VCI230DS

What we most often repair on units like this

1. Pushbutton that has to be pressed several times
2. LED readout that flickers or fails
3. Cassette filter blocked with grease
4. Blower buzz or rattle in the custom shell
5. Back-flow from the duct, since there is no damper

Here is the smallest of the VCI inserts in this group: 28 inches wide, 18 5/8 deep and only 5 3/4 inches tall. It goes inside a custom hood, often over a 30-inch range, and what the homeowner sees is the cabinetry or plaster around it. The insert listing states no width in its title, so we measure the opening on arrival rather than rely on the model name.

Controls are LED low-lift pushbuttons that choose among three fan speeds. The page lists no damper, delay shut off or reminders, and so there are few moving parts apart from the blower and the filters. When the fan runs but the draw is poor, the cassette filters are where we look first, then the duct connection above the insert.

Thermador lists VCI3B30ZS as the successor of this discontinued model. For a repair, the practical question is which of the pushbutton board, the blower or the wiring inside the shell is causing it, and we test them in that order.

Key features

• Custom hood insert in stainless steel, ducted and built-in
• Overall size 5 3/4H×28W×18 5/8D in
• LED display with low-lift pushbuttons
• 3 fan speeds
• Cassette filter with aluminum frame, dishwasher-safe
• Mounting height 30 in. over cooktop