The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home, so you need to carefully think about the exhaust needs for the space. Proper ventilation ensures your kitchen will remain pleasant so you can fry, boil, sauté, or sear your food without fear of excessive pollutants inside your home or any spurious smoke alarms. Ventilation is also crucial for maintaining cleanliness in your cooking area.
The solution to this challenge is to install a properly rated range hood. This guide will focus on range hoods, how they work, their benefits, and factors to consider when choosing the best one for your home.
What Is a Kitchen Range Hood?
A range hood is an appliance that is installed above cooking surfaces to capture and filter out steam and grease. They come with fans to quickly remove steam, oil, and gas and a light to illuminate your cooktop.
Cooking releases moisture, grease, and steam, which can make the home uncomfortable. The range hood fan works to draw moisture and steam upwards. One crucial tip to ensure optimal ventilation is to run your range hood a few minutes before and after cooking to clear any unwanted odor, moisture, grease, carbon monoxide, or other pollutants that are released during cooking.
Improved Air Quality
The basic function of a range hood is to improve the quality of air in the kitchen. Cooking releases smoke and other pollutants that are removed via a motorized fan and carried outside. Without a range hood, your family will breathe unclean air, which can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation.
False Alarms
One of the key benefits of a properly rated range hood is preventing smoke alarms from going off unexpectedly. This can be particularly frustrating, especially when it disturbs pets or children. Choosing a hood with the appropriate rating ensures effective ventilation, reducing the likelihood of such disruptions.
Reduced Odor in the Kitchen
Another significant benefit is that it clears unpleasant odors that may be generated during cooking. Although you can expect mouth-watering aromas from the kitchen, cooking smells can linger and smell stale. Using a range hood ensures your home smells great by drawing out any unpleasant smells.
Increased Comfort
The range hood removes excess heat and steam, which plays a significant role in promoting a comfortable environment for everyone in the home by lowering the temperature.
Convenient Cleaning
Steam and grease produced by cooking can be difficult to clean when dry. A range hood reduces this stubborn grease buildup and saves you time while cleaning. In addition, adequate ventilation prevents the growth of bacteria and mold which can be a source of contamination.
Extra Lighting
Overhead range hoods provide extra lighting for food preparation and cleanup. This helps provide task lighting while you’re cooking and helps you during clean up too.
Types of Range Hoods
Ducted or ductless
When selecting a range hood, one of the primary choices is between ducted and ductless models. Ducted range hoods connect to an exterior vent, efficiently removing smoke, grease, and odors from the kitchen by venting them outside. While they are highly effective at maintaining air quality, they require properly sized ductwork. If your kitchen’s current ducting is not large enough, upgrading it could be challenging. In such cases, it may be more practical to choose a range hood that works with your existing duct system.
On the other hand, ductless range hoods filter the air and recirculate it back into the kitchen. While they are easier and more flexible to install, they may not be as effective at eliminating strong odors and moisture since the air is not vented outside. Both options have their advantages, depending on the layout and ventilation needs of the kitchen.
In general, it’s best to opt for a ducted range hood. Unlike recirculating range hoods, which use filters to clean the air and then release it back into the kitchen, ducted hoods effectively remove air, odors, and smoke by venting them outside.
Styles of Range Hoods
Under-Cabinet Range Hoods and Over-The-Range Microwave Hood Combinations
Under-cabinet and over-the-range microwave hoods are both installed beneath kitchen cabinets, offering a space-efficient solution. However, these options often lack the aesthetic appeal and quality desired in a professional kitchen remodel, making them less suitable for high-end or custom kitchen designs.
Retractable Downdraft Hoods
Retractable downdraft hoods rise up from behind the cooktop when needed and retract when not in use. They are useful for kitchens with island cooktops but may not be as powerful as traditional range hoods. They can be a good choice if you have absolutely no other place to put your range hood, if your cooktop is on the island, or if you currently have a downdraft hood. Otherwise I would recommend using a different type of range hood. Clients frequently complain that their downdraft hoods don’t seem to do anything.
Canopy Range Hoods
A canopy range hood is designed to mimic the canopy-style hoods used in professional kitchens, providing both practical ventilation and a distinctive look over the cooking area. These can be both wall mounted or ceiling mounted over an island. You can also choose from a variety of finishes like stainless steel, glass, or custom materials, allowing for a wide range of aesthetic choices. If you are going for an exposed metal industrial style, they are a great choice.
Range Hood Insert
A range hood insert is a built-in ventilation unit that is installed inside custom cabinetry or a decorative hood. It creates a seamless look that complements your kitchen design. This flexibility in design means you can maintain the aesthetic you want while still enjoying effective ventilation. This is my typical recommendation for clients because it gives you the most stylistic options.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Kitchen Range Hood
CFM
The most important factor to consider when choosing a range hood is its power, measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). Online tools are available to help calculate the CFM requirements for your specific kitchen setup. In the City of Houston, range hoods exceeding 400 CFM require a makeup air damper and duct system, so be sure to account for this additional cost if you plan to select a model with higher CFM.
Location
It’s generally preferable to position the cooktop against a wall, as this simplifies ductwork installation and provides greater flexibility in range hood options. Placing the cooktop on the island can create discomfort for guests seated nearby, as cooking oils and splashes may reach those gathered around the island. However, some clients do prefer to cook while facing the living room, or the island may be the only practical location for the cooktop based on the kitchen layout.
If your cooktop is positioned against the wall, I recommend using a range hood insert with a custom liner. The liner can be tailored to match various design styles, such as cabinetry that complements your wall cabinets for a seamless look. Alternatively, if you prefer the range hood to serve as a focal point, materials like plaster or stained wood can be used to create a striking design feature.
If your cooktop is located on the island, your options are generally limited to either a canopy hood or a downdraft hood.
Style
After determining your functional requirements, you can select the range hood that best compliments your desired design aesthetic. I typically recommend range hood inserts with liners when possible because they offer greater design flexibility. However, if you’re installing a range hood over an island, a well-designed canopy hood is a great choice for both style and function.
Conclusion
A range hood is a crucial component for maintaining proper ventilation in your kitchen, efficiently removing smoke, grease, and fumes to keep your space comfortable and functional. In addition to its practical benefits, a range hood can serve as a striking design element, becoming a focal point depending on the materials and style you select.
Upgrading your kitchen with a well-chosen range hood enhances both the aesthetic appeal and functionality of the space. For tips on avoiding common remodeling mistakes, be sure to explore our guide to avoiding common kitchen remodeling mistakes.
If you’re planning a home remodel in Houston, Texas, feel free to reach out by calling or texting me at (832) 210-3918.
Pingback: How to Upgrade Your Home Fast - RocknRollerBaby