Two ways an over-range unit can move air
| Recirculating | Ducted to the outside |
|---|---|
| Pulls air through a grease filter and often a charcoal filter | Pushes air through a duct to an exterior wall or roof cap |
| Blows it back out the top or front into the kitchen | Removes grease, moisture and odor from the house |
| Removes some grease, very little moisture and limited odor | Depends on a damper that closes and a duct that is not crushed or greasy |
| Charcoal filters stop working once saturated and are often never changed | Works far better when run during and after cooking |
Where the residue goes
Cooking aerosols are sticky. Whatever the microwave hood does not capture drifts upward and outward and lands on the nearest cool surfaces: the cabinet faces and tops above the range, the ceiling over the cooktop, the upper walls of a great room, ceiling fan blades, and the soffit or bulkhead that many kitchens of this era have above the upper cabinets. Over time it builds into a tacky film that holds the smell of years of frying, spices and burnt food.
Open floor plans make it worse in one way and easier in another. Residue spreads across a larger area, often up to a second-floor landing that overlooks the family room. But it is also spread thinner, so a thorough degreasing of hard surfaces often removes much of the odor without heavier measures.
Cabinet interiors are a second reservoir. Spices, oils, onions and potatoes stored for years leave odor in the particleboard boxes and shelf liners. A buyer opening the pantry or the cabinet beside the range may smell more there than anywhere else in the house.
Clearing cooking odor before a sale or move-in
Find out how the unit vents
Look for a duct going up into the cabinet above or out the back wall, and check outside for a vent cap. The model's manual will say whether it is set up for recirculation.
Replace both filters
Wash or replace the metal grease filters and replace any charcoal filter. A new charcoal filter alone can noticeably reduce what the unit puts back into the room.
Degrease from the top down
Clean the ceiling above the range, the tops of upper cabinets, cabinet faces, backsplash and walls, using a degreaser suited to each finish and testing a hidden spot first.
Empty and wash cabinet interiors
Remove shelf liners, wipe every interior surface and leave doors open to air. Badly affected particleboard can be sealed with a primer suitable for cabinet interiors.
Clean the great room
Wipe ceiling fan blades, light fixtures, window blinds and upper walls facing the kitchen. Wash or replace fabric window treatments.
Reassess after a few days
Close the house up, then smell it fresh. Whole-home treatment is worth considering only if odor remains after cleaning.
Common questions
Does a grease fire leave a different kind of odor?
Yes. A kitchen fire, even a small one, leaves smoke residue that usually needs fire-specific cleaning. Mention any past fire to whoever scopes the work.
General information for Highlands Ranch, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.