Hiding a cooker hood cable involves thoughtful planning and execution to integrate the appliance seamlessly into your kitchen's design, enhancing both aesthetics and safety. The most common methods involve concealing the cable behind the hood's chimney, within walls, using cable management solutions, or integrating it into cabinetry.
Effectively concealing cables is crucial for achieving a clean, modern kitchen aesthetic and preventing potential hazards. Exposed cables can detract from your kitchen's design and pose a tripping or snagging risk.
Effective Methods for Hiding Cooker Hood Cables
Here are several practical approaches to discreetly hide your cooker hood's power cable:
1. Behind the Chimney or Ducting
If your cooker hood features a decorative chimney section that covers the ducting, this is often the simplest and most common place to hide the power cable. The cable typically runs behind this section, originating from the switched spur unit. It's essential that the spur unit itself remains accessible and is not hidden behind the chimney. The cable can be routed either horizontally or vertically, ensuring it remains in line with the spur unit's accessory plate for a neat finish.
- Pros: Often no wall modifications required, relatively easy for new installations.
- Cons: Only applicable to chimney-style hoods.
2. Within Walls (Chasing)
For the most integrated look, the cable can be chased into the wall. This involves cutting a channel into the plaster and brickwork, laying the cable, and then replastering and redecorating over it. This method provides a completely invisible finish.
- Process:
- Mark the cable run from the spur to the hood's connection point.
- Use a wall chaser or hammer and chisel to create a channel.
- Lay the cable within protective conduit or capping.
- Cover with filler or plaster, sand smooth, and paint.
- Pros: Completely hidden, professional finish.
- Cons: More invasive, requires plastering and redecoration, potentially complex for DIY.
3. Using Cable Management Solutions
Various external cable management products can provide a tidy solution if chasing into walls isn't an option.
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Conduit: Rigid or flexible tubes, often PVC, through which cables are run. Can be surface-mounted and painted to match the wall.
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Trunking: Rectangular or decorative channels that stick to the wall, offering a neat way to enclose multiple cables. Modern trunking can be quite slim and stylish.
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Cable Clips/Ties: While not fully hiding the cable, using these to run the cable discreetly along edges or behind other fixtures can minimize its visibility.
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Pros: Less invasive than chasing, relatively easy to install.
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Cons: Cables are still technically "visible" if you know where to look, may not suit all aesthetics.
4. Inside Cabinetry or False Bulkheads
If your cooker hood is integrated into a cabinet or beneath a false bulkhead above the hob, the cable can often be routed within these structures.
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Cabinet Integration: Run the cable behind or within the back panel of adjacent wall cabinets, drilling small, neat holes for entry and exit points.
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False Bulkheads: If a custom bulkhead is built to house the hood or ducting, the cable can be easily concealed within this structure before it's sealed.
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Pros: Excellent for integrated kitchens, provides a very clean look.
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Cons: Requires careful planning during kitchen design or renovation.
5. Decorative Panels or Covers
Sometimes, a custom-made decorative panel or a simple wooden or metal box can be built to cover the cable run. This can be painted or tiled to match the kitchen decor, turning a functional element into a design feature.
- Pros: Can be a creative design element, less invasive than wall chasing.
- Cons: Requires some DIY skill, may add visual bulk.
Important Considerations
When deciding how to hide your cooker hood cable, keep the following in mind:
- Electrical Safety: Always ensure that any electrical work is carried out safely and, if necessary, by a qualified electrician, adhering to local electrical regulations. For instance, in the UK, certain electrical work in kitchens must comply with Part P of the Building Regulations.
- Accessibility: As noted, the switched spur unit must remain accessible for maintenance or in case of an emergency. Do not hide the spur unit itself behind permanent fixtures.
- Cable Type: Ensure the cable used is appropriate for the appliance's power requirements and complies with safety standards. Consult the cooker hood's manual.
- Future Maintenance: Consider how easy it will be to access the cable or connections if maintenance or replacement is required in the future.
- Ventilation: If the hood has an external vent, ensure the cable routing does not interfere with the ducting or airflow.
Summary of Cable Hiding Methods
| Method | Description | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Behind Chimney/Ducting | Run cable behind the decorative metal chimney section of the hood. | Simple, no wall modification often needed, common for new installations. | Only applicable to chimney-style hoods, spur unit must remain accessible. |
| Within Walls (Chasing) | Cut a channel in the wall, lay cable in conduit/capping, then plaster over. | Completely invisible, most professional finish. | Invasive, requires plastering and redecoration, potentially complex. |
| Cable Management Solutions | Use surface-mounted conduit, trunking, or decorative channels to enclose the cable. | Less invasive, relatively easy to install, often paintable. | Cables are still visible if not well-matched, may not suit all aesthetics. |
| Inside Cabinetry/False Bulkheads | Route cable within adjacent wall cabinets or custom-built bulkheads designed to house the hood/ducting. | Excellent for integrated kitchens, very clean look. | Requires careful planning during kitchen design/renovation. |
| Decorative Panels/Covers | Construct a custom panel or box to enclose the cable run, matching kitchen decor. | Creative design solution, less invasive than wall chasing. | Requires DIY skill, may add visual bulk, can look less integrated than other solutions. |
By carefully considering these options, you can achieve a tidy, safe, and aesthetically pleasing installation for your cooker hood, ensuring your kitchen remains both functional and stylish.
- For more information on kitchen electrical safety, consult resources like the Electrical Safety First website.
- Learn about common kitchen wiring regulations from reputable sources, such as NICEIC (for UK standards).
