Range Hood Buying Guide
Discover the Different Features & Types of Range Hoods
Here’s what you should consider when buying a new range hood for your kitchen. When you explore our Range Hood Buying Guide, you will discover the five types of range hoods & features in order to see which are best for you.
Guide To Buying A Range Hood
A range hood is the best option when it comes to venting smoke and fumes from your kitchen. This is especially true when you are cooking with a higher-powered range. In this guide to buying a range hood, we will cover what to consider when buying a range hood, the different types of hoods, important features, and the top brands of range hoods.
Different Types of Range Hoods
Your kitchen layout will often determine the type of range hood you can utilize. In order to select the correct size range hood, make sure that the model you use is as wide as the cooking surface it goes above. The following are the different types of range hoods to consider.
Cabinet Range Hood
Under-cabinet hoods are mounted beneath a wall cabinet. Ductwork inside a connecting wall, soffit, chase, or ceiling can exhaust fumes and smoke outside. For those with limited space above their stove, there are a few models which have a shallow hood that can slide out of your kitchen cabinet when it is needed. Typically, kitchen cabinets only extend roughly halfway across a stovetop, so the sliding hoods added extension would direct the smoke and fumes away from cabinet faces and back toward the suction end of the range hood. While this design will take up cabinet space, it may be the only option for those who can’t achieve the recommended stove-to-hood clearance with a standard undercabinet hood.
Wall Mount Chimney Range Hood
If there are no cabinets above the range, a Wall-chimney hood can work. This type of range hood will need to be mounted with exposed vent stacks on the wall in order to vent any smoke and fumes outside.
Island Range Hood
An Island hood is placed above the range of your kitchen’s island. This type of hood is mounted to and vented through ductwork in the ceiling. Island hoods should be wider than your cooking surface because there are no cabinets or walls to aid in funneling smoke and fumes to the vent.
Downdraft Range Hood
The purpose of a Downdraft Range Hood is to change the direction of rising fumes and smoke in order to vent them through ducts running along the cooking surface. This type of range hood is often considered to be the least effective at removing smoke and fumes. While downdraft hoods can be utilized for any kitchen layout, they’re mainly used in islands where it is not possible to route ductwork through the ceiling.
Ductless Range Hood
This type of hood installation directs fumes, smoke, and heat away from the stovetop but back into the kitchen. A ductless hood is not recommended because it will take the odors and smoke created by the stove and disperses it around the entire kitchen. This hood’s primary filters can trap grease and oil droplets dispersed into the air above the range. In many cases, an optional carbon filter is available in order to reduce odors even further.
Different Types of Range Hoods
Your kitchen layout will often determine the type of range hood you can utilize. In order to select the correct size range hood, make sure that the model you use is as wide as the cooking surface it goes above. The following are the different types of range hoods to consider.
Cabinet Range Hood
Under-cabinet hoods are mounted beneath a wall cabinet. Ductwork inside a connecting wall, soffit, chase, or ceiling can exhaust fumes and smoke outside. For those with limited space above their stove, there are a few models which have a shallow hood that can slide out of your kitchen cabinet when it is needed. Typically, kitchen cabinets only extend roughly halfway across a stovetop, so the sliding hoods added extension would direct the smoke and fumes away from cabinet faces and back toward the suction end of the range hood. While this design will take up cabinet space, it may be the only option for those who can't achieve the recommended stove-to-hood clearance with a standard undercabinet hood.
Wall Mount Chimney Range Hood
If there are no cabinets above the range, a Wall-chimney hood can work. This type of range hood will need to be mounted with exposed vent stacks on the wall in order to vent any smoke and fumes outside.
Wall Mount Chimney Range Hood
An Island hood is placed above the range of your kitchen's island. This type of hood is mounted to and vented through ductwork in the ceiling. Island hoods should be wider than your cooking surface because there are no cabinets or walls to aid in funneling smoke and fumes to the vent.
Downdraft Range Hood
The purpose of a Downdraft Range Hood is to change the direction of rising fumes and smoke in order to vent them through ducts running along the cooking surface. This type of range hood is often considered to be the least effective at removing smoke and fumes. While downdraft hoods can be utilized for any kitchen layout, they're mainly used in islands where it is not possible to route ductwork through the ceiling.
Ductless Range Hood
This type of hood installation directs fumes, smoke, and heat away from the stovetop but back into the kitchen. A ductless hood is not recommended because it will take the odors and smoke created by the stove and disperses it around the entire kitchen. This hood's primary filters can trap grease and oil droplets dispersed into the air above the range. In many cases, an optional carbon filter is available in order to reduce odors even further.
Range Hood Features
In most cases, you will want to choose a model that is as wide as the cooking surface it is mounted above. Keep in mind that Island-mounted hoods should be wider than the cooktop because of the lack of walls or cabinets alongside them, which typically help funnel smoke and fumes. The following are a few range hood features to consider.
Airflow
While greater airflow means faster ventilation, it doesn't always guarantee more effective smoke capture and removal in your kitchen. Manufacturers will market their model's airflow in cubic feet per minute (CFM) of exhausted air.
Fan Speeds
Most hoods offer between three to six different fan speeds. Your range hood should have a minimum of two speeds, high speed, and low speed. The high-speed setting for when you're cooking. A low speed setting for after cooking that will continue ventilating while you're eating.
Thermostat Control
This feature is not recommended for range hoods. This is because if you are cooking with oil and your pan catches fire and the exhaust fan comes on, it could draw more air to the fire, which will, in turn, fan the flames. This feature is typically available for over-the-range microwaves
Exhaust Timer
This is a convenient feature that allows you to set the fan to turn off after a specific period of time.
IN CONCLUSION
What to consider when buying a range hood.
To conclude, there are four types to consider when buying a range hood: under cabinet (vented & non-vented), island hood, wall chimney, and downdraft. Each of the four types are designed for a specific application. Their widths range from 33 inches up to 66 inches wide. In addition, some of the features to look for include high cubic-foot-per-minute capacity, auto start, speed settings, heat sensors, electronic controls, food-warming capabilities, filter-maintenance indicators, halogen lights, and extension & retraction. Use this guide to compare range hoods from different brands.