Cooker hood installation in Falmouth

Why cooker hood installation for a Falmouth home?

If your Falmouth 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 a Falmouth home can move the hob away from the old vent, so the hood, the duct run and the wall grille all need rethinking together. We cover all of Falmouth, including the TR11 postcode district, and travel out to neighbouring towns across Cornwall.

What does the job involve?

Every kitchen is different, so we confirm the scope in writing. Most jobs of this kind include:

Power supply connected by an electrician and tested to BS 7671
Core drilling through the outside wall and an external grille fitted and sealed
Short, straight runs of rigid ducting wherever the route allows
Hood fixed at the height set by the hood and hob manufacturers
Survey of the hob position, duct route, outside wall and any open-flued appliance
Recirculating hoods fitted with carbon filters, and their limits explained

What does cooker hood installation cost in Falmouth?

As a starting point for Falmouth, these ranges include VAT at 20% and allow for typical labour costs in the South West. Prices across the South West are broadly in line with UK averages.

What does cooker hood installation cost in Falmouth?
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 Falmouth and what they mean for a kitchen

In and around Falmouth, homes range across granite and slate cottages, Victorian terraces, post-war bungalows and converted barns. Older stone cottages often have a small, low-ceilinged kitchen with uneven walls, while post-war bungalows tend to have a square kitchen beside a separate dining area.

Narrow lanes, steep harbour streets and cottages with no parking outside can make delivering long worktops tricky, so delivery day needs planning in advance. Mains water across most of Cornwall is soft, which is kinder to taps and appliances, so heavy limescale build-up is rarely a problem.

Building regulations, electrics and gas in Falmouth

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.

Where a cottage is listed or sits in one of the many harbour-town conservation areas, consent may be needed before a new extractor vent is cut through an outside wall.

Practical advice for Falmouth homeowners

Check whether your Falmouth home has an open-flued boiler or gas fire, and mention it at the survey so a spillage test can be planned.
Ask for rigid ducting rather than flexible hose wherever the route allows, as it moves more air, gathers less grease and is usually quieter.
If your Falmouth home is listed, or in a building with strict rules on outside changes, check what is allowed before any hole is cut for a duct.
Check the minimum height above the hob in both the hood and hob instructions, and use the greater of the two figures.

Questions about cooker hood installation in Falmouth

How much does cooker hood installation cost in Falmouth?

For a like-for-like cooker hood swap, budget around £120 to £250 including VAT in Falmouth. That reflects typical costs in the South West; we confirm the actual figure in writing once we have measured up.

Which parts of Falmouth do you work in?

All of them. Our Cornwall coverage takes in the whole of Falmouth, including the TR11 postcode district, as well as surrounding towns such as Truro. If you are unsure, send us your postcode.

Why might a cooker hood need a spillage test?

Because a hood pulling air out of a room can draw fumes back down the flue of an open-flued gas appliance, such as some older boilers or gas fires. Where the kitchen, or a room open to it, has one, a Gas Safe registered engineer should carry out a spillage test with the hood running at full speed. Room-sealed boilers are not affected in the same way.

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.

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.

Also covering nearby towns

Close to Falmouth? We cover these nearby towns too: