Range Hoods - Everything You Need to Know

The range hood is the chief ventilation unit of a kitchen and consists of three main components:

  1. The Hood: Serves as canopy collecting all the smoke and fumes that emanate from the cooking surface.
  2. The Blower System: Sucks in the emissions of all kinds.
  3. Ducting: It exhausts the emissions out of your kitchen through a duct network.

It is important to understand that ducting is not always a part of the system, for more on this please refer to our page that discusses ductless range hoods. But irrespective of the type of installation you carry out, the range hood has two main functions: minimize cooking smells, condensation, and heat and the other important function is the prevention of grease build up all around your kitchen.

Let's Dive Right in - What Do You Seek?

Use the navigation below to read reviews, check out detailed and informative buying guides, general information on installation, calculators to help you determine the size of the range hood you need and a lot of helpful posts that will provide you with all the information you need to make an informed buying decision. I hope that I could help even in the smallest possible way. Good luck!

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Range Hood Reviews

Are you on the lookout for the perfect range hood for your kitchen? I’ve reviewed some of the most sought after under cabinet, wall mount and island mount hoods’ both ducted and recirculating.

range hood buying guide

Range Hood Buying Guide

Do you know the many options that lie before you? Many people buy something in haste only to later realize they had better options. I’d recommend that you understand exactly what you need. This guide will help.

range hood cfm calculator

CFM Calculator

How powerful must your range hood be? There are a lot of factors that need to be considered: dimensions of your kitchen, the length of your ducting, the bends in ducting and more. Use this free calculator to know what you need.

range hood installation guide

Installation Guide

There’s no one guide fits all when it comes to range hood installation. But there are quite a few common pointers that could help you no matter what kind of range hood you buy. This is the point of this installation guide.

range hood FAQs

FAQs

Do you have a burning question in mind? You’re almost never the first. Before you decide to contact us or look around the web for specifics, why not take a look at our range hood FAQ? You may learn something you never thought about.

range hood installation height

Installation Height Above Stove

Most people do not give this a second thought, but obeying your manufacturers recommended installation height is crucial for safety as well as optimum performance. Read this guide to understand more.

 

 

do you need a backdraft damper

Do You Need a Backdraft Damper?

If you’ve got a range hood that is ducted, you’re probably going to want to have a backdraft damper to prevent the loss of heated or cooled air, and to also prevent insects from creeping in. You’re going to love this article.

determine dimensions of a range hood

Determine the Dimensions of the Range Hood I Need

Struggling to determine the right dimensions of your range hood? Every dimension has a role to play for the effective elimination of grease, smoke and other fumes from your kitchen. Check this out for details.

working of a ductless range hood
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How Does a Ductless Range Hood Work?

Are you not sure if a ductless range hood would do the job you expect of it? Check out the drawbacks they are infamously known for and learn exactly how they work before you decide for yourself if you really need to invest in a ducted hood.

Range Hoods: Some FAQs

Can you vent a range hood down?

You definitely can, but you should not unless you’re buying a downdraft hood. Regular range hoods are meant to vent up or through the wall. Changing the direction and pulling air down would decrease the effective CFM and you would have to use a higher powered hood to get the same job done.

Should a range hood be vented?

Not all range hoods are vented. You always have the option to get a ductless range hood. But a ductless hood only gets rid of grease and odor. Any traces of toxic gases from a gas stove do not get exhausted this way. Also, it’s always wise to find out if you are required to vent out by law or not in your municipality.

Are range hoods hard wired?

Some are, some aren’t. But, if the model you buy does come with a plug, you could always switch things around and set it up so that it’s hard wired or vice-versa

What are the different kinds of range hoods?

There are mainly three popular kinds, but four kinds in total, they are:

  1. Under cabinet range hoods
  2. Wall mount range hoods
  3. Island range hoods
  4. Downdraft range hoods

Can flexible duct be used for range hood?

Of course you can, unless the manual specifically says you shouldn’t. However, you should know that any flexible duct that is not completely pulled out adds to the friction, thereby dropping the effective CFM of your range hood a bit, while at the same time increasing the noise produced. So when possible, stay away from flexible ducting. For every 25 feet of ducting there is a 7% reduction in effective CFM when you use flexible ducting, where as it is 3% if you use non-flex ducting.

Do you need a range hood for a gas stove?

If required by law, you would definitely need one. If it’s not required by law, you would only need one if you cannot have open windows or some other form of exhaust. The biggest problem of having a gas stove in an enclosed space is the build up of carbon monoxide and other gases; which in high quantities are toxic.