A professional-style hood moves a lot of air out of a kitchen. That air has to come from somewhere. In a modern, well-sealed Houston house, the replacement air may come back down a chimney, through a gas appliance vent or through gaps you did not know existed. Makeup air is the planned way to supply it.
Why It Matters
When a hood pulls harder than the house can supply, the room can go slightly negative. Combustion appliances that vent inside the house may have trouble exhausting. This is a safety question, and it belongs to the person who designed the ventilation, not to guesswork.
Signs to Watch
- Doors near the kitchen whistle or are hard to open when the hood runs.
- Smoke or steam lingers despite a strong fan.
- A water heater or fireplace smells of exhaust when the hood is on.
- The hood sounds strained, or the fan is louder than usual.
Simple Tests
- Run the hood on high and open a window slightly. If noise and performance improve, supply air is limited.
- Hold a tissue near the hood edge and see whether it is drawn in.
- Check that the damper at the roof or wall cap opens and does not stick.
What We Can and Cannot Do
We service the hood: fan, controls, lights and filters, and we can see whether the duct looks obstructed. We do not size makeup air systems or alter ducting. That belongs to an HVAC contractor or your designer, and local code may require it. If you suspect exhaust gas indoors, leave the room and call your utility or a qualified contractor.
For hood fan and control problems, book with us. We arrive in a three-hour window, give a written price before work and provide a 30-day workmanship warranty. See range hood repair and the areas we serve.