Removing the stainless steel chimney from a rangehood

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Removing the stainless steel chimney from a rangehood

openmedia

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#325601 21-Sep-2026 11:36

Looks like our 90cm range hood is finally giving up, and I want to look at how it has been fitted so I can try for a drop in replacement. The actual unit (Polo HNBOX-90) is no longer available and we've no install guide, but it looks reasonably generic

My issue is it looks like the installer has put framing all the way up the inside of the metal and then bonded the unit in addition to the standard screws. Has anyone else seen this before, and any suggestions on removal. I've tried heat to release the glue, and using a multi-tool to get around the back, but it simply won't budge.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

johno1234

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#3529715 21-Sep-2026 13:12

Photo? Usually the outer cover is decorative only and hiding the flexible ducting inside. It should be screwed to a couple of simple brackets similar to:

https://media.flixcar.com/webp/synd-asset/HAIER-20Europe-20Trading-493343893-Haier-UserInstall-en-HC60BLX1-HC90BLX1-HC60BLB1-HC90BLB1-WallRangehood-0-105.pdf

I would have thought they were all much the same as that.

openmedia

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#3529767 21-Sep-2026 13:50

@johno1234 I've removed the 4 screws that should release the unit, but it won't budge.

I've removed a similar unit before with almost no messing around. This is clearly been glued to something

Here are a couple of images. I used some tape to protect the wall when I tried to get behind the sealant used along the edges.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

johno1234

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#3529784 21-Sep-2026 15:20

Well that's a pain. Giving it a whack should tell you if there's framing on the other side or if it is clued/sealed to the gib. If I was going to seal the thing in there for some reason I would have at worst used silicon sealant, not strong adhesive.

If it is glued then you might have to just rip it out with brute force and take the gib with it. I cant believe they would have blocked out some framing and fixed it to that.

gzt

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#3529791 21-Sep-2026 15:43

That looks ugly. I wonder why they used a sealant. It looks like the same stuff is under the left edge near the front. In what way has it failed?

mattwnz

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#3529792 21-Sep-2026 15:53

Looks like a rough job. Looks like the ceiling coving has been cut to the outer side of the vent cover. Thats going to be a PITA to get a new one to fit the gap. I suspect they have used sealants/glue to attach it. I am guessing it just covers a flexi pipe behind it.

wellygary

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#3529811 21-Sep-2026 16:59

Can you just remove the fan head?,

The S/S cowling in your photos is likely just covering a round pipe heading to the roof/wall vent,

You "should" be able to reuse most of the pipe if you can make it fit into the new fan unit ( with potentially some new flexi-pipe as a bridge)

Temoving the fan unit at the bottom would also allow you to see inside the bottom of the S/S cowling and see what is actually holding the whole thing to the wall

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Bung

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#3529817 21-Sep-2026 17:44

The unit is likely to be a generic Robinhood. The may be a label inside the filter space. The lower outer cover will closely cover a box holding the fan. I doubt there will be any room for builder framing. If there's sealant some could be on the inside of the lower cover sticking it to the fan box.

mattwnz

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#3529821 21-Sep-2026 17:54

I just hope it isn't just vented into the roof space...so many builders used to do that. Then there are the rangehoods that have no ducting at all.... The roof space may give a hint at how the cover is being held up

openmedia

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#3529972 22-Sep-2026 07:36

Well I got the cover off, it was seriously jammed in with a combination of sealant and grease.

Top trap was jammed as well so it hasn't been venting correctly, but it is ducted to outside. A bit of a bodge job as lots of duct tape instead of using a 150->125mm reducer.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

johno1234

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#3529987 22-Sep-2026 09:15

mattwnz:

I just hope it isn't just vented into the roof space...so many builders used to do that. Then there are the rangehoods that have no ducting at all.... The roof space may give a hint at how the cover is being held up

Seen plenty of bathroom fans vented into ceilings, but greasy smelly cooking ventilation - yech!