Grease dripping from the bottom of a range hood is more than a cosmetic mess. It means airborne cooking grease is collecting somewhere and returning to the cooking surface instead of staying contained in the filter and hood. Start with the filter type and the underside of the hood, because those are the parts designed for routine homeowner maintenance. If thick grease is coming from inside the duct, from above the blower, or back after only a short time, the job has moved beyond a simple filter wash.
QUICK STEPS
If you need the short version, try these steps first.
- Switch the hood off and wait until the cooking surface and hood are cool.
- Remove the filter using the hood's latch or retaining method rather than bending the frame.
- Identify whether the filter is washable metal, baffle style, or a replace-only charcoal filter.
Before you continue, check these safety points.
- Do not clean the hood while the cooking surface is hot, and do not allow degreaser or water into the motor, wiring, switches, or light sockets.
- Do not wash charcoal or other replace-only filters unless the owner's manual specifically says they are washable.
- Heavy grease buildup is a fire concern; avoid high-heat unattended cooking under a grease-loaded hood and correct the buildup promptly.
Find where the first wet grease appears
Turn the hood off and let the cooktop and hood cool. Look for the highest point where fresh grease is visible: the face of the filter, the lower hood panel, a light lens, the blower opening, or a seam leading toward the duct. The highest wet point usually tells you whether this is surface accumulation or something returning from deeper in the hood.
If the liquid is mostly clear and appears during very cold weather rather than heavy frying, condensation in a cold duct may be part of the problem. Brown, sticky, cooking-smelling liquid on the filter and hood surfaces points more directly to grease accumulation.
Clean the filter according to its type, not by appearance alone
Broan-NuTone recommends frequent cleaning of metal grease filters with warm water and mild detergent; some metal filters are dishwasher-safe if the owner's manual allows it. Charcoal filters used for non-ducted recirculation are generally not washable and are replaced on the model's maintenance schedule.
Do not assume a black filter is charcoal or a silver filter is washable. Identify the hood model and filter part number first, especially on combination filters that include both grease and odor-control media.
- Switch the hood off and wait until the cooking surface and hood are cool.
- Remove the filter using the hood's latch or retaining method rather than bending the frame.
- Identify whether the filter is washable metal, baffle style, or a replace-only charcoal filter.
- Wash approved metal filters with warm water and mild detergent, then let them dry completely before reinstalling.
- Wipe accessible hood surfaces with a cleaner compatible with the finish, keeping liquid away from the motor, wiring, switches, and sockets.
Grease on the underside needs removal too
A clean filter will not stop drips if the hood shell, filter channel, or light cover already holds a layer of old grease. Wipe these accessible surfaces after removing the filter, following the manufacturer's finish-care instructions. Stainless steel, painted steel, and decorative coatings do not all tolerate the same degreasers or abrasive pads.
Do not spray cleaner upward into the blower, motor, wiring, control panel, or light sockets. Apply cleaner to a cloth when possible so liquid stays on the surface you intend to clean.
If grease returns quickly, look beyond a dirty filter
Confirm that the filter is the correct model, fully seated, and oriented correctly. Heavy frying, wok cooking, and high-heat searing load filters much faster than occasional simmering, so cleaning frequency should follow cooking style rather than the calendar alone.
If grease is visibly coating the duct interior, dripping from a duct joint, or returning from above the blower, stop short of dismantling the installed ductwork. Heavy grease inside a concealed duct path can create a fire concern and may require qualified cleaning or correction of the ventilation installation.
Replacement filters should match the hood, not just the opening
When a filter is warped, damaged, missing layers, or impossible to clean, match the replacement by hood model, exact dimensions, attachment points, and filter type. A ducted hood needs a grease filter; a recirculating setup may also require a charcoal filter designed for that specific hood.
Do not stack generic filter material over a metal filter unless the manufacturer specifically calls for it. Extra restriction can reduce airflow and can place material too close to heat.
Before you call it done
- The highest point of fresh grease was identified before the hood or duct was blamed.
- The filter type was confirmed as washable metal, baffle, or replace-only charcoal before cleaning.
- Accessible hood surfaces were cleaned with finish-compatible products while keeping liquid out of electrical components.
- A filter that is damaged or heavily loaded is being matched by hood model, size, and application rather than by appearance alone.
- Grease visibly coming from inside concealed ductwork or above the blower is being referred for qualified inspection or cleaning.