Category Archives: Kitchen Remodeling

Do You Have A Lacquer Finish?

In this article we are going to talk about three ways to clean a copper range hood. However, stop reading right now, if you have a lacquered finish and consult the manufacturer to make a determination of the recommended cleaning technique.

Using Bar Keepers Friend Copper Cleaner

Bar Keepers Friend is as well known copper cleaner and you can use it in the following way with some soft cloths:

1. Wipe the hood with a damp cloth so it becomes moistened.
2. Sprinkle any non-vertical surfaces with copper cleaner.
3. Gently rub the cleaner over the hood, ensuring all surfaces are covered with the moist paste you have created
4. Allow it to sit for a few minutes or as directed on the product label.
5. Use a clean cloth to clean the copper. Repeat this process until all cleaner has been removed fro mthe range hood.
6. Finish by polishing the copper range hood to a bright shine with a clean soft cloth.

Here is what you will need:

• Dish soap
• Sponge
• Copper polish
• Flannel cloth

Cleaning Method

1. Use a wet sponge and some hot water with three drops of dish soap. Use the sponge to wipe the range hood and leave the soap on the surface for 12 minutes so the grease is loosened.
2. Take soapy sponge and rub the copper, adding and rinsing with more soap as required. Rinse the range hood with a clean, wet sponge and dry it with a towel to prepare for polishing.
3. Take a small amount of copper polish to the flannel cloth. The copper neecds to be covereed wit ha thin layer of polish and allowed to dry.
4. Using small circular like motions, rub the range hood so there is no residue from the polish remaining.

Size

With a canopy range hood, the range hood you choose should match the width of your cooktop. next, measure the space above the cooktop. It is really improtant you measure and take a note of all the dimensions before you make your purchase a you want to ensure the canopy range hood will fit in the available space.

Ducts

By the means of a metal duct via the ceiling or a wall, a ducted range hood will direct the air from your kitchen. By far this is the best way to clear the air. But it may not always be possible unless you utilize the services of a building contractor who may have to knock out a hole in the ceiling or roof to install the ducting pipe.

Recirculation

By filtering impurities from the air recirculating range hoods recirculate the now clean air back into the area of your kitchen by utilizing carbon fibers but need to be repalced from time to time. One advantage this style of range hood has is there is no need for the installation of a duct pipe through the ceiling or wall. The downside to this is the effectiveness of the range hood is somewhat reduced.

Extraction

The ability of a range hood to draw in air is known as its extraction rate. Obviously models that vent in larger amounts of air will therefore have a higher extraction rate and this means they will be highly effective pieces of equipment. This rate is measure using what is known as cubic meters per hour. The bigger your kitchen, the better is it to find a range hood with a higher rated extraction rate so odors and smoke from cooking are best minimized from traveling through your home. If you are in to cooking, a range hood with an extraction rate of around 700m3/h would be ideal.

Filters

Ducted rangehoods will usually feature aluminium filters, which need to be cleaned regularly so look for a model with dishwasher-safe filters. Some range hoods will have a buuilt in filter indicatoe, showing when is the correct time to change the filter.

Not Having A Range Hood With An Induction Cooktop

• Induction cooktops produce less heat and one of its great advantages is less ambient heat is produced than with conventional electric and gas ranges. So a hood is not mandatory, so to speak with an induction cooktop.
• Induction cooktops also do not produce toxic fumes like carbon minoxide produced by gas cooking. So it may be said a range hood is not as needed with induction cooktops as for a gas rangetop.
• If you are not used to the range hood, you may not really see the need for it as you have not been exposed to the benefits of there being one.
• Many people dislike the noise of the exhaust hoods and they rarely use it. But a good hood does produce some noise and if ambient noise perturbs you, a range hood may not be ideal for your situation.

Having A Range Hood With An Induction Cooktop

• If you have a style of cooking that produces odors and grease, when you lack a hood you will the effects will remain in your kitchen. A hood will certainly help keep your kitchen in a clean order and will have a huge impacr on reducing the smell of cooking.
• A range hood also makes the kitchen a safer environment. Cooking grease is concentrated over the etove top and removes it by pulling it from the kitchen. And this reduces the chances of fires as well as the spread of germs.
• A range hood can greatly increase indoor air quality by reducing gases like carbon dioxide, carbon minoxide and nitrogen oxide. This is especially the case with gas cooktops but also applies to a lesser degree of cooktop types.
• Some area building coes require ventilation for cooking. Sometimes as per codes, it may be as simple an access to an open window or it may mean a fully ducted range hood is required.

