Gentlefolk,

One stove vent actually vents to the outside. There's a couple of
semicircular metal flaps at the bottom of the ductwork that seal it
off when the fan is off, but they flip up when enough pressure has
been built up from below, opening the vent and letting the nasty fumes
out.

Problem is that the flaps and the ductwork are greasy and tend to
stick in the 'up' position. It's not much trouble in the summer, but
in the winter, cold air pours in from the outside. I take off the
aluminum filter, then pick and pry with a pancake flipper until the
errant flap comes down.

I attempted to clean 'em with degreaser but it's pretty hard to reach
up there. I'd really rather not take down the entire vent from its
ducting if there's a better way. Any ideas?

Best -- Terry

Terry wrote:
>
> Gentlefolk,
>
> One stove vent actually vents to the outside. There's a couple of
> semicircular metal flaps at the bottom of the ductwork that seal it
> off when the fan is off, but they flip up when enough pressure has
> been built up from below, opening the vent and letting the nasty fumes
> out.
>
> Problem is that the flaps and the ductwork are greasy and tend to
> stick in the 'up' position. It's not much trouble in the summer, but
> in the winter, cold air pours in from the outside. I take off the
> aluminum filter, then pick and pry with a pancake flipper until the
> errant flap comes down.
>
> I attempted to clean 'em with degreaser but it's pretty hard to reach
> up there. I'd really rather not take down the entire vent from its
> ducting if there's a better way. Any ideas?
>
> Best -- Terry

First line of attack to resolve the problem is to eliminate the sources
of "nasty fumes", it's a kitchen stove vent hood, not a vent hood in
some nasty chemical plant

The only way I can think of to clean it without taking it apart, and
they way the commercial ones are often cleaned, is with steam. If you
get one of the consumer steam cleaners, some plastic drop cloths and
masking tape to contain the run off and a case of paper towels to soak
up the run off, you should be able to clean them reasonably well.

spray oven cleaner as far up in there as you can, then turn on the fan for
at least a couple of hours. The fumes will reach areas that the cleaner
doesn't and will break down the oils/grease.

Zippy P > wrote:
>spray oven cleaner as far up in there as you can, then turn on the fan for
>at least a couple of hours. The fumes will reach areas that the cleaner
>doesn't and will break down the oils/grease.

But oven cleaner isn't about fumes, it's about solvents
and wiping. In this case, really nasty solvents you don't
want dripping onto your food months later.

So once you apply it, you have to remove it, too.

Vent hoods should be made self-cleaning, but that might
set houses on fire.

I like the steam cleaner idea. A better vent-hood filter
would do, too.

I bet chimney sweeps do a lot of side-work cleaning these things.

--Blair

On Sep 10, 7:19 pm, Terry > wrote:
> Gentlefolk,
>
> One stove vent actually vents to the outside. There's a couple of
> semicircular metal flaps at the bottom of the ductwork that seal it
> off when the fan is off, but they flip up when enough pressure has
> been built up from below, opening the vent and letting the nasty fumes
> out.
>
> Problem is that the flaps and the ductwork are greasy and tend to
> stick in the 'up' position. It's not much trouble in the summer, but
> in the winter, cold air pours in from the outside. I take off the
> aluminum filter, then pick and pry with a pancake flipper until the
> errant flap comes down.
>
> I attempted to clean 'em with degreaser but it's pretty hard to reach
> up there. I'd really rather not take down the entire vent from its
> ducting if there's a better way. Any ideas?

