Kenmore Range Hood Fan Not Working: Causes and Checks

A range hood fan has an easy life and a hard one at the same time. It runs a short while at a time, but it sits above grease, steam and heat. Most failures come from that environment rather than from a defect, and many start with a simple, fixable build-up.

Silent fan or weak fan

There are really two complaints under one heading. A silent fan does not move at all, which points to power, a switch or the motor. A weak fan runs but fails to clear smoke, which points to grease buildup, blocked ducting or a fan wheel that has slipped. Decide which one you have before looking at anything else.

Why a silent fan stays silent

• Power at the hood is lost, from a tripped breaker or a switched outlet that someone turned off.
• The speed switch or control has worn out. A hood light that works while the fan does not is a hint of this.
• The fan motor itself has burned out or seized after years of grease.
• A thermal protector inside the motor has tripped from overheating and not yet cooled.
• A wiring connection has loosened where the hood meets the cabinet.

Why a weak fan is weak

Grease is the main enemy. A saturated filter blocks airflow, and grease that has reached the fan wheel throws it off balance and slows it down. Blocked or kinked ductwork, or an outside damper flap that sticks shut, reduces what leaves the building. In many San Francisco flats the hood vents through a long run to the exterior wall, or recirculates through a charcoal filter that needs replacing, and either arrangement shows the weakness first. A rattling sound often means the wheel has loosened or grease has built up on one side.

What you can check from the outside

1. Look at your breaker panel and, if the hood plugs in, confirm the plug is seated.
2. Test the light. If it works but the fan does not, the problem is narrower.
3. Turn the hood off and let it cool. Remove the metal grease filters and wash them with warm water and dish soap, then dry them completely.
4. If the hood recirculates, look at the charcoal filter; one that has been in place a long time may need replacing.
5. Go outside, if you can, and look at the vent hood flap. Make sure it opens freely when the fan runs.
6. Do one controlled power reset at the breaker.

Keep your hands off the fan wheel and the motor. Everything beyond the filters and the exterior flap is for a technician.

What not to do

Do not run the fan with the filters removed, do not spray cleaner into the motor housing, and do not climb onto the range to reach the hood. Do not touch wiring above the unit. If you smell burning, hear a grinding noise or see smoke, shut the hood off at the breaker. If you smell gas anywhere in the kitchen, leave and call the gas utility or 911 from outside.

Installation details that change the diagnosis

How the hood is installed shapes how it fails. A ducted hood sends air out through a duct, so a blocked duct or stuck damper is common. A recirculating hood returns air to the room through a filter, so the filter condition matters. A hood above a high-output gas range works harder and picks up more grease. Mention which kind you have, how long the duct run is, and whether your range is gas or electric.

What the visit involves

We check power at the hood, test the switch and control, inspect the motor and wheel, and look at the duct and damper. You receive a written estimate before any part is ordered, and nothing is repaired without your approval. See Kenmore range hood repair and Kenmore range hoods for what we cover. An over-the-range microwave with a built-in fan is a different appliance; for that see Kenmore microwave repair.

Cleaning the hood and the habits that help

Grease filters need cleaning more often than most people expect, particularly in kitchens where frying, stir-frying or searing is routine. Wipe the underside of the hood and the visible fan area with a degreasing cloth only when the hood is off and cool, and avoid soaking the control panel. Turn the fan on a minute before cooking and leave it for a few minutes after, so it can clear steam and smoke instead of letting them settle on cabinets.

If your building has shared ducting, a weak hood can also be affected by what happens in other flats, such as a damper that sticks. When the problem is in the building duct rather than the hood, a technician will say so and point you to the building manager.

Lights, switches and controls

Many hoods have a rocker, slider or push-button switch for each speed, and a separate switch for the light. A single worn contact can leave one speed working and the others dead, which is a useful clue to share. Touch controls add a small board, and moisture from steam can get to it over time. If only one speed works, say which, and whether the problem began after cleaning the hood with liquid cleaners near the controls.

Model number note

Motors, wheels and switches are specific to each hood. The label is usually found behind the filters on the inside of the housing. Our model pages, such as Kenmore 233.51303200 repair and Kenmore 233.51363200 repair, show how hood parts are grouped.

Frequently asked questions