I'm having an issue with my kitchen vent above the stove. Instead of pulling air in like it should, it's blowing air out, which is really problematic since I can smell food from other units, especially when they're burning something. The air quality in my apartment has been getting worse and it's really hard to sleep with some neighbors cooking late at night. The building maintenance says they're looking into it and may need contractors, but it sounds like it could take a while. I did notice that when I open my window, the vent actually works correctly, but it's too cold in New York to rely on that right now. I've heard it might be due to other tenants using fans in front of their vents, which can mess up the airflow. I'm looking for suggestions on how to install a fan or any other temporary solutions I can try until they fix the main issue.
2 Answers
Honestly, one of the simplest solutions would be to temporarily seal up the vent when you're not cooking. You can use duct tape or even a piece of cardboard to block it off. Just make sure to take it down when you need to use the stove. It won't solve the airflow issue entirely, but it should help with the odors for now. Just be careful with anything flammable!
I don't have a specific fix for the vent issue, but be prepared for the rent increase once they get it sorted out! It seems like anytime repairs are made, they find a way to charge the tenants more.
It’s a rent-controlled building, so I'm safe from that at least!
Thanks for the tip! I'm totally a home improvement rookie, any advice on how to seal it up properly?