Castrol Super Clean works great, but WEAR GLOVES and BE CAREFUL.
Though if you are in Cali, I think it has been banned there.
>
> Best -- Terry

--Bryan

In article om>,
Bobo Bonobo(R) > wrote:

> On Sep 10, 7:19 pm, Terry > wrote:
> > Gentlefolk,
> >
> > One stove vent actually vents to the outside. There's a couple of
> > semicircular metal flaps at the bottom of the ductwork that seal it
> > off when the fan is off, but they flip up when enough pressure has
> > been built up from below, opening the vent and letting the nasty fumes
> > out.
> >
> > Problem is that the flaps and the ductwork are greasy and tend to
> > stick in the 'up' position. It's not much trouble in the summer, but
> > in the winter, cold air pours in from the outside. I take off the
> > aluminum filter, then pick and pry with a pancake flipper until the
> > errant flap comes down.
> >
> > I attempted to clean 'em with degreaser but it's pretty hard to reach
> > up there. I'd really rather not take down the entire vent from its
> > ducting if there's a better way. Any ideas?
>
> Castrol Super Clean works great, but WEAR GLOVES and BE CAREFUL.
> Though if you are in Cali, I think it has been banned there.
> >
> > Best -- Terry
>
> --Bryan

She could also call her local restaurant and ask them how they do it.
;-) There has been more than one cook that has been more than willing to
talk to me about stuff when I call them. It's actually kinda fun... So
long as I don't call them during a busy time!

Calling a chimney service also could not hurt.
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

> But oven cleaner isn't about fumes, it's about solvents
> and wiping. In this case, really nasty solvents you don't
> want dripping onto your food months later.

Honey, if you think oven cleaner doesn't have fumes, then you ain't been
using much oven cleaner. The solvents are in the fumes you dolt. True,
they're not as concentrated as spraying it directly on the grease, but if
she can't reach it then she has to use something that has vaporized. Oven
cleaner is (relatively) safe and will be gone within a short time.

On Sep 10, 8:19?pm, Terry > wrote:
> Gentlefolk,
>
> One stove vent actually vents to the outside. There's a couple of
> semicircular metal flaps at the bottom of the ductwork that seal it
> off when the fan is off, but they flip up when enough pressure has
> been built up from below, opening the vent and letting the nasty fumes
> out.
>
> Problem is that the flaps and the ductwork are greasy and tend to
> stick in the 'up' position. It's not much trouble in the summer, but
> in the winter, cold air pours in from the outside. I take off the
> aluminum filter, then pick and pry with a pancake flipper until the
> errant flap comes down.
>
> I attempted to clean 'em with degreaser but it's pretty hard to reach
> up there. I'd really rather not take down the entire vent from its
> ducting if there's a better way. Any ideas?
>
> Best -- Terry

Perfect job for a power washer... more and more home owners have power
washers for all kinds of outdoor cleaning chores.

Zippy P > wrote:
>> But oven cleaner isn't about fumes, it's about solvents
>> and wiping. In this case, really nasty solvents you don't
>> want dripping onto your food months later.
>
>Honey, if you think oven cleaner doesn't have fumes, then you ain't been
>using much oven cleaner. The solvents are in the fumes you dolt. True,

You are quite the retard.

No.

Fumes won't get your oven clean.

You need to spray the stuff onto the walls, ceiling,
and floor, and let them dissolve the grease and resins.

>they're not as concentrated as spraying it directly on the grease, but if
>she can't reach it then she has to use something that has vaporized. Oven
>cleaner is (relatively) safe and will be gone within a short time.

Oven cleaner will kill you if you ingest it.

Read the label.

--Blair

"Blair P. Houghton" wrote:
>
> Zippy P > wrote:
> >> But oven cleaner isn't about fumes, it's about solvents
> >> and wiping. In this case, really nasty solvents you don't
> >> want dripping onto your food months later.
> >
> >Honey, if you think oven cleaner doesn't have fumes, then you ain't been
> >using much oven cleaner. The solvents are in the fumes you dolt. True,
>
> You are quite the retard.
>
> No.
>
> Fumes won't get your oven clean.
>
> You need to spray the stuff onto the walls, ceiling,
> and floor, and let them dissolve the grease and resins.

Never heard of vapor degreasing? Pretty common industrial process for
cleaning parts before various surface treatments.

>
> >they're not as concentrated as spraying it directly on the grease, but if
> >she can't reach it then she has to use something that has vaporized. Oven
> >cleaner is (relatively) safe and will be gone within a short time.
>
> Oven cleaner will kill you if you ingest it.

Exactly, and why I suggested something non toxic like steam.