Hood Vent Mold

Irving LaRue

Member
Location
Warrenton, Virginia
Occupation
Electrician Apprentice
I removed an old hood vent at my house. We planned to install a new vent hood. In the meantime, we taped up the old vent hood exhaust with some painter’s tape.

We had what we thought was old grease dripping down from the vent’s opening. We used some paper towels taped to the wall to absorb the “grease”. It’s been so hot here that we assumed the grease was melting and dripping down the wall.

When we removed the tape to clean out the grease and prepare to install the new vent hood, we found this moldy wet mess. I’m assuming what we thought was grease was actually condensation from the vent’s opening. My new assumption is that the hot air outside got into the vent’s opening and met our cold air conditioned air. This water built up in the vent’s opening and created a mold Heaven.

What can we do to prevent this from happening? Is there a certain type of contractor, like a HVAC person I should call? I know electricians deal with hood vents, but I wouldn’t expect them to deal with the ventilation part. Could I do something to the opening outside to keep the warm air from coming inside? I’m not sure if I should install the new vent hood or not until I can figure out this mess.
 

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Is the hood on an outside wall venting directly outside or taking another route??

There are companies who do duct cleaning. Also companies that deal with commercial kitchen hoods.
 
Just take that whole mess out and install a new vent cap that will have a damper and get and cut a section of duct as necessary according to the vent hood instructions. Anybody you call to look at it will tell you the same thing. Yucch!! Probably cost you $50.

-Hal
 
Just take that whole mess out and install a new vent cap that will have a damper and get and cut a section of duct as necessary according to the vent hood instructions. Anybody you call to look at it will tell you the same thing. Yucch!! Probably cost you $50.

-Hal
Install a new vent cap outside? The one I have outside has a damper. The interior damper was filthy so I took it out to clean it and haven’t put it back in yet. Do you think the damper inside is why I’m getting the condensation?
 
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