Expert: James Ball - 7/8/2010

Question
I have a 1926 house.  In the kitchen is a vent above the stove area.  The vent is a simple rectangle shape with a grill covering it.  Inside it has a circular opening that appears to continue at a horizontal direction.  I am not sure where this leads to, as I have not seen anything going up into my attic.  Do you know if this was originally vented horizontally to the outside wall of the house?  Also, I wondered if I could install an exhaust fan into this opening.

Do you know where I can get 1920's house plans?

Thanks very much.

Tom M.

Answer
Hello Tom, not sure what you have there but a kitchen exhaust fan will over time build up with grease (could be a matter of months) that can catch fire and requires regular cleaning, if you do not know where it goes then you can not clean it. also that exhaust vent must be made of metal (You might be able to insert a metal vent into the  that "simple rectangle shape"
you might be able to get a chimney sweep with a video camera video scan that vent to see where it goes.
do not use it unless you make sure it is up to current building code.
maybe town hall will have plans?
see if you have any other houses like your in the neighbor hood and ask them?
hope this helps
James