Looking for good quality 3.25″ x 10″ wall cap with backdraft damper for kitchen exhaust fan – recommendations?
WEG
| Posted in Mechanicals on
Venting range hood straight out the wall – need a high quality wall cap to keep the cold air out.
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I used a Broan 639 wall cap. I found it to be a solid unit. Still, no wall cap is perfect, but the flimsy flapper in a typical range hood is fairly useless at keeping out drafts.
I've used the same Broan, and I don't know if there's anything better for a rectangular duct. If you can switch to round your choices improve.
I just ordered (but haven't received) a 3-1/4" x 10 stainless wall cap from this company.
http://www.artiscaps.com/
A much better 3.25 x 10 vent: "Imperial Manufacturing VT0500 R2 Exhaust Hood". http://smile.amazon.com/Imperial-Manufacturing-VT0500-3-25-Inch-10-Inch/dp/B002FB65JW
It is generally solidly built, and has a reasonably sturdy weighted damper door, set on an angle so gravity works to make it seal. In my experience, gravity lasts longer than most springs, so I think it will be reliable, as well as sealing well. As a bonus, there are about 2.25 inches between the flange and the vent opening on the outside so you can integrate the flange with the WRB and have plenty of room for a rainscreen assembly. I haven't seen that in any of the others. Made in Canada.
Before I found the imperial, I purchased the Broan, but returned it after seeing how weak the spring is, how flimsy the damper door is, and worst, that the weatherstripping was only on one of the four sides of the damper, leaving what I estimate as 3 square inches of leakage area.
I know that I am late to the game, but here is the full list of vent sizes from Imperial, in case you are using a different sized duct (or don't wish to change shapes). I decided that my Vent-a Hood will be installed with 6" round piping. PS I found that they are available at Menards.
http://www.imperialgroup.ca/generalventing.cfm?c=64