Asked on Aug 06, 2013
Stop a back draft from a down draft exhaust fan on a GE stovetop
by
Beth T
+2
I have a GE profile gas cooktop with a down draft exhaust fan in the middle of my kitchen island. The vent pipe travels about 20 feet to the outside. However, when it is not turned on, there is a icy cold back draft in the winter. For now, we cover the stove top fan intake with a folded towel, but not the safest venue for a stove. any suggestions?
5 answers
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Do you have a damper or lourvers where the vent terminates outside? It is possible to replace the "grill" at the cook top with a solid cast iron "griddle". You could also replace the vents grill with a small custom made cutting board. I built a custom board to fit a griddle that my brother uses on his 6 burner. He keeps in in the middle when only working with up to 4 burners. I keep spoons and salts + pepper there.
KMS Woodworks
on Aug 06, 2013
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We have a GE Profile Modular (electric) cook top with down draft with about sixteen foot vent pipe to the outside. We have not had any trouble with cold air coming in but we do have the louvered cover as Kevin mentioned so I would check that first. It would be a somewhat easy fix. I agree with you that a towel would be dangerous.
Z
on Aug 06, 2013
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thanks all, the outside vent is not louvered, so I am going to see if I can find a replacement for the vent that is there. I also like the idea of the cutting board, so if one doesn't work I will try the other. Thanks again.
Beth T
on Aug 06, 2013
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Hi Beth, It sounds like you have two issues. One is that there is a negative in your house that is causing the backdraft and two is a stuck or non existent back draft damper. A negative in a tight home is caused by pulling air out of home with no means to bring it back in. Dryers, bathroom exhausts, or anything pulling air out of home causes a negative. The air has to come back in to the home somehow, either where you don't want it to such as your stove vent, around doors and windows or any other path it can find such as dried out traps in your sewer system (phew) It is better to have controlled infiltration such as a damper tied in to your furnace system. Talk to a contractor. SECOND issue. There should be a back draft damper in your exhaust or duct leading out. Either it is stuck or is not there. Follow the duct and see if you can find it or ask a contractor to look and see if he can find one. If there isn't one there it can be installed. Thanks
Certified Inspection Services
on Aug 09, 2013
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thanks for your help
Beth T
on Aug 09, 2013
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