Range Hood Buying Guide

There’s a lot to consider when shopping for a range hood, but it all starts with the answer to one question:  Can it be vented to the outside?  Cooking smoke has been a problem ever since the cooking function moved from the central kitchen fireplace to an inside stove.  There is absolutely no disputing the fact that a range hood with ducting to the outside of your home does a better job of removing smoke and grease than a vent free, or ductless hood.

If you are replacing an existing ductless hood you should strongly consider replacing it with a ducted model.  If this is not possible, get a ductless model with the best filter possible.  All a ductless model does is pull the smoky air and grease through a filter and then expel smoke-free hot air from the top of the unit.  Although they are washable, cheap filters deteriorate rapidly resulting in less smoke removal.  Another consideration with these units is the availability of filters.  If finding a replacement is going to be difficult, you’re less likely to change filters as often as you need.

If your budget simply can’t handle the expense of ducting right now, consider looking for a combination model.  These are becoming quite common and can be installed as duct free or with exterior ducting.  With this style you can always vent the range hood at a later date.

There are other considerations that apply to both ducted and ductless hoods:  the power and noise of the fan and the controls.  A fan’s efficiency is measured by the number of cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air it removes.  Fans with a higher CFM move more air more quickly.  Generally speaking, electric ranges produce less heat than gas models so you can get by with a lower rated CFM range hood with an electric range.  However, considering the amount of smoke some foods can generate, a few experts advise buying the most powerful hood you can afford, regardless of the type of range you own.

A fan’s noise is measured by its Sone rating, which is a subjective measure and is seen by some to be not that relevant in the decision process.  Higher CFM fans usually have higher Sone ratings and since the fan does not run continuously, the tradeoff should go in favor of the more powerful fan, even if it is a little noisier.

The final comparative issue is the fan control.  Better models have variable speed controls, not simple on and off positions, and also include under the hood lighting.  Digital control panels have a distinct advantage over rotary and push button controls in that the digital panel is much easier to clean.  Considering the grease and smoke rising, this is not an insignificant disadvantage.

As an alternative to the traditional range hood, consider an “over the range” microwave.  This is a great space saver, as the area of your work space taken up by a countertop microwave is available for other uses.  Over the range microwaves are also available for ducted installation, duct free installation, or in combination units which can be used either way.