# What is this for? Fresh air intake or exhaust? **URL:** \ **Category:** Inspecting HVAC Systems\ **Created:** [March 26, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/what-is-this-for-fresh-air-intake-or-exhaust/76591 "2013-03-26T19:32:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jsafstrom](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jsafstrom/32/57038_2.png) [@jsafstrom](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jsafstrom)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/what-is-this-for-fresh-air-intake-or-exhaust/76591/1 "2013-03-26T19:32:17Z")
I came across what I first though was a return vent in the kitchen ceiling without a filter. I opened it up and it was a electronic damper with ductwork about 5ft horizontally to the exterior wall with a passive vent cover. I haven’t come across this before. The house was high end new construction 5k sqft. ![P1110485.jpg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/2X/c/c2e6fa501bb4b5de1d3ee73ab73d0ef66486180d.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![jjonas](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jjonas/32/301755_2.png) [@jjonas](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jjonas)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/what-is-this-for-fresh-air-intake-or-exhaust/76591/2 "2013-03-26T19:40:28Z")
Was there a vented range hood, or a recirculating hood ie… microwave over range? ---
**Author:** ![jsafstrom](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jsafstrom/32/57038_2.png) [@jsafstrom](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jsafstrom)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/what-is-this-for-fresh-air-intake-or-exhaust/76591/3 "2013-03-26T19:52:03Z")
Yep, there was a large vent hood over the cook-top. ---
**Author:** ![jjones12](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jjones12/32/1049_2.png) [@jjones12](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jjones12)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/what-is-this-for-fresh-air-intake-or-exhaust/76591/4 "2013-03-27T00:01:57Z")
Preinstalled venting for optional exhaust? ---
**Author:** ![cbottger](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/cbottger/32/206_2.png) [@cbottger](https://forum.nachi.org/u/cbottger)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 3:27am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/what-is-this-for-fresh-air-intake-or-exhaust/76591/5 "2013-03-27T03:27:22Z")
My guess would be make up air from the exterior to replace what the exhaust fan is removing. You know those Texans think they have to BBQ 1/2 cow at one time:roll: ---
**Author:** ![jjonas](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jjonas/32/301755_2.png) [@jjonas](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jjonas)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 11:14am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/what-is-this-for-fresh-air-intake-or-exhaust/76591/6 "2013-03-27T11:14:33Z")
> [@cbottger](#): > > My guess would be make up air from the exterior to replace what the exhaust fan is removing. You know those Texans think they have to BBQ 1/2 cow at one time:roll: That was my thought also Charley. Some of those Range Hoods can suck the spots off a Dalmatian at 30 paces. Imagine the potential for negative pressure and backdrafting of the WH, etc. Now, if there was no Hood installed, it would be an exhaust for the recirculating microwave fan, or for a difficult location to run duct work from the range area. ---
**Author:** ![jsafstrom](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jsafstrom/32/57038_2.png) [@jsafstrom](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jsafstrom)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/what-is-this-for-fresh-air-intake-or-exhaust/76591/7 "2013-03-27T20:54:49Z")
link from a fellow NTX Nachi member: [https://www.google.com/search?q=make+up+air+for+kitchen+hoods&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a](https://www.google.com/search?q=make+up+air+for+kitchen+hoods&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a) ---
**Author:** ![jjones12](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jjones12/32/1049_2.png) [@jjones12](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jjones12)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/what-is-this-for-fresh-air-intake-or-exhaust/76591/8 "2013-03-27T23:08:20Z")
Could it be a pre installed island exhaust vent?