Most people realize that the air in their homes is often more polluted than the air outside. Installing a range hood in the kitchen will help filter some of that air. There are other advantages to having a range hood as well, including: 

• keeping walls from getting greasy

• helping to eliminate peeling of paint from the walls

• eliminating musty smells from carpets, curtains or other items

• eliminating the smell from foods that you cook or bake

• removing smoke and/or steam

• helping to eliminate the odor of toxic chemicals used for cleaning

• getting rid of potentially hazardous carbon dioxide.

• taking moisture and hot air out of the room

To ensure that your range hood works properly, it should be installed about 24 inches from the top of your range. If you purchase a hood with a very strong fan, it can be upwards of 30 inches. The hood should ideally vent air to outside the house. The best are metal, ducted hoods. Ductless hoods perform similar tasks, but send the air past a filter and then re-circulate it back into the room. If you have one of these, you need to change the filter about every six to twelve months.

Metal filters can be washed and put back in.  Some ductless hoods can also be converted, so they vent the air to the outside. No matter what type you have, never send a duct into your attic or garage, as pollutants, grease and moister will collect there. However, duct extensions that can go to the chimney are available. When looking for a range hood, you need to be sure it has enough power to filter any pollutants from your kitchen.

You also need to take into consideration both the size you need and how loud it operates. The hood should be the length of your range or longer.  You must also buy the duct in the appropriate size. If it is too small, airflow will be restricted. When you install it, try to avoid having a long and winding duct, as this will also affect performance.  For proper maintenance, you need to keep your range hood clean. Grease in particular can become a fire hazard. When you purchase a hood, ask if it has a surface that is easy to clean.   Some hoods also have lights for more convenience. Some have timers that shut the fan off after a certain amount of time. Some hoods tuck neatly under your cabinets and only need to be slid out when necessary and there are also hoods that can be installed above islands. Hoods today also come in a variety of styles. Some are stainless steel, copper and some are even tile. You can even get a hood in a paneling to match your cupboards.  If you live in the Los Angeles County area and need maintenance, parts or repair to your range hood, go to www.chiefappliance.com. Service technicians are available nights, weekends and on holidays. If you need to replace your range hood, Chief Appliances also has various models for you to choose from.                                                      

Nothing beats the smells and the tastes of good old fashioned cooking.  Whether you’re stirring up mom’s secret soup recipe or you’re attempting to make your grandma’s spaghetti sauce, cooking on a range is the only way to do it right.  Sure, a microwave might be faster, but it’s not going to give you the quality you deserve and that your family should be eating at the dinner table.

But as with anything, ranges can break down when you least expect them to, necessitating that you get them repaired or that you replace them completely.  If you’ve noticed that your cooking doesn’t taste as good as it should, you might want to look into the specialists in range repair in Castaic – West Coast Chief Repair.  While the problem might be small and easy to fix, you may also be facing something more complicated that requires professional help.

With West Coast Chief Repair, their nearly twenty years of experience will allow you to trust their opinion as well as their service.  Always interested in being your friend as well as your repair service, West Coast Chief Repair is serving the entire Los Angeles area with a smile. 

And your old fashioned cooking deserves only the best.

Every year, about 800,000 ranges are sold to consumers that are unsafe, but how can you know if you are one of the unlucky ones?  There are certain signs that will tell you that your stove is not working properly and might even be a hazard. They are as follows: 

• If you have a gas range and find that your eyes and/or nose are constantly irritated, there may be a leak somewhere and you need to call for assistance immediately. You might also be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. For any stove, if you feel dizzy or lightheaded, your stove may be polluting the air and you need to leave the house immediately.
• If the top of the range becomes very hot when the oven is on, there is a problem with your range.
• If the range seems lighter than you’re used to or seems to wobble, it could be easily tipped and injure you or someone in your household. Choice magazine ran an article recently warning consumers of this hazard.
• If you purchased an electric stove and the oven won’t heat up or the burners won’t go on, it indicates that there may be a short in the system.
• If you have a ventless gas stove and you find that the air quality in your home is poor – this is a common complaint about this type of stove. Canada has banned ventless appliances, but they are still sold in the United States.
• Knobs on the stove come off too easily.

Finally, if there is a recall on your stove, don’t use it. Some range hazards are created by you and should be taken care of immediately. These include: 

• You have an overloaded outlet, if two or more major appliances are plugged into the same outlet.
• You find frayed chords connecting the range to the outlet.
• Smoke from the oven when baking indicates that there is likely a build-up of grease inside. This is a potential fire hazard.
• The oven door won’t close properly, so whatever you bake does not cook in the allotted time.
• Food and other debris have built up on the burners and smoke arises when you turn them on.
• Your stove is quite old and often needs repairs.

Many of these should be taken care of by you as soon as possible. Make sure that your range is cleaned regularly as well to avoid any potential hazards. As soon as you notice food or grease spills, let the oven cool and wipe them up.  If you purchase a good range, proper care and maintenance will keep it operating effectively and you shouldn’t have any serious problems.

However, if you find that you do need assistance with maintenance, parts or repairs and live in the Los Angeles County area, go to www.chiefappliance.com.  A West Coast Chief Appliance service technician will be happy to help you. The technicians are also available at no extra charge at night and on weekends and holidays. West Coast Chief Appliance also sells various models of new ranges.