Range Hood Blowing Fuses? 4 Things to Check

Is your range hood blowing fuses like there’s no tomorrow. You’re probably asking yourself, why is this happening? Here are 4 things you can check to solve the issue.

Blown fuses do not discriminate. Whether you just bought a brand-new range hood, or are still using the same decade-old one, to them, it makes no difference. Having this problem is not only frustrating, but also very inconvenient for home cooking.

More often than not, having your range hood burn through fuses frequently can be attributed to an electrical current issue, but in some cases, the answer can be counterintuitive and a bit elusive.

Below, you’ll find a list of possible causes and solutions to your fuse blowing problem.  We’ll start with the basics, and work our way up to some fixes that might require a trip to the hardware store. Nothing too complicated, though!

All set? Let’s begin!

Your Range Hood Could Be Blowing Fuses Due To…

• Having too many devices plugged into one electrical outlet
• Blackout-related electrical overloads
• Having the wrong lights installed
• Using the wrong fuse

Range hoods can be very capricious machines, and quite often, it can be difficult to properly troubleshoot them to find the source of the malfunction.

Regardless of how old your unit is, having an operational range hood is essential to keeping your home clean and your smoke detector from beeping like crazy every day.

#1 Having Too Many Devices Plugged Into One Electrical Outlet

Overcrowding your wall sockets can be troublesome

It might not seem like a big deal, but putting your wall sockets under too much stress can affect the overall functioning of your home’s wiring.    Normally, connecting more than three devices onto an electrical outlet can cause a wide variety of problems. From blown fuses to fried circuit boards, and even fires.

If you have the habit of using multi-contact docks to charge your phone, plug in your microwave and power the hair dryer at the same time, you could be causing your range hood’s fuses to blow.

Solution: Try to be more careful with how you distribute your electrical load between your devices. When possible, avoid using one outlet for all your electricity needs. This should take care of the fuse-blowing problem and save you a trip to the hardware store.

#2 Blackout-Related Electrical Overloads

Blackouts can cause power spikes

We are so used to having electricity in our homes, that when the power goes out, we oftentimes have a hard time figuring out what to do.

While they don’t happen very often, intermittent blackouts can kill your electrical devices if you leave them plugged in.

When then power goes out and comes back on, there can be spikes in the electrical current that is flowing through your appliances, causing them to blow fuses and fry their circuit boards. If your range hood was fine before a blackout and faulty right after, this is probably the cause.

Solution: The first step you want to take when there’s a power outage is to disconnect all your appliances and electronics from the wall sockets. This will prevent any current spikes from damaging them.

That being said, if you don’t feel like going around your house disconnecting everything whenever there’s a blackout, you can always buy a no break.

These are great to regulate the incoming electrical spikes, as they serve as a gate that only allows a safe amount of the current to pass through.

 #3 Having the Wrong Lights Installed

Your stock lights could be blowing your fuses

I know what you’re thinking. How can my range hood have the wrong lights installed if I bought it from the manufacturer? Well, the answer is a little complicated…

While manufacturers try to cover all bases and foresee all complications, every home is different.

If your range hood has halogen lights, they could be causing your fuses to blow. It’s not a very common problem, but it has been known to happen when combined with certain home conditions.

Solution: First, you should do some troubleshooting. Try using your range hood with the lights off for a while, if your fuses don’t blow during this period, you’ve narrowed down the possibilities.

Once you’re certain that the stock halogen lights are to blame, try replacing them with LED lights, as they use up to 85% less electricity. By doing this, you’ll both solve your fuse-blowing problem, and save some money in the electricity bill.

#4 Using the Wrong Fuse

A wrong fuse could be causing your headaches

If your appliance has been around the block a few times, this might just be the reason behind most of its problems. Having the wrong fuse installed in your range hood might sound like something that would never happen, right? Well…it does.

Whether you have sent it to a technician or done the maintenance yourself, we’re all human, and there’s always room for error.

I know what you’re thinking. If the fuse on my range hood is not the right one, how is it still working? Well, it turns out, in most cases, range hoods will function even with the wrong fuse in them.

That being said, the chances of having your fuse blow within a short period are very high. It’s best to play it safe and double check before operating your appliance and causing greater damage.

Solution: Check your user manual to find the right model of the fuse you need.

These days, everything’s online, so if by any chance you’ve lost it, you can always do a quick Google Search of your range hood’s make and model.

Once you have the information you require, you can go to your nearest hardware store and buy your fuse. It’s a good idea to get some spares just in case.

If you want to get any replacement part – or see how much one would cost – click to enter your model number in the search bar below. Our partners at AppliancePartsPros stock almost every part with free guides on how to install them.

Conclusion

Your range hood’s fuses could be blowing for a wide variety of reasons. Be it certain specific conditions within your home, some bad habits or simply having the wrong lights or fuses installed.

If you’ve been having this problem for a long time, chances are one of the solutions mentioned above will be the answer to your prayers.

If your range hood is brand new or has never been serviced, it would be a good idea to try and look at the external factors first, as chances are, there’s nothing wrong with the appliance itself.

Learning how to shield your electrical devices from power outages and energy spikes will help extend the life of your range hood, and save you countless trips to the hardware store.

When possible, you should always opt for energy saving alternatives like LED lights for your range hood. This will not only cross out a possible cause for your blown fuses, but also save you some money down the line.

Remember to always read your user manual and take all safety precautions before trying to manipulate or give maintenance to your range hood.

I hope you found this article useful, please check our other pieces below for more valuable information.

Happy projects!