Cooker hood installation in Exeter

Is cooker hood installation right for your Exeter kitchen?

If your Exeter kitchen has an older open-flued boiler, fitting a stronger hood needs care, as it can affect the flue and should be followed by a spillage test.

A new kitchen in an Exeter home can move the hob away from the old vent, so the hood, the duct run and the wall grille all need rethinking together. Our Devon coverage reaches every part of Exeter (EX2) and out towards Exmouth.

What does the job involve?

Here is what usually goes into cooker hood installation, adjusted to your Exeter kitchen after we have measured it:

Short, straight runs of rigid ducting wherever the route allows
Survey of the hob position, duct route, outside wall and any open-flued appliance
Core drilling through the outside wall and an external grille fitted and sealed
Spillage test by a Gas Safe registered engineer where an open-flued appliance is present
Hood fixed at the height set by the hood and hob manufacturers
Recirculating hoods fitted with carbon filters, and their limits explained

What does cooker hood installation cost in Exeter?

Use these ranges to plan your budget. They include VAT, reflect costs in the South West, and are firmed up once we have seen your Exeter kitchen. For the South West, these ranges are close to the national figures.

What does cooker hood installation cost in Exeter?
Typical project	Guide price
Like-for-like cooker hood swapSame position and ducting	£120–£250
New ducted hood through an outside wallCore drilling, ducting run and external grille	£310–£930
Island or ceiling hood installedTwo-person install, fixings to the ceiling structure	£310–£650
Recirculating hood fittedNo ducting; carbon filters need replacing	£120–£310

Guide ranges cover fitting and connection with standard ducting through a straightforward wall; long or concealed duct runs, ceiling repairs, new electrical spurs, spillage tests and the hood itself are priced separately. Prices include VAT at 20%.

House types around Exeter and what they mean for a kitchen

Typical homes in this part of Devon include cob and thatched cottages, Victorian terraces, post-war houses and flats and seaside bungalows. Victorian terraces in Exeter and Torbay often have a narrow back kitchen, while post-war houses and seaside bungalows usually have a square room that suits an L-shape.

Much of Devon has soft mains water, which is kind to taps and appliances, though some eastern parts are harder, so check with your supplier. Single-track lanes, steep town streets and cottages with no parking can make deliveries slow, so long worktops and tall units need a planned route into the house.

Building regulations, electrics and gas in Exeter

In England, Approved Document F guidance for kitchen extract is about 30 litres per second from a cooker hood extracting outside, or 60 litres per second from a fan elsewhere in the room. A recirculating hood does not remove moisture, so another means of extract is usually needed. A new vent through the outside wall of a flat may need planning permission and the freeholder's consent, and an open-flued gas appliance in the room calls for a spillage test.

Homes within Dartmoor or Exmoor national parks, listed thatched cottages and conservation areas may need consent before a new extractor vent goes through an outside wall.

Getting the most from your cooker hood installation

If you live in a flat in Devon, ask the freeholder, factor or managing agent about outside vents before you buy a ducted hood.
Ask for rigid ducting rather than flexible hose wherever the route allows, as it moves more air, gathers less grease and is usually quieter.
Replace the carbon filters in a recirculating hood as often as the manufacturer advises, and clean the grease filters regularly so the hood keeps working well.
For an island or ceiling hood, find out what is above the ceiling, as joists or added timbers are needed to carry the weight securely.

Questions about cooker hood installation in Exeter

How much does cooker hood installation cost in Exeter?

Guide prices in Exeter are about £120 to £250 including VAT for a like-for-like cooker hood swap. The final price depends on the size of the kitchen and what is moving, and is set out in an itemised written quote.

Can you measure up in Exeter before quoting?

Yes. Every quote starts with a free, no-obligation survey visit to your home in Exeter. We measure the room, check the walls, floor and service positions, then send an itemised written quote.

Does a cooker hood need a hole in the wall?

A ducted hood does. The usual route is a core-drilled hole through the nearest outside wall, with rigid ducting from the hood and an external grille sealed into the wall. Where the hob is far from an outside wall, the duct can sometimes run above the wall units or through a ceiling void. A recirculating hood needs no hole, but it removes no moisture.

Can a ducted cooker hood be fitted in a flat?

Often, but check consents first. A new vent through the outside wall of a flat may need planning permission and the freeholder's written consent, and some leases do not allow it at all. Where an outside vent is not possible, a recirculating hood can be fitted, with a separate extract fan or other ventilation dealing with moisture. Listed buildings may also need listed building consent.

How high should a cooker hood be above the hob?

At least the minimum distance given by the manufacturers. Both the hood and the hob instructions set a minimum gap between them, and where they differ the greater figure should be used. Gas hobs usually need more clearance than induction. A hood fitted too low is a fire risk, while one fitted much higher than recommended captures less steam.

Nearby places we cover

We also carry out cooker hood installation in these towns near Exeter: