Is your kitchen getting smoke filled while you cook? There are a variety of range hood items that can help you keep your space ventilated and well lit.There are high powered choices that clear out smoke and vent clean air quietly as well as choices that include separate features like a microwave oven in the majority of the hood space. The right information will help you choose the perfect range hood option for your space.
Getting Started With Range Hoods
Modern range hoods come in a variety of styles and at a variety of price points. Some options suitable for lower powered ovens trade out efficient venting for the convenience of a microwave oven in the over the oven space. A carefully installed range hood that is between 18 and 30 inches from the range top and provides full coverage for the oven should do an amazing job of cleaning and venting smoke from the oven.
The Types Of Range Hoods Available
- Under-cabinet Hoods - Under-cabinet range hoods mount to the bottom of short kitchen cabinets located above the oven. This common design attaches to ductwork in the wall or ceiling area and vents outside. In some models, the range hood can roll partially out from the cabinet to cover the whole top of the oven in order to properly collect fumes.
- Wall-chimney Hoods - Wall-chimney range hoods go over ovens when there isn't cabinetry above the oven space and the vent duct on the wall is exposed. This type of range hood can easily cover your oven and provide for a full venting solution.
- Ductless Hoods - Ductless range hoods are an option in kitchens where there is no venting ductwork in the oven area. These models vent the filtered smoke and steam back into the kitchen. Ductless hoods are an inefficient option that should only be used when there aren't other choices, since they spread the smell of smoke and steam throughout the home.
- Downdraft Hoods - Downdraft range hoods try to blow smoke down to ductwork running through the floor instead of the ceiling. Downdraft hoods don't work as well as they need to, so they should only be an option for those with no way to run ductwork to where they need to cook.
- Island Hoods - Island range hoods go over oven surfaces worked into an island in the middle of the kitchen and mount to ductwork in the ceiling. Island hoods need to be larger than the oven they cover in order to properly collect smoke and fumes, since they don't use a wall or cabinetry to direct smoke into the duct area.
Typical Range Hood Features
- Speed Of Airflow - Most range hoods offer a statistic called cubic feet per minute of air pulled off the oven. While higher numbers should theoretically make a difference, in most range hoods the speed of airflow doesn't actually tell you much about how well the hood clears smoke and fumes from the top of the oven.
- Fan Settings - Some range hoods offer several fan speeds in order to vent air at a faster or slower rate. Three speeds is sufficient for most cooking needs. There are also range hoods out there that offer a variable speed fan that can be controlled with a slider or knob.
- Thermostat - Some range hood models come with a thermostat that can be set to turn on the hood whenever the temperature on the oven reaches a certain point. These options are usually found on hoods built into an over the oven microwave in order to keep the electronic components of the microwave safe. In standard range hoods, this option could inadvertently make a grease fire in a skillet worse.
- Fan Timer - Some range hood models give you the option of letting the fan automatically shut off after cooking.
The Brand Names In Range Hoods
Range hoods are sold by a large number of brands. These brands include Broan, GE, Kenmore, NuTone, Vent-A-Hood, Viking, Whirlpool, Wolf and Zephyr. Every brand has upsides and downsides. For example, Broan sells pricey high end models while Kenmore and Whirlpool sell lower priced midrange options.
Range Hood Shopping Tips
- Buy a hood that covers your oven for proper ventilation.
- Avoid over the oven microwaves if you can spare the space for better ventilation.
- Hoods that use your ceiling or wall ductwork do the best job.
- Listen to the hood you are interested in and consider the noise it makes.
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