How to Choose a Range Hood

If you are redesigning your kitchen, you should think about getting a range hood for your stove. But, with so many possibilities, how can you decide which one is best for your kitchen? This range hood purchasing guide will teach you how to choose the best range hood for your requirements.

What is a Range Hood?

While cooking, range hoods, also known as vent hoods, extract smoke, food particles, and moisture from the air. They keep your kitchen cleaner and fresher, making them an excellent purchase for individuals who cook often.

Types of Range Hoods

Range hoods come in a variety of shapes and sizes to match your unique requirements. Among the several varieties of range hoods are:

Under-Cabinet Hoods

The most frequent and recognized form is under cabinet range hoods. They fit below cabinets, as the name implies, with ducting running through the bottom to drive smoke and moisture outside. For best efficiency, they should cover the whole surface area of the stove.

Under-cabinet hoods are a cost-effective and useful alternative for most kitchens. While there are some beautiful designs available, the majority of under-cabinet hood designs are minimalistic in order to avoid calling attention to themselves.

Wall-Mount Hoods

Another common kind of range hood is the wall-mount hood. Because of its appearance, this style of range hood is also referred to as a wall-mount chimney. It covers the surface area of the stove at its base, then narrows as it climbs up the wall to give it the traditional chimney aspect.

Wall mount range hoods are often more costly than under-cabinet range hoods, but for aesthetic reasons, many people prefer them. They’re also a more practical option for kitchens with open wall space above the stove.

Island Hoods

Island hoods resemble wall-mount range hoods in appearance, but they are intended to be fixed to the ceiling rather than the wall. They usually fit above a stove set in an island. Interior ducting transports smoke and heat through the ceiling.

Island hoods are a fashionable alternative that is ideal for contemporary kitchens, and they are the most apparent choice for island ranges. They are often more costly than under-cabinet and wall-mounted hoods, but they are both stylish and useful for certain kitchen designs.

Hood Inserts

Hood inserts are simply placed into custom-built range hoods. They include all of the essential components of a range hood but provide you complete control over the design and look, enabling you to create a one-of-a-kind hood to match your kitchen’s decor.

Hood inserts are reasonably priced, but when combined with the expense of creating your own range hood, the prices soon mount up. That being said, installing a personalized range hood is an excellent option for remodelers or do-it-yourselfers who want to give their kitchen a fully unique design.

Downdraft Hoods

Downdraft hoods are often installed on a countertop near the stove. Their contemporary style and technology are ideal for open-concept or tiny kitchens. Downdraft hoods extract smoke, heat, and moisture from the stove and channel it downward via little pipes in the countertops and flooring. When not in use, just push a button and the hood will retract into the tabletop.

Downdraft range hoods are typically seen to be less successful than other kinds of hoods since they drive hot air downward, contrary to its natural propensity to rise. Nonetheless, folks with tiny kitchens or island stoves generally prefer them for their ease and contemporary appearance.

Range Hood Buying Guide: How to Pick a Range Hood

So, how do you choose the best range hood for your kitchen?

Much will rely on the design of your kitchen and your particular aesthetic tastes, but there are some elements to consider before making your selection.

1. Consider the Range Hood Size

Take measurements of the length and breadth of your range, as well as the area above it. Choose a range that is nearly the same size as your range surface. If there are cabinets in the area above, you may need to remove or remodel part of them to allow an under-cabinet range hood, but this will depend on the form of the cabinets and the size of the range hood you want.

2. Consider Your Power Requirements

How strong a range hood do you require? If you do a lot of frying or cooking in general, you will need a powerful range hood with good venting procedures.

The power of a range hood is measured in cubic feet per minute, or CFM. Most range hoods should be certified for at least 100 CFM, while island hoods should be rated for at least 150 CFM.

3. Check Ventilation Type

Some ductless range hoods function more like an air filter, sucking in smoke and moisture and then recirculating the air. These hoods perform less well than ducted range hoods, but they are less costly and simpler to install. When choosing a range hood, you should be aware of the ventilation type (ducted or ductless) and the benefits and drawbacks of each.

