Should you repair or replace your range hood?
Updated August 2026
← Every repair-or-replace call
Repair a range hood whose housing and ductwork are sound, because a blower motor costs $80–250 and a switch, capacitor, or light socket costs a fraction of that. Hoods last 10–15 years, and the motor is almost always what dies first, usually after years of dragging air through grease-loaded filters. Replacing the whole hood means $150–1,000 for the unit plus $200–800 in labor, and more again if you change the size or the duct route. Buy new when the motor is seized on a hood past 12 years, or when you want airflow the old one never delivered.
The short version
This is the rare appliance where the repair is cheap enough that the 50% rule barely engages: an $80–250 motor against $350–1,800 installed almost always favors fixing it. The real reason to replace a hood is capability, not economics. Undersized units, recirculating models with no duct to the outside, and 200 CFM builder-grade hoods fail at the job even while running perfectly, and no motor swap changes that. If your hood is ducted, correctly sized, and reasonably quiet, keep it alive with parts. If it dumps filtered air back into the kitchen, or gasps at 200 CFM over a six-burner gas range, spend the money on a properly vented hood.
Your situation, decided
| Situation | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Blower motor seized, hood under 12 years, ducting intact | Repair | An $80–250 motor against $350–1,800 for a new installed hood |
| Switch, capacitor, or light socket failed | Repair | A $15–60 part and about 30 minutes; nothing else is wrong |
| Motor dead on a hood past 12 years | Replace | End of a 10–15 year life, and a new unit runs quieter |
| Recirculating hood, or under 300 CFM over a gas range | Replace | Airflow is the fault, and no repair fixes an undersized hood |
What each path costs
Repairs typically run $80–250; a replacement is $350–1,800 installed. Range hoods last 10–15 years and the blower motor fails first. Repair it under 12 years; past that, replace and take the chance to fix undersized airflow. Price your own number on the home maintenance cost calculator before you commit either way.
The repair-or-replace call is easy when you know the unit's age and service history. OnOtto keeps both, plus the maintenance that delays this decision for years.
Start your home's service log, freeFrequently asked questions
How many CFM does my range hood need?
For a gas range, the common industry rule is about 100 CFM for every 10,000 BTU of burner output, so a 60,000 BTU cooktop wants roughly 600 CFM. Electric ranges need less, often 300–400 CFM under a standard 30-inch hood. Duct size matters as much as the fan, since a 600 CFM hood squeezed into a 4-inch duct will never move 600 CFM. Weigh the rating against your hood age before choosing between a motor and a new unit.
Why is my hood loud but barely pulling air?
Grease. A saturated aluminum mesh filter chokes airflow, the blower wheel loads with sticky residue and goes out of balance, and the motor howls while moving almost nothing. Degrease the mesh filters in hot water and dish soap monthly, change the charcoal filter on a recirculating unit every 6–12 months, and wipe the blower housing once a year. See charcoal filter intervals and what a grease-caked filter costs you in motor life and fire risk.
Is it worth converting a recirculating hood to a vented one?
If the duct run is short, yes. A recirculating hood pushes filtered air back into the room, so it traps grease and some odor but removes no heat, no moisture, and no combustion byproducts from a gas range. Running a 6-inch duct through an exterior wall or up a soffit typically adds $400–1,200 to the installation, and the difference in a working kitchen is immediate. Follow the range hood checklist either way so the new unit reaches its full 10–15 years.