Is a foil flexible duct above my cooktop a fire hazard in my 4-year-old home, and should I hire a professional to replace it?
Asked by Nadia Cedillo 
2 weeks ago
Last Updated: November 9, 2024
My house is pretty new, only four years old. Instead of having a galvanized steel vent pipe, I’ve got a foil flexible duct above my cooktop. Do you think that’s safe, or could it be a fire hazard? If it is, should I look into getting it replaced? And if I do need to replace it, do you think it’s a good idea to hire a professional to handle it?
No worries, I prefer metal over plastic.
Is that a vent hood above your stove? I’m worried that the flexible pipe could gather grease faster than a smooth one. Does it vent outside?
It’s against the rules in NY State, and probably in many other states too. It needs to be hard piped.
Codes vary depending on location, so reach out to your local HVAC store and inquire if it complies with regulations. Being a new home, it should be up to code.
Always has new houses with items that aren’t up to code. It’s common for CEOs to overlook things.
You should definitely reach out to a local shop or even the builder of your home, especially since the house is still new. In the USA, they may cover a proper replacement for free, similar to how it is done in Canada for a few years.
Make sure to replace it for sure. It will accumulate more grease as time goes on.
Check out the manufacturer’s recommended installation guidelines.
While not posing a fire risk, I would still recommend replacing it.
Looks terrible haha
There’s a risk of a grease fire spreading to the attic, so we need to make sure the pipe is sheet metal.
Could a grease fire potentially spread up any vent, regardless of what it’s made of? Just curious since I’m not an expert.
Has it, but it’s inside the metal pipe.
Vent-A-Hood brand kitchen hood exhaust by is specially made to put out fires with its unique airflow pattern in a baffle exhaust wheel.
Definitely, you should replace that as soon as possible!
The Building Code specifies smooth vent pipe, corrugated pipe should not be used even if it’s a thicker metal.
Completely incorrect, swap it out with the appropriate pipe.
I’m not sure where you’re located, but that definitely wouldn’t pass code in the states where I’ve worked. Swap it out for sheet metal and move forward.
No, it’s just a safety hazard waiting to happen.
It’s probably best to hire a professional and spend the $1500.
Is there a steel pipe underneath?
That’s not right, it should be a sheet metal pipe. That seems like an easy fix to me. The inspector should have caught that before you bought the house, especially if it’s only 4 years old. Yes, it’s probably best to replace it.
Wouldn’t fly in a commercial kitchen, but how much do you actually use it at home? If you’re a foodie, then maybe consider upgrading. But if you only cook twice a week and it’s just for toast and jam, maybe it’s not worth it. If it’s a simple fix, then great. If not, it might be time to let it go.
Check out this guide on retrofitting kitchen exhaust ducts! It’s super helpful for making sure your kitchen ventilation is working efficiently.
Should definitely not bend. Picks up grease and dirt like it’s nobody’s business.
It’s illegal in most countries and not in the SMACNA or NFPA codes. Complete idiot job, please replace it with smooth-walled rigid ducting designed for this range hood. It cannot be reduced from the factory fan outlet. Yes, it’s a fire hazard. Some days I just want to track down some of these handymen and give them a smack! They have no clue what they were doing.