cold cold draught from kitchen extractor hood.

[OhyouBadBadkitten]

Is there anything that can be done? Its our first winter with our new kitchen and I've just discovered why our kitchen is so cold - its coming from the extractor hood which is ducted outside. The hood and metal ducting are really cold to touch. Can we install anything so that the cold air doesnt get in but the warm air can get out?

am thinking that as the metal ducting is in a cupboard I can insulate around the outside of it with polystyrene?

it is possible that cold air is blowing into the duct from outside. This will be because (1) wind direction and (2) there is not an effective control to stop air blowing in.

Vents ar often fitted with a draught preventer which looks like little plastic venetion blinds. These rattle annoyingly in the wind and sooner or later breal off. A better solution is the Cowelled Vent which has a sloping cover to keep rain out, and a single larger flap that opens when the fan is running and closes under gravity when not. The cowel reduces wind blowing across it. It is available in brow, white or grey plastic. IMO the brown one tones well with brickwork, but plastic can be painted with a single flowing coat of non-drip gloss if you want it some other colour (pain before fitting). I see there is now also a stainless steel one at ten times the price. Fix using non-rusting screws - brass or stainless. BZP will not last in this position.

like this

you absolute star PigletJohn - thank you :) that looks like a good simple solution. Will be fitting one asap.