Height Variations

Range hoods come in a very wide variety of options from standard range hoods found in smaller domestic kitchens to high capacity models. These high capacity models can fan odors from the kitchen with a far greater velocity and can therefore be installed somewhat higher than standard range models.  Range hoods that are high capacity are usually installed between two and two and a half feet above the stove top, while standard models are installed on average between 18 and 24 inches above the surface of the stove top.

From Floor Level

Sometimes contractors prefer to measure the height of the range hood they are installing from the floor rather than from the surface of the cooktop. In these instances, the bottom of the range hood usually measure five feet from the floor.

Capture Areas

The capture area of the range hood is just as important as the height of the range hood. The capture area is defined by the size of the stove underneath the range hood. So, for example, a 42 inch wide range hood should accomodate a stovetop that measures 36 inches from side to side.

Hood Insert Types

Hood insert types are for use in either wall mount or island range hood. Hood inserts are known as custom built-in ventilators, cabinet inserts and power packs. It contains speed, lights and blower controls – the functional ventilation unit inside the wood cabinet or other decorative housing.

Custom range hood enclosures feature a hood insert that can be crafted from from copper, brass, wood, stainless steel, or other material specified by the customer to match their kitchen décor. The mechanical blower providing ventilation is then positioned in the custom enclosure. A custom range hood insert is usually between 19″ and 60″ wide, to suit the ventilation requirements of your kitchen.

Inserts include an internal or external blower with a CFM (cubic feet of air moved per minute) vary from 200 to as much as 1600 CFM. With a customized insert, you have the flexibility to combine different specifications. Many manufacturers customize a ventilation kit for your range hood. Others offer a wide selection of range inserts to fit into any custom range hood enclosure.

Cabinet Inserts

Cabinet inserts offer many features. Some units have built-in heat sensors that turn up the ventilating power as the temperature on the cooktop or stove rises. You can order custom inserts with professional-quality baffle filters that remove even large amounts of grease and smoke from the air, removable troughs to trap liquefied grease or a charcoal recirculating kit. Most manufacturers offer custom range hood inserts with seamless stainless steel construction.

A metal sleeve is required for some range hood inserts, or liner to make the installation complete. that protectes the exterior base of a custom hood. This may contain a light panel and they often have a flexible design to make adjustments in the height to fit different sizes of range hoods.

Melting Pot Benefits

One huge advantage many people see as a benefit is a cooking range and of course an island range hood is the central location it occupies in the layout of the kitchen. This design lends itself to becoming the central hub for not just cooking but also socializing and entertainment and quickly becomes one of the most used rooms in the entire house. Nobody wants to have steam and fumes becoming an issue in the cooking area and an island range hood is just the ticket for ensuring you have correct levels of ventilation. Intimate times and meals with family and friends can be had if you install seating encircling the island range and island range hood. There is no question island range hoods make a very dramatic and beautiful statement in a kitchen and of course they are available in a wide range of materials, colors and sizes.

Space And Flexibility

Non-island range hoods are normally positioned along the exterior walls of a kitchen. One drawback of this it is allows very little room for more than one person to cook together. Having to compete for available counter space makes it a lot tougher to prepare, organize and cook in a single area. Another great boon of having an island cooking range and island range hood is the ability to have a walk-around as opposed to a linear cooking area that is more capacious and welcoming to the concept of team cooking. Island range hood installation gives you the benefits of being able to stew, simmer, cook and fry foods with the added bonus of having a lot more room to move about in.

Installation Errors

A disadvantage of island range hood installation is the prospect installers and contractors may not install the range hood correctly. For example,  ending a duct in an enclosed space, such as an attic, can lead to operational problems with the hood. The lack of back-pressure reduces the effectiveness of the hood, making it difficult to extract unwanted fumes and airborne grease residue. In addition, diverting warm moist air from the kitchen to the attic leads to mold growth. Another installation disadvantage is unreliable electrical connections; a hood with exposed wires must be hardwired as per the manufacturer’s specifications.

