Kenmore Range Hoods

A range hood does quiet work: it pulls steam, smoke and grease out of the air while you cook. When the fan weakens, the light goes out or the cabinet starts to rattle, you notice it in the smell of the kitchen and in the film on the cabinets. Kenmore range hoods show up in San Francisco flats where the kitchen has no window, and in older homes where a duct runs through a wall. This guide describes the lineup we cover and what each symptom usually means.

Hoods we cover

We cover two Kenmore Elite range hoods: Kenmore 233.51303200 and Kenmore 233.51363200. We do not list their availability. Other Kenmore hoods, including undercabinet and wall-mounted styles, are still in many kitchens, and we repair those too when you send the label number.

Where to find the label

The label is usually behind the grease filters, on the inside wall of the hood housing. Slide a filter out, look at the metal behind it, and photograph the number with a phone. Check before the filter is back in, because the label is hard to see once it is in place.

Typical complaints

• The fan will not start. The first checks are power at the switch, the wall switch or breaker, then the fan motor and the control.
• The fan runs but pulls weakly. Greasy filters, a closed damper or a blocked duct each cut airflow. See Kenmore range hood fan not working for the fuller walkthrough.
• Loud rattle, hum or a squeal. A loose blower wheel, a bent blade or a worn motor bearing is the usual cause.
• The light is out. A fresh bulb is the first step; if it still fails, the socket or the switch is checked.
• One speed works, others do not. The speed switch or its wiring is the suspect.
• Grease drips from the housing. The grease path and the filter fit need attention.

Ducted or recirculating

Whether a hood sends air outside or filters it back into the kitchen changes how you judge it. A ducted hood depends on the whole run: the damper at the hood, the bends along the way and the cap at the outside wall. Birds, lint or a stuck flap in that cap make a strong motor seem weak. A recirculating unit relies on a charcoal or similar filter that wears out and does not wash clean. A technician traces the path before blaming the motor.

Installation details

Hoods above the cooktop or range are fixed to the wall or cabinet bottom, and the wiring runs into the housing. Mounting height relative to the burners affects both performance and heat on the controls. In tight San Francisco kitchens the duct may be short and sharp-bent, which limits airflow before any part has failed. A hood over a gas range also has to keep up with combustion moisture. The Kenmore ranges and Kenmore cooktops guides explain what sits below.

Safe checks first

1. Confirm the hood has power: try the wall switch and check the breaker.
2. Remove the grease filters, wash them in warm soapy water, let them dry and reinstall them.
3. Look at the outside cap if you can see it, and confirm the flap opens when the fan runs.
4. Replace a burnt-out bulb with the type the manual lists, with the hood off and cool.
5. Try one controlled power reset at the breaker.

Do not remove the blower housing or touch wiring. If you smell burning or see sparks, switch off at the breaker and stop using the hood. A gas smell means leave, avoid switches and call the gas utility or 911 from outside.

Request a visit

If the checks leave the hood weak, noisy or dead, request a visit through Kenmore range hood repair. A technician diagnoses first, gives a written estimate and does nothing without your approval. Have the label number, the type of vent and a short description of the sound or smell ready.

Frequently asked questions