HL Posey Builders

(239) 893-3700

Cape Coral, FL

Outdoor Vent Hoods

Let's Get Started

So, you think you need an outdoor vent hood? 

Maybe you do.

Maybe you don't

Here’s the truth. 

In the State of Florida there are ZERO building codes regarding residential or commercial vent hoods for outdoor grills. There’s many out there that will cite you a particular state building code and tell you that you must have an outdoor rated vent over your grill. The code they are citing you is a commercial building code referencing only to commercial kitchens where the at large public is at a safety risk. 


Other competitors will tell you that a vent hood will help in case of a fire. Hog wash! Residential outdoor vent hoods do not suppress fire. Fire loves moving wind because it loves oxygen. They just want the upsell. However, some municipalities do require outdoor vent hoods over built-in BBQ grills.


We're going to do our best to well, actually try to talk you out of it. Outdoor vent hoods can easily become budget busters and there can be many other things that would bring much greater joy to your life. 


Now ask yourself, do I need an outdoor vent hood for my grill?

Your answer must still be,

Maybe I do, maybe I don’t?


More truth, every cooking appliance manufacturer, based on testing, establish these things called manufacturer installation guidelines. When it comes to needing a vent hood most of them say, “you may need a vent hood.” (I can tell I’m being so very helpful.) These guidelines also establish distance to combustibles (things that will catch on fire rather easily) and distance from a covering (roof) above. They do this for every appliance that can create heat whether from gas, wood, or electric fuels. In most instances, if your ceiling is at least 72” above the cooking surface, there is no necessity for an outdoor vent hood.


The key word is "combustibles". Stucco and drywall are not combustible and are OK to be above your grill. But, if you have a wood or fake wood ceiling - every manufacturer recommends that a ventilation hood be installed no matter how far above the cooking surface.

Let's look at some science and common sense...

Outside and inside vent hoods differ greatly in what they need to do. 

Inside, they are dealing with steam – moisture 

put off from water and the water in the food. Even when you’re frying something, it’s steam (with a few vaporized 

solids depending on the oils and fat content). Most microwave vent fans can handle it. 


 Outside, It’s smoke. There is a fire burning and where there is fire…there’s smoke. Smoke billows and when grilling it’s traveling at a much faster rate due to the high heat and surface area of the heat. 


Also, when grilling there’s a lot more solids that get vaporized making all that black, sticky stuff that dirties everything up when the smoke cools down a bit and comes in contact with a surface.

Inside or outside vent hoods can only catch and remove the steam or smoke that comes straight up to the vented capture area. 

If it is outside the physical structure of the vent hood, the hood itself, can restrict the capture area sending the smoke right towards the ceiling. Some vent hoods are pretty but have little function.


Outside you have ambient air moving in multiple directions. The more open the walls and the area the more movement in the air. Moving the smoke away from the capture zone.


The more open the are is the more the hood is effected by ambient air movement. Even ceiling fans have an adverse effect on the function of a vent hood.

Higher quality BBQ grills produce less smoke

The best cart grills from big box stores struggle to get to 500 degree surface temp.


  • The inside stays coated with fat and oil deposits that are constantly producing smoke from smoldering.
  • Drippings when cooking are smoldering and flaring up causing more smoke.
  • They can't get hot enough to burn off all the old gook

Higher quality grills, like Delta Heat, produce less smoke because they get hot enough to keep the gunk burned off. 


Most of the smoke occurs during two stages of the grilling process. 

  • When you first start your grill, it’s burning off the leftovers from the last time you cooked and the smoke starts to dissipate at around 250 degrees. At 500 degrees up the smoke will be almost non-existent. 
  • When you start cooking the smoke is a combination of steam from the food, drippings burning and a bit of burn to the food. 

There's just substantially less smoke from the higher end BBQ grills because there's no gunk to produce smoke.


You need to consider that if there's a lot less smoke you may be OK with it and can live without the vent hood. But, if your still worried about the smoke, plan on trying it without one but plan the project so it can be easily added.

The best vent hoods will take away 30% - 80% of the smoke

depending on your situation.

Here's the outdoor vent hood placement scenarios:

The hood is installed with a screened opening on the left and right with one main house wall

to one side and no wall on the other side..

You will be lucky if the vent hood removes 30% of the smoke.


The hood is installed on a solid wall with one main house wall to one side and no wall on the other side...

It will remove 40-50% of the smoke.


The hood is installed on a solid wall with one main house wall to one side and a

three to four foot wall on the other side...

It will remove 60-70% of the smoke.


