How Long Do Range Hoods Last? Lifespan and Maintenance Tips

Range hoods are vital parts of any kitchen setup, but like all tech, they have a lifespan that is constantly ticking down. 

The last thing you want is for your range hood to shut off for good during the middle of a busy dinner rush, while you have guests over, or some other inconvenient time, because you didn’t know it was about to give up. 

We’re going to explain how long range hoods last so you can plan for a timely replacement. 

We’ll also share practical maintenance tips to help you extend your hood’s lifespan and keep it running efficiently.

Lifespan of Range Hoods

The lifespan of a range hood can vary widely; most last between 5 and 20 years, depending on three key factors. 

1. The Quality of the Hood Range

The quality of the hood range you buy is the first factor. 

Cheap, lower-quality range hoods are likely to only last between 5 and 10 years. The components used to make them aren’t designed to withstand decades of use, and the craftsmanship that goes into them usually isn’t very good, either. 

Another issue with cheap range hoods is that you’ll usually deal with smaller issues more frequently, and those eventually build up until you have a critical failure of the unit. 

In contrast, a high-quality range hood, such as a custom range hood that you had built to your own specifications, can last more than 20 years. It costs more, but you’ll get far more use out of it, and you won’t have to deal with all those small issues nearly as often. 

As with most things, you get what you pay for. Keep that in mind when choosing a range hood, whether it’s a custom design or a standard model.  

Ultimately, the overall quality of the hood range together with the design features included in the model will shape how dependable your kitchen setup remains and how much maintenance you will face in the years ahead.

2. Maintenance Practices

Buying a high-quality unit is the best way to ensure you start on the right foot, but how you take care of that unit plays a major part in its lifespan as well. 

A cheap hood range that isn’t taken care of properly can go out within a few years. Even an expensive hood range that’s made to the highest quality standards can struggle to hit the 10-year mark if you don’t handle basic maintenance requirements regularly. 

You can extend the life of a more budget-friendly hood range up to 10 years if you take care of it, and if you really put effort into maintaining a professional-quality hood range, it can last more than 20 years with ease. 

Also read:  8 Reasons a Custom Range Hood Is the Upgrade You’ve Been Waiting For

3. Frequency and Type of Use

This is less controllable than the other two factors, and it has less of an impact. However, it’s still important to know. 

If you’re constantly running your hood, it’s going to develop wear and tear faster than one that is only used for a few minutes at a time, as needed. 

As such, a commercial kitchen will likely need to replace its hood ranges more frequently than a residential homeowner who only turns it on when the kitchen gets smoky. 

Also, how much smoke and debris the range hood is clearing out can impact it. Usually, this isn’t a major problem. However, if you’re constantly burning dishes and generating tons of smoke, it will impact the lifespan of the unit. 

Maintaining Your Hood Range to Maximize Its Lifespan

No matter which range hood you buy, you want to get the most bang for your buck, and the only way to do that is to ensure you maintain it as well as you can. 

Luckily, it’s not overly complicated to maintain a range hood. It just requires a few basic steps that are easy to schedule, and you can get years of extra service out of it. 

Here are the maintenance tasks we recommend to keep your hood range running as smoothly as long as possible. 

1. Clean the Body of the Hood Range

This is the simplest task, and it’s likely the first thing that popped into your mind when we mentioned maintenance. One of the best things you can do is simply clean the unit regularly. 

For this specific part of the process, we’re only talking about the body. That’s all the exterior parts that you can easily reach, and they require minimal work to clean. 

Use a rag and some warm, soapy water like you would for any similar surface, and just wipe it down. 

How often you do this depends on how frequently you use it. 

If you’re a residential homeowner who only uses it as needed, then you can wait until it’s visibly collecting dust and oil on the surface, or you can schedule a weekly wipe-down. In a commercial kitchen or similar environment, this needs to be done daily. 

2. Clean the Vent

The vent is going to collect a lot of dirt and grime as you use the unit. It’s cleaned the same way as the body of the unit, but you need to remove the vent plate to ensure that you clean the exterior side and the interior portion properly. 

It’s a little more work, but it’s usually not necessary to clean it as often. About once a month is fine for people who cook daily, and if you don’t cook or use the range regularly, every 3 months can be enough, too. 

3. Clean the Air Filter

The air filter, fan blades, and other important parts require much more effort to clean. A monthly cleaning is enough for most daily cookers, and like the vent, people who cook less often can space out these deep cleaning tasks. 

If you notice the air filter is getting a bit too much wear and tear, it’s time for a replacement. 

Get the Schedule Right

We listed a lot of general timeframes for maintenance tasks, but that’s just a good way to start. When choosing your range hood, we recommend following those guidelines and adjusting your cleaning schedule to meet your needs. 

Commercial kitchens might need much more frequent maintenance, and homeowners who rarely cook might be able to go as long as 6 months without buildup. 

Listen for Major Issues

We covered cleaning, but you want to make sure you’re listening for any potential problems with the motor or fan every time you use the hood. 

These are issues that require you to call a proper maintenance professional. If you do this while the problem is small, you can avoid ruining the hood. 

Get the Best Hood Range with Integrated Metal Designs

Understanding how long range hoods last is essential for planning replacements and maintaining a safe, efficient kitchen. The lifespan of your hood depends on its quality, how well it’s maintained, and how frequently it’s used. 

By following simple cleaning and maintenance routines, you can extend the life of your range hood and avoid unexpected failures.

Integrated Metal Designs creates custom range hoods that combine quality craftsmanship, durable materials, and designs tailored to your kitchen. Our team of designers and fabricators ensures your hood looks great and lasts for years. 

Contact us to start building a custom hood range that is sure to last for years!