How important is a Range Hood?

Question

We recently closed on our first investment house - an REO that had the HVAC stripped out at some point. We got a pretty good deal, and we are beginning renovation. It appears that there has never been a range hood for the stove. The house had gas at one point, but more recently had an electric stove. The ceilings in the kitchen and some other rooms have greasy stains that required extra prep work when painting. I think we probably need to bite the bullet and install a vented range hood, but the installation for this is pretty expensive. Is it worth it? Have others done this? If we leave this off (we bought a new electric stove) are we setting ourselves up for problems?

Leonard

Leonard Holmes · Answer

We finally settled on a vent fan with an added grease filter on the wall above the stove.  There was not even room for a range hood with just a 24 inch wide cabinet too low over the stove.  This is an oddball solution to an oddball problem in this particular house that has a small kitchen.  I appreciate the advise about avoiding the microwave too.  I'll learn - hopefully not the hard way.

Account Closed · Answer

By the way, most tenants won't use the fan. You have a better chance of them using it if you get a quiet one.

Even if they don't use the fan, the hood seems to catch most of the grease and it's easier to clean than the ceiling and half the walls.

Quick, cheap, and easy: install a good smooth glossy tile behind the stove. It doesn't burn and it is sure easier to wash the grease off of than a painted wall.

Account Closed · Answer

re-sell or rent? For resale, install a ventless. It looks good, and works slightly better than nothing. (Actually, they work OK if the filter is cleaned regularly, which no one seems to do)

If you are keeping it, I'd recomended a vented hood. They don't actually cost much. The big box stores have cheapies. Don't ask the stove guys to install. Call a couple of roofers and maybe a woodstove installer and get quotes. The guys who do solar tubes will also do the ductwork for a vent.

Don't buy the fancy one with matching pipe. If there is no cabinet over the stove, install a cheap one to hide the vent pipe and give a bit more storage.

Jon Holdman · Answer

Oh don't worry.  Rentals and RE Investing in general seems to have an unlimited number of lessons to teach.  We'll all get plenty of education in the school of hard knocks.  If we can save each other just one or two lessons, we'll all be better off.

Jon Holdman · Answer

I wouldn't (didn't) put one of those hood/microwaves in my own house, and certainly not a rental.  I'd be amazed if it would get you any extra rent.  They're expensive compared to a hood plus a microwave.  Seriously I was at Habitat for Humanity on Saturday and they had stacks and stacks of ventless hoods for $15.  A basic microwave is $100 and its the tenants problem.  If you put in a hood/microwave, its likely to be at least $200 and any problems become your problem.

Steve Babiak · Answer

Install a range hood, but not with built-in microwave.  Jon is right about this one.  Imagine the things a tenant will put into there - aluminum foil - and imagine the fireworks that will happen in that oven.  They'll peek through the door and think they're watching the July 4th display on TV!

The cost to repair one of these built-in microwaves is huge; almost becomes cheaper to install a new one.

The only exception to the above is if ALL of the for-rent competition has these built-in microwave range hoods; very unlikely unless it is higher end housing.  And if it is higher end housing, the rents will be higher, and you won't feel as much pain having to fix the darn things.

Rich Schroeder · Answer

I put in a ventless range hood in my recent rental house with the tenants request. It cost me $30 for the hood and about $10 to run electric to that spot. I used conduit up from the floor and over to the top of the hood. We'll see if they yse it.

Leonard Holmes · Answer

I appreciate all the feedback!  There are a lot of different ideas out there.  We'll have to install a shorter cabinet above the stove to make this work, but I do think we will install something.  I am leaning toward an above-the-stove microwave because the kitchen is very small and has little counter space.  I think that investing a little more now will help rental income a bit down the road too and make it easier to rent.

Chris OToole · Answer

A lot of the middle of the road places I see use a over the range microwave that has a fan in it.... they are a little more than the basic fan but seems to be the norm in a lot of places.

Chris

How important is a Range Hood?

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