Vent Hood?

SRQLI

The plan is to build a BGE into a countertop in outdoor kitchen on a screened-in Lanai.  There will be a top to the Lanai, but sides only screening.  Is a vent hood needed?
THe original plans from builder called for a venthood, but using a gas grill.  We think we're switching to BGE, not only for better cooking, but it also saves cost of a gas line, and BGE cheaper than the built-in grills.  It would be nice to lose the cost of a hood also.

Jeremiah

I'd keep the hood.

Tony_T

If you're cooking with charcoal in an enclosed outdoor area you need to consider having enough ventilation to clear the carbon monoxide.

I'd keep the hood.

fishlessman

lots of heavy black smoke when you first light an egg, it will fill a screen room

DaveRichardson

if not going to use a hood, you will want / need fans to evacuate the air.  maybe adding in some of the roof vents in to let the air out would be enough.

SRQLI

We will have a Ceiling fan on the Lanai.  But I wonder if a fan would interfere with the cooking.  Plan to have the BGE on the outside part of the counter, just adjacent to the open, screened area of the lanai.

Tony_T

Why did the builder have a hood in the plans for the gas grill?

NonaScott

I image the hoods purpose with the gas grill was to suck out the smoke. I've used a gasser under a covered lanai for 17 years at two different homes and there is definitely discoloration. It isn't bad but it's there even with two ceiling fans on the lanai.

fishlessman

SRQLI said:

We will have a Ceiling fan on the Lanai.  But I wonder if a fan would interfere with the cooking.  Plan to have the BGE on the outside part of the counter, just adjacent to the open, screened area of the lanai.

once things are actually cooking the fan will probably be enough, but at startup i would probably want a direct vent to the outside, either a vent hood or even a hard pipe/drier vent type line. black sooty smoke billows out the top during some start ups

Carolina Q

Food for thought...

1. If not exhausted properly, smoke and grease will accumulate... everywhere...  over time.

2. If this is a wooden deck attached to the house, it's a bad idea to begin with, enclosed or not, ceiling or not, exhaust fan or not. Building a fire on a flammable surface attached to a flammable house... what could possibly go wrong?

3. You need at least 15' (as I recall) between a carbon monoxide source and a door or window.

4. Is the ceiling flammable?

Some folks will say these are non-issues, that they've had theirs on wooden decks for years with no problem. Maybe so, but I doubt @Spaightlabs, @Nature Boy and @Little Steven are among them. Two lost their homes to egg fires (one wasn't even cooking on a deck, just too close to the garage), the other was a gasser fire on an open wooden deck causing serious damage and months (years?) of insurance issues. No CO problems that I know of, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

Your choice of course. Just thought I'd mention it. Sorry...

SRQLI

Carolina Q said:

Food for thought...

1. If not exhausted properly, smoke and grease will accumulate... everywhere...  over time.

2. If this is a wooden deck attached to the house, it's a bad idea to begin with, enclosed or not, ceiling or not, exhaust fan or not. Building a fire on a flammable surface attached to a flammable house... what could possibly go wrong?

3. You need at least 15' (as I recall) between a carbon monoxide source and a door or window.

4. Is the ceiling flammable?

Some folks will say these are non-issues, that they've had theirs on wooden decks for years with no problem. Maybe so, but I doubt @Spaightlabs, @Nature Boy and @Little Steven are among them. Two lost their homes to egg fires (one wasn't even cooking on a deck, just too close to the garage), the other was a gasser fire on an open wooden deck causing serious damage and months (years?) of insurance issues. No CO problems that I know of, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

Your choice of course. Just thought I'd mention it. Sorry...

Is the issue significantly less using a gas grill than a BGE?

Carolina Q

SRQLI said:

Is the issue significantly less using a gas grill than a BGE?

I'm no expert, but probably not. Just different. I'm not sure what happened with Steven's fire, just that his gasser caused this...

TN_Sister_State

Here's my setup minus the screens. We dont have a problem but its wide open on one side so probably not a good example. The ceiling fans help but if the wind dies it does get pretty thick with smoke in there on startup. It clears after a while and is good to go. Looking at this picture above of the fire is making me rethink it now. In the first picture to the left is another wall of windows that is my kitchen. Two ceiling fans in the covered area. 

SRQLI

Now that this subject was brought up, I am trying to find some code provision, or advice, on how to use a bbq on a Lanai.  All I am finding is for multi-unit structures - can't find anything for single family homes except to keep a sufficient distance from combustible materials.  OK - what is sufficient.  Our Lanai will have a wooden roof, 10' high.  The top of the grill will probably be around 4' high.  But our plans call for it to be at the end of the Lanai (which is open on 3 sides), against a stucco wall.  

Tony_T

Is cost the only consideration not to install a hood?

SRQLI

Tony_T said:

Is cost the only consideration not to install a hood?
 NO - cost and safety

TN_Sister_State

SRQLI said:

Now that this subject was brought up, I am trying to find some code provision, or advice, on how to use a bbq on a Lanai.  All I am finding is for multi-unit structures - can't find anything for single family homes except to keep a sufficient distance from combustible materials.  OK - what is sufficient.  Our Lanai will have a wooden roof, 10' high.  The top of the grill will probably be around 4' high.  But our plans call for it to be at the end of the Lanai (which is open on 3 sides), against a stucco wall.  

Sounds like you will be in my situation. If I use too much smoking wood then the smoke can get nuts in there without a steady wind and entertaining in the small space can only be done after a low and slow has gone for a few hours with a lite whisper of smoke coming out. Grilling is no problem at all in the space. Just check if the prevailing winds push the smoke out the end it's on or towards your entertainment area, for what it's worth - those are my thoughts with no visual.

YukonRon

Vent whenever possible

BakerMan

SRQLI

NPHuskerFL

@SRQLI Finished area pics?