Cooks can breathe a sigh of relief when they realize how efficient and attractive kitchen ventilation or a range hood can be.
First, kitchen range hoods come in four basic kinds:
Canopy hoods that mount to the wall, also called pro-style, or bottom of a cabinet, also called under-cabinet.
Island hoods that mount to the ceiling.
Chimney hoods that come with a decorative cover to hide unattractive ductwork.
Downdraft hoods that are installed behind the cooktop.
If you’d like to breathe easier, these facts and hints can help:
Kitchens with proper ventilation are much cleaner. Ventilation can stop particulates from settling on surfaces and damaging cabinetry and fabrics.
A good vent can also reduce smoke, grease and other types of indoor air pollution that can harm your health and increase your cleaning chores.
Keep it clean. It’s wise to wash or replace vent filters every couple of months.
If you cook frequently, they may require more frequent cleaning; most are dishwasher-safe.
When shopping for new ventilation, look for the Home Ventilating Institute label. It’s an independent third party that rates ventilation performance.
If noise levels are important to you and your family, get a hood that exhausts more air — indicated by a higher level of cubic feet per minute — and operates at a lower and quieter speed. Another quiet-performance option is an external blower that can be mounted to an outside wall, installed in the attic or on the roof.
The hood should be installed as close to the cooktop as possible, within the manufacturer’s guidelines, so it captures the most smoke and odor.
Duct size is important for optimum performance. It should be equal to or greater than the size of the hood’s duct outlet.
Make sure the backdraft damper opens and closes completely and freely.
Check both inside and outside the house to be sure nothing gets in the way of its movement.