Height Is Not Always Helpful

One potential drawback with the installation of an island range hood is the height it requires. if your kitchen is small with low ceilings, it may block the view of other rooms and even the other side of the kitchen! In normal circumstances, the island range hood is installed an verage of 28 inches above the stove top By attempting to increase visibility around the hood, the space may lack adequate ventilation. as air from cooking does not rise in a linear fashion it is vital to have the island range hood in close proximity to the stove top so gumes, smoke and steam can be efficently evacuated.

A range hood is an appliance that hangs above the stove, and provides additional light when you cook, and a fan so that the steam doesn’t blow into your face. Read on to learn the top ten reasons to get a range hood.

• On top of the safety and health benefits, the comfort and ease in cleaning and cooking, the reduction of grime and smells, range hoods also increase the value of your home. Updated kitchens add close to 80 percent of the expense to the value of a house. The nicer the range hood, the higher the attractiveness of the room, and ultimately, of the house. Additionally, by removing the airborne pollutants, the range hood keeps kitchen cabinets looking new longer, and prevents cooking smells from settling into the soft furnishings around the house, which also contributes to the overall “look and feel” of the house, as well as its attractiveness to potential buyers.
• The range hood is part of your kitchen design. Range hoods come in countless styles and custom designs, making it easy to find one that fits any kitchen. They can be blended into the existing layout of the kitchen, or created to stand out as the central showpiece. Gone are the days when the phrase “range hood” was a large, bulky metal box with a noisy fan. Today’s high-end kitchen hoods provide quiet performance while looking great.
• When cleaning the hard-to-reach areas of the kitchen, behind the stove, or above the cabinets, there is often a sticky film coated with dust. This is caused by the grease and excess moisture in the air from cooking without a range hood. By removing mositure and grease, range hoods cut down the time you spend cleaning. Some models even have timers, providing an additional fifteen minutes of ventilation after cooking to further prevent that greasy residue. As an added benefit, removing the moisture and grease helps to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria.
• The position of an overhead range hood provides the best lighting for cooking and you can choose what fits your needs best. Some high-end designer range hoods offer an array of lighting effects. If you’re looking to really make an impression, high-end range hood manufacturers offer some of the world’s most advanced range hoods that feature creative lighting effects, built-in LCD displays and other display qualities.
• How often do attention-getting recipes quickly become forgotten once it’s realized how messy and foul-smelling the actual cooking process will be? Range hoods give you more freedom to experiment with those restaurant-quality dishes you’ve been dying to try.
• Due to the smells, the stuffiness and steam, cooking can be a less than pleasurable experience. Range hoods significantly reduce those factors, so that cooking doesn’t have to be such an arduous task. Blasts of heat? Gone. Steam clouds? Sucked into the range hood instead of blowing in your face as wel las droplets of grease absorbed by the range hood’s filters.
• By acting as a filter, cleaning hazardous pollutants, range hoods offer protection to everyone in the household. Without a range hood, everyone in the kitchen and surrounding rooms would be subjected to throat, eye and nose irritation and potential CO poisoning. The range hood offers more safety benefits than almost any other appliance.
• There is a reason for the old adage, “if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.” Cooking produces a lot of heat, as well as generating steam and smoke. Range hoods provide relief for the cook and protection to the kitchen by cooling off the area.
• Heating equipment and cooking appliances are the main source of carbon monoxide poisoning.Without proper ventilation, carbon monoxide can cause flu-like symptoms during short-term exposure, and difficulty breathing or even death with long-term exposure. It is required for homes to have carbon monoxide detectors in most states.
• The most important job of the range hood is to filter out and remove hazardous air pollutants that come from cooking. Smoke, grease, and steam caused by cooking remain in the kitchen, coating the walls and being inhaled by the chef.
  The operation of a typical range hood can be simply described in 3 steps:
  1. The blower (“fan” or “motor”) creates suction that draws the polluted air into the range hood.
  2. The metal grease filters (usually mesh cassettes, or “baffle” type filters on some models) capture the airborne grease particles.
  3. If the hood is installed with an outside duct (recommended), the polluted air is carried out of the house; if the hood is installed in “ductless” or “recirculating” mode, an additional charcoal filter absorbs the odors, and then the cleaned air is returned to the kitchen.