What sort of contractor retrofits kitchen exhaust ducts in the US?

Question

I am new to the US and my wife and I are currently thinking about remodeling the 35-ish year old kitchen of the small house we purchased. Part of that remodel is replacing, if possible, the existing downdraft ventilation behind the stove with a range hood + proper exhaust vent.

The kitchen is on the first floor and right above it is the roof sloping downwards / attic space. The cooktop and range hood are (very roughly) in this place:

..and per code we can't really vent 'sidewards' (in the picture quasi upwards) because the houses are probably too close to each other and going downwards (again, per picture direction) might be a bit.. far.

So I think just vertically straight up would make (to me) the most sense, but here comes the question: what sort of contractor does that sort of retrofit? I mean I could in theory drill a hole in the kitchen ceiling and get some rigid ducting and ask a roofer to add a roof vent hood right above.. but after looking a bit around here / googling etc.. I know that's all sorts of wrong.. but what's the trade that DOES do such a work correctly?

All ductwork installers and hvac/plumbing contractors I called so far said they don't do kitchen ducting, so I'd be grateful for any suggestions.

Answer 1

I am surprised HVAC contractors won't do it.

Generally you want an HVAC person who can ensure you don't backdraft your CO devices. In your case you aren't changing the output so you don't have to be too worried.

I have had builders or carpenters do the duct installation and then the hvac guy just reviews it as part of the house hvac.

I don't see why you can't just exhaust out the sidewall of your house closest to your neighbor. I have mine exhausted that way with ~5' from my house wall to my lot line and another 5' from that line to the neighbors house line. Can't tell how close you are to your fence line. My area does restrict doing this with furnace exhaust though.

Answer 2

Roof exhausts are always more complicated than side wall exhaust.

Better check again for permit. Maybe you do not need one, maybe from HOA, just go there and ask.

Sidewall exhaust is simple and anyone can do it with right tool and Drill a 4 or 6 inch hole.

Before drilling make sure there are no water/gas/electrical in the way. Try not to drill in the stud. Other then that you will drill through the plywood, followed by some insulation followed by stucco or what ever it is on the outside wall.

Before you drill with big hole use a 6-12 inch long 1/4 to 1/2 inch drill to drill through to the outside which will be your pilot hole, so you can drill from both sides.

Any handyman for hire can do that, or skilled DIY.

Measure then measure agin and buy the materials.

I ordered this thing on Amazon, and it has survived all my tortures without damage.

You will also need the adapter for you drill

Equipped with materials and tools happy drilling to you.

Go slow no force and no hammer drill

Start from outside and go 1+ inch deep which will give you nice cut in stucco. Then drill from inside. In both cases you are using the previously drilled pilot hole to guide you.

Answer 3

Try chimney companies.

Anecdotally, when I needed the vent from the gas furnace / gas water heater redone (U.S.), I had a chimney company do it. They also, of course, work on actual chimneys, but they're at least equipped to handle "air vents that go through your walls / ceilings". I doubt they'd want to work on hvac so it makes sense that vice-versa is also true (hvac companies probably not wanting to work on non-hvac related venting), but that's who I'd try calling if you haven't already.