Kitchen Range Hoods Buyer's Guide
Published August 29th 2022
https://unsplash.com/photos/UDDULE_eIBY
When you’re remodeling your kitchen, there are plenty of items and details that you may not think about at first. For instance, quality black range hoods might not be at the top of your wish list, but they should be, especially if you cook a lot.
Don’t underestimate the importance of a quality ventilation system; they’re pretty much equal to what people usually perceive as statement makers in their kitchens, such as refrigerators and ranges. You must choose your range hood long and hard for aesthetic and practical reasons. And we’re here to make that choice easier by giving you an in-depth guide into kitchen hoods.
The Importance Of A Range Hood
There are two elementary ways in which great range hoods improve your kitchen. Firstly, they add a touch of elegance to your interior design. But more importantly, they remove harmful smoke, odors, and grease particles frequently lingering after a marathon cooking session.
Of course, that crucial function doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider the design appeal of a range hood while choosing it – in fact, in the early stages of the process, the aesthetics of your range hood will probably be your primary concern.
After all, a range hood is quite a large kitchen element, even if you opt for one of the more visually conservative options. So, it’s bound to become one of the centerpieces of your kitchen – which means you should choose it carefully.
Don’t worry, though – we’ll deal with all of the basic questions you might have regarding range hoods – allowing you to make an informed decision while buying one
Different Types Of Range Hoods
So, we’ll begin with the most obvious stuff – what a range hood is and which different types of range hoods you can choose from.
Basically, a “range hood” is the ventilation system for your kitchen, specifically, your cooking area. And this system consists of the hood (also referred to as a canopy), the duct, and the fan (or blower).
Ductless vs. Vented
Depending on the ducting system, all range hoods and kitchen ventilation systems fall into one of two general categories. We’ve got the vented range hoods that suck in the surrounding kitchen air and send it outside via a duct – and the ductless, or recirculating ventilation, which simply filters the air and sends it back to the kitchen.
So, which one should you choose? This pretty much depends on the type of home you live in. For instance, in most apartment buildings, you’re not allowed to vent outside, so you’d need a recirculating vent system.
On the other hand, if you live in a house where you’ve got all the freedom to choose, a vented system is probably better. At the end of the day, no amount of filtering is comparable to fresh, newly circulated air.
Choosing The Hood
So, now that you’ve picked the type of duct system you want, you can move on to another component: your hood. Luckily, this is where you’ve got even more options; there’s something for any kind of design style and kitchen layout.
You’ve got under-the-counter hoods that are compact and neat because they give you more space – however, they’re limited in terms of power and size.
If you want space-conscious options that are still powerful enough for all of your needs, check out a hood insert or a built-in hood that neatly fits in one of your overhead cabinets. On the other hand, downdraft models have become quite popular as well – they’re the ones that pop out of the countertop.
However, ultimately, an island range hood or a wall-mounted hood is still the biggest visual showstoppers – and the best solution in terms of sheer power.
Dealing With Noise
Ideally, you want a ventilation system that’s powerful enough to keep your air clean regardless of what you’re cooking – but still quiet enough not to disturb other people in the household and yourself.
So, how do you find this middle ground between power and noise? Well, we recommend checking out 400 CFM hoods. The CFM is the cubic feet per minute – the main unit that hood manufacturers use to state the power of their models. And units with a 400 CFM rating are powerful enough for most homes – and any kind of residential cooking range.
Though, people who cook more often and use a gas range might still want to consider a more powerful ventilation system. But if you want something quiet that gets the job done, this is the kind of CFM measurement you should look at.
Also, it’s important to remember something – at the end of the day, you won’t find a completely noiseless ventilation system; at least not one that’s any good at its job. They’re also great visually because they’re a statement piece that brings your entire kitchen together.