Considerations When Choosing a Kitchen Range Hood

We all have set off our smoke alarm in your kitchen a time or two, so you already know how indispensable having a range hood is. So how do you decide on which type of range hood is right for you and your kitchen? As you explore your options, keep these considerations in mind.

The Layout & Design of Your Kitchen

The design and layout of your kitchen is a big factor in how much space you can work with and how to install your range hood. In addition, there are various types of range hoods you can choose from. It is recommended to mount the hood around 25-30 inches above the range.

Depending on your kitchen’s design, vent hoods can be mounted on a wall, integrated into your existing cabinets, or hung over an island range. There are telescoping hoods that can be expanded when they are being used or retracted and concealed when they are not. One other alternative is a downdraft kitchen hood, that rises from the back of the range.

Kitchen Range Hood Exhaust System

Ducted exhaust systems use ducts to drive air out of the home. “Out” being key. This means is you can’t vent the air into another part of the home, such as an attic. If you have a ducted system, its best to mount the hood to an exterior wall. When mounted in this fashion the ducting is more efficient and there won’t be a lot of it. The more you get away from an exterior wall, the more involved and costly the hood and ducting installation will be.

Using duct-free exhaust systems, the dirty air is filtered, cleaned and then returned into the kitchen rather than it being forced outside of the home. These systems are commonly less efficient than ducted systems, they require more maintenance with routine cleanings and filer replacement.

Range Hood Fan Power

The size of your kitchen affects how strong the exhaust hood fan needs to be to clear the air and help impede cooking odors. To find out how powerful your fan needs to be, multiply the kitchen ceilings height by the length and width of the room. This will dictate the volume of your kitchen.

Kitchen Ceiling Height X Width of the Room = Volume of the Kitchen

Basically, you should choose on a range hood that can clean or replace the air in that area in no less than 8 times an hour.

Types & Styles of Range Hoods

Clearly, you will want a vent hood that coordinates with the look and feel of your kitchen and expresses your own personal taste. This allows you to consider the different finishes available and the maintenance needed to keep them looking fresh and clean. Different things such as a polished or brushed finish, the choice of material like stainless steel, copper or metal, etc. Finally, you may want to think about how you want it to be included into your kitchen. If you’re looking to make a gutsy statement, you may want to decide on something that distinguishes itself from the rest of the décor and pick a bold color or appealing placement.

Noisy Range Hoods

You can purchase an incredibly powerful oven hood, but if it sounds like a personal aircraft taking off, it’s probably not worth the money. Instead, professionals suggest purchasing one that works by drawing air towards the edges of the hood instead of moving it over the whole kitchen. It makes the hood more efficient and keeps noise levels to a minimum.

Range Hood Costs

Just like almost everything else you purchase for your home costs can be from the inexpensive to extravagant. Power, size, materials and special hood additions such as automatic shut off, heat sensors, and built-in lighting will all influence the cost of the range hood. Also, don’t overlook range hood installation costs. This may be a job best left to the professionals. Just remember that the labor and materials, can quickly add up, and possibly cost more than the cost of the range hood itself.