The hood is installed on a solid wall with a main house wall on each side...

It will remove around 80% of the smoke.


If the BBQ grill is in an area with four walls..

You will need a very well designed custom made outdoor BBQ vent hood.

The best anything that is widely manufactured will leave 20%

of the smoke floating in the air.

Ask yourself one more time. 

Do I need an outdoor vent hood for my BBQ grill?

Your answer is? Probably not? But I think I may want one anyways?

Here's a few things you need to consider

You may be starting to think I'm crazy enough to try and talk you completely out of an outdoor vent hood.  Well, that's not exactly the case - I just want you to be informed so if there's smoke lingering around after you dropped all that coin I can say, "told you so". 

  1. Your main reason to get an outdoor vent hood better be, YOU WANT IT FOR THE LOOK. Picking the right style including the shroud to cover the ductwork can substantially add to the overall look and feel of your outdoor entertaining space.
  2. The outdoor vent hood better be able to move 1,200 cubic feet of air per minute to at least have an fighting chance of doing what you want it to do. The good ones will be a little bit noisy. Luckily it's only while your cooking and not all night.
  3. It needs to be at least 6" wider, on each side of your grill and come out off the wall to at least the front edge of the cooking surface. That means if you have a 36" grill the ventilation hood will need to be 48" wide by 30" plus deep from front to back. There's only a couple of manufacturers that make them the right size, and I'm no telling who...yet.
  4. The ventilation hood needs to be installed per the manufacturers recommended height above the cooking surface. For the ones that have the best chance of working that is generally 36" above the cooking surface. If you happen to be 6' 2" tall don't worry, the BBQ vent hood manufacturers give us a little lee-way. If your 6' 5" tall we have some things to figure out.

There's some myths and surprise costs with outdoor vent hoods.

 Vent hoods require a 15AMP dedicated electrical home run from a main panel - additional

     cost $800 to $1,400.


#2. Outdoor vent hoods require a 10" vent either through the wall or through the roof - additional

     cost of $350 to $700 through the wall or $1,000 to $1,800 through the roof. If your ceiling is less than

     9' 6" high it has to go through the roof.


#3. Don't waste the money to vent side burners or griddles, the hood won't do anything.


#4. The roof trusses are often in bad locations requiring a custom cover to hide duct work - additional cost $1,000 to $3,000.


#5. Ceiling fans do not help the smoke while you are cooking - they just push the smoke down on you.

Our favorite Outdoor BBQ Vent Hoods for function.

Trade-Wind® BBQ Hoods

  • Made in the USA - Phoenix, AZ
  • Built with 304 grade stainless steel inside and out.
  • 32" depth provides industry leading capture area.
  • Dishwasher safe commercial stainless steel baffles, for easy cleaning.
  • 3-YEAR warranty.
trade wind pyramid ventilation hood hl posey showroom cape coral, fl

Pyramid Outdoor BBQ Hood

Comes in 36", 42" & 48" with

1200CFM motors

Comes in 60" & 72" with

2300CFM motors

trade wind modern ventilation hood hl posey showroom cape coral, fl

Modern Outdoor BBQ Hood

Comes in 36", 42" & 48" with

1200CFM motors

trade wind traditional ventilation hood hl posey showroom cape coral, fl

Outdoor BBQ Hood

Comes in 36", 42" & 48" with

1200CFM motors

Comes in 60" & 72" with

2300CFM motors

trade wind ventilation hood insert hl posey showroom cape coral, fl

Outdoor BBQ Hood Liner

Comes in 36", 42", 48" & 54" with

1200CFM motors

Comes in 60", 66" & 72" with

2300CFM motors

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Island Outdoor BBQ Hood

Comes in 48" with

1200CFM motors

View Trade Wind's Warranty

Falmec Outdoor Ventilation Hoods

  • Made in Italy
  • Built with 304 grade stainless steel.
  • 31 1/2" depth provides superb capture area.
  • Dishwasher safe commercial stainless steel baffles, for easy cleaning.
  • LED lighting.
falmac pyramid ventilation hood hl posey showroom cape coral, fl

Falmec Pyramid

Comes in 36", 42" & 48" with

1200CFM motors

falmac outdoor ventilation hood hl posey showroom cape coral fl

Falmec Zeus

Comes in 36", 42" & 48" with

1200CFM motors

falmac outdoor ventilation hood hl posey showroom cape coral fl

Falmec Line

Comes in 36", 42", & 48" with

1200CFM motors

Absolutely the best place to purchase an outdoor grill!


Rene Cabrera | Google Review

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