 83864, Attn: What Would Ed do?  For more information about Ed’s company, check him out at NWESINC. COM.

Copy written by Edmond E. Madan, certified forensic, fire, flood, mold inspection and remediation contractor. Ed is the president of  Northwest Executive & Environmental Services, Inc.