Range Hoods

What is a range hood and how does it work?

A range hood is an appliance that is mounted above your stove. It works by pulling the air and smoke produced by cooking through a filter, trapping the airborne particles, and then exhausting the filtered air outside or recirculating it back into the kitchen, depending on your setup. The process of removing smoke and cooking fumes is important to improve air quality and reduce the risk of fire hazards in the kitchen. The range hood works in a few simple steps:

  • The hood pulls in air and smoke from the cooktop area through a filter or series of filters.
  • The filter traps airborne particles such as grease, smoke, and cooking odors.
  • The filtered air is then either exhausted outside the home or recirculated back into the kitchen through the hood.

The range hood can be ducted or ductless, depending on your kitchen's ventilation system and your personal preference.

What are the benefits of having a range hood?

A range hood has numerous benefits for your kitchen. Some of the key advantages are:

  • Improved Air Quality: A range hood helps to remove smoke, cooking odors, and fumes from your kitchen, improving air quality and reducing the risk of respiratory issues.
  • Reduced Risk of Fire Hazards: Cooking produces grease and oil vapors, which can accumulate on surfaces and increase the risk of fire hazards. A range hood helps to remove these pollutants, reducing the risk of fire in your kitchen.
  • Protection for Your Cabinets: Grease and oil produced during cooking can damage your cabinets and countertops over time. A range hood helps to prevent this by removing the pollutants from the air before they have a chance to settle on surfaces.

What size range hood do I need for my kitchen?

Choosing the right size range hood for your kitchen is crucial to ensure that it functions properly and provides optimal ventilation. To determine the right size range hood for your kitchen, you should consider the size of your cooktop or stove, the type of cooking you do, and the size of your kitchen.

The general rule for range hood sizing is to choose a hood that is at least as wide as your cooktop or stove. For example, if you have a 30-inch cooktop, you should likely need a range hood that is at least 30 inches wide.

If you do a lot of cooking that produces smoke or steam, such as frying or grilling, you may want to choose a larger range hood to ensure proper ventilation.

The three most important things to consider when choosing the right size range hood for your kitchen are:

  1. The size of your cooktop or stove.
  2. The type of cooking you do.
  3. The size of your kitchen.