Kitchen Exhaust Fans & Range Hoods

TO HELP OUR CLIENTS…

Range hoods with exhaust fans are often the most stylish part of the entire kitchen. Some prefer a utilitarian exhaust fan mounted to a wall or ceiling. Before purchasing a range hood with an exhaust fan or a mounted exhaust fan, discuss specifications such as size and ductwork with your contractor.

This information sheet is designed to help you make an informed decision when shopping. Popham also encourages you to visit local business resources such as King’s Great Buys Plus and Lensing Home Consultants to learn more and to view products in person. Additionally, you many enjoy researching online. At the bottom of this page, we’ve listed several websites. Popham does not endorse specific resources, but only offers them as a convenient source of information.

Exhaust Fans Should Fit Your Needs

A range hood is designed to be placed above your range stove or cooktop where its exhaust fan safely ventilates odors and gasses created from cooking.

A vented fan is a must for everyday cooking for the whole family, which requires a stronger exhaust hood. It moves air through a duct to the outside to get rid of cooking fumes, steam, grease, and carbon monoxide.

A recirculation fan is adequate if you typically cook a few times a week. It pulls fumes and odors over an activated-charcoal filter and recirculates the air back into the room.

Types of Range Fans

• Under cabinet range hoods are placed underneath the cabinet and above the cooktop. This type is the most commonly used.
• Wall-mounted range hoods are installed against a kitchen wall and vent all the way to the ceiling. This type is for a range that is positioned against the wall with no cabinet above.
• Island range hoods hover above the center set cooktop. These can make stylish centerpieces for the kitchen. A downdraft vent is installed directly into island range.

Important Features to Know

• Size of vent hood — For efficiency, the hood needs to be at least as wide as the range or cooktop. When selecting a range hood, measure your cooking surface before going shopping. Vent hoods are usually built-in and are wired directly to the household electrical system.
• Your ductwork — Proper installation of ductwork is critical to the efficiency of the range hood. It’s important to include the installation of a duct in your budget—the steamy, greasy vented air needs to go somewhere, and the duct connects kitchen vent hoods to the exterior of your home. The farther away the vent hood is from an outside vent, the stronger the fan should be. Exhaust should always be vented outside, not to an interior wall or other enclosed space. Check with a contractor before purchasing an exhaust fan.
• Cubic feet per minute (CFM) — The amount of air that the vent fan circulates will correspond to the effectiveness of removal of smoke and odors from your room. Air movement is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). Look for this rating on the units you are comparing. The higher the CFM, the more air is moved.
• Noise level (SONES) — Remember to consider the amount of noise the fan will make. If you are entertaining guests while cooking, you want to be able to hear them over the fan noise. Select a range hood with variable fan speeds. A sone is a measurement of sound. A refrigerator and normal conversation both create roughly one to four sones. Use sone ratings to compare units, but be aware that the higher the CFM, the higher the sone rating is likely to be.
• Lighting — Almost all range hoods are equipped with lighting, either with incandescent or halogen lights, placed above the cooktop to provide plenty of illumination when using your range. Some hoods are even equipped with heat lamps to keep your food warm.
  

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• www.bosch-home.com
• www.broan.com
• www.fabykahood.com
• www.ventahood.com
• www.vikingrange.com