4. Check Noise Levels

Although all range hoods are noisy, some are quieter than others. If noise is an issue for you, look for a range hood that is advertised as being quieter.

5. Pick a Stylish Range Hood

You should also think about which style will look and work best in your kitchen. Do you like the appearance of an island hood or a downdraft hood if you have an island stove? Would you rather buy a hood insert and construct your own range hood?

Other Factors

Other considerations to consider are cost, convenience of installation, fan speeds, and unique features. Do your homework ahead of time; there are many possibilities, and no one can tell you which one is best, but knowing what’s available can help you make an educated selection.

Conclusion

You’re ready to investigate numerous possibilities now that you know how to pick a range hood. As you examine various types and models, you will get an understanding of how to choose a range hood that will work for you.

Popular range Hood Brands:

  • Winflow Range Hood Review
  • Presenza Range Hood Review
  • AKDY Range Hood Review
  • Cavaliere Range Hood Review
  • Kobe Range Hood Review
  • Viking Range Hood Review
  • Sakura Range Hood Review

FAQs

What to look for when buying a range hood?

Before you begin buying, consider the following range hood characteristics.
Airflow. Manufacturers boast about the cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air that their range hoods expel.
Timer for exhaustion. This handy function switches off the fan after a certain amount of time.
Filters.
The number of fan speeds available.
Size. Style.
Control of the thermostat.

How many CFM for a range hood do I really need?

You need at least 100 CFM for every 10,000 BTUs of cooktop power to power your range hood. A 100,000 BTU stove, for example, requires at least a 1000 CFM range hood. Multiply the width of an electric stove by ten. So, for a 42″ electric stove, a range hood with at least 420 CFM is required.

What style of range hood should I get?

For your gas range, a hood with 900 CFM or above is a safe choice. The greater the range, the greater the CFM required. Install a wall hood, under cabinet hood, or range hood insert if your range is against a wall. Purchase an island hood to replace a range on a kitchen island.

How much bigger should a hood be compared to a range?

The size of your range hood should be six inches greater than the size of your range. You may even get a hood that is 12 inches bigger than your range for maximum coverage. A larger range hood is usually a good idea. You may be able to get away with a hood equivalent to the size of your cooktop with smaller hoods or hoods over electric stoves.

How much should I spend on range hood?

A range hood installation normally costs between $400 and $1,500, with the average cost being $750. Installing a ductless range or a new range hood using existing ducting is at the low end of the spectrum.

What is the quietest rangehood?

The KOBE Brillia Under-Cabinet Range Hood is the most quiet.
Cosmo Under Cabinet Range Hood is the most affordable.
IKTCH Wall Mount Range Hood is the most powerful.
ZLINE KB is the best wall mount.
Most Balanced – BV Stainless Range Hood.
Great Value – Empava Under Cabinet Ducted Range Hood.
Best Island Range Hood – ZLINE GL Range Hood.

Is 900 CFM good for a range hood?

A 900 CFM blower moves 900 cubic feet of air per minute. It can handle heavy oil and smoke, but it’s not nearly powerful enough for outdoor range hoods or individuals who often cook Asian and other strong-smelling cuisine.

Is higher or lower CFM better for range hood?

A 1,000 CFM range hood can be set to operate at lower rates, whereas a 400 CFM fan cannot be set to run faster. Furthermore, if you have a gas range, a higher CFM range hood will more effectively eliminate odors and other cooking byproducts.

Is 500 CFM good for a range hood?

A minimum ventilation level of 100 CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) per 10,000 BTU is suggested for gas cooking surfaces or ranges. However, the hood must have a minimum ventilation power of 500 CFM.

What is the average cost of a range hood?

Range Hood Mounted on the Wall

Standard wall-mounted range hoods cost between $160 and $700, while opulent range hoods with high-end technology may cost up to $8,000 (think copper, wood, and stainless steel materials).

Rate this post

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *