Blue Star Ventilation Repair Services

What counts as BlueStar ventilation

BlueStar sells more than finished hoods. It also sells the pieces for a custom setup.

• Metal liners. A liner is the working core that slides inside a wood or plaster hood. BlueStar calls its line the PM Series.
• In-line blowers. The motor sits in the duct, often in the attic. BlueStar lists 800 and 1,200 CFM sizes.
• Remote blowers. The motor mounts outside on the roof or wall. The large one moves 1,400 CFM.
• Custom and Abbaka Series hoods, built to order.

One thing BlueStar does not list is a downdraft vent. If you have a pop-up vent behind the burners, it is another brand. We can still look at it.

For a standard wall or island hood with the motor inside, go to our BlueStar range hood repair page.

Liner works at the switch but moves no air

With a liner and a far-off blower, the switch and the motor are in two places. The knob is over the range. The motor may be 20 feet away. A wire runs between them.

So we split the test in two. First we check for power leaving the liner's control. Then we go to the blower and check for power there. If power arrives and the motor sits still, the motor or its capacitor has failed. If no power arrives, the fault is the control or the wire run.

In-line blower problems

An in-line blower is quiet in the kitchen because it sits far away. That also hides early signs of wear. By the time you hear it, the bearings are often rough.

Listen for a drone or a rumble in the ceiling. Feel for a shake in the duct. We open the housing, spin the wheel by hand and check for grease buildup. A wheel caked with grease runs out of balance. Cleaning it can stop the shake. Worn bearings mean a new motor.

Roof and wall blowers take the weather

A remote blower lives outside. Rain, heat and ice all work on it. Birds and wasps like the warm housing too.

We see seized motors after a long wet winter. We see dampers stuck with grease or rust. A stuck damper blocks the air even when the motor spins fine. It can also let cold air fall back into the kitchen. Our tech checks the damper, the wiring box and the motor on the same visit.

Duct size and make-up air

Big blowers need big ducts. BlueStar asks for a 10 inch duct on its 1,200 and 1,400 CFM blowers. Eight inches with a reducer is the least it allows. The 800 CFM in-line unit calls for 8 inches.

A duct that is too small, too long or full of sharp bends chokes the blower. You get roar at the hood and smoke in the room. We measure the run and tell you plainly if the duct is the problem. Sheet metal changes may need a contractor.

A strong blower also pulls a lot of air out of the house. Tight homes need a way to let fresh air back in. That is called make-up air. Without it, the hood pulls weakly and doors may whistle. Many local codes call for it on large blowers. If your system has a make-up air damper, we test that it opens when the fan starts.

Owner checks that are safe

• Wash the baffle filters in the liner.
• Look for a tripped breaker. Remote blowers are sometimes on their own circuit.
• Go outside and watch the wall or roof cap with the fan on.
• Note where the noise comes from: the hood, the ceiling or outdoors.

Leave roof work to us. Please do not climb up to check a blower.

Pricing and scheduling

We charge a $79 diagnostic fee for a home call and credit it toward the approved repair. The tech quotes a firm price with parts and labor before starting. Motors for remote units are often ordered, so plan for a return trip.

A+ is family owned and has run since 2015. No maker owns a piece of us. We are independent. Vent techs are insured and licensed, and we check each one's background. We are open daily from 6 AM to 9 PM and book most calls the same day. Online booking is there if you would rather not call. Repairs are under warranty.

Replacing a whole custom system means opening walls or cabinets. A new blower motor or control avoids all that. Repair is the right call nearly every time.

Los Angeles area homes are served by our California appliance repair crew. We also work in Chicago, Houston, Virginia and D.C. See BlueStar appliance repair for every product. The heat source under the vent is covered on the BlueStar range repair page.