Range Hoods

After deciding between a cooktop or range, your next step should be choosing ventilation—range hoods, to be more specific. A vent hood over your cooktop or range is essential for better air quality indoors, especially if you cook a lot. And since your kitchen safety is important, we recommend using these safety measures on top of a range hood.

But deciding which stove hood you need for your kitchen leads to a lot of questions. Good thing we have the answers to help you choose amongst the common types of ventilation.

What size range hood do I need?

The size of your kitchen range hood depends on the size of your range or cooktop. Typically, your vent hood should be at least as wide as your cooking appliance. However, we recommend going at least three inches longer on each side if you have the room.

When installing your range hood, please read the specified requirements for the proper height. For installation over an electric cooktop, you need a 20 to 24-inch space from vent to cooktop surface. For gas cooktops, you need a 24 to 30-inch space for optimum ventilation.

Please note that capacity refers to the power of range hood, measured in CFM (cubic feet per minute) and not the actual size.

Do I need a ducted or duct-free vent hood?

The difference between a ducted and duct-free vent hood is that ducted--or vented--range hoods vent away irritants to the outside through a duct. Duct-free range hoods pull the air through a charcoal filter to trap irritants and recirculate that air back into the kitchen.

Ducted range hoods provide cleaner air, but these usually require professional installation. Duct-free or non-vented range hoods are ideal if you can’t install a duct, but the air doesn't ventilate as clean.

What are the different types of range hoods?

The different kitchen hood types are under cabinet, wall-mount, island, downdraft, and insert range hoods.

• Under cabinet hoods are ducted or non-ducted, attach underneath a cabinet, but take a lot of cabinet space (an over-the-range microwave with ventilation utilizes the whole cabinet space above your range).
• Wall-mount hoods mount to the wall instead of a cabinet. Chimney wall hoods are similar, except these have a flue and can also be attached to the ceiling.
• Island hoods hang from the ceiling over your kitchen island and vary in style from glass canopies to curved metal.
• Downdraft hoods are typically built into the cooktop (or the back of it). These pull vapors and odors down and across your cooktop, then vents it to the outside.
• Insert hoods, or power packs, are another hidden type of range hood built into the cabinetry above the cooktop or range or mounted on a wall or over an island.

Have any more questions on range hoods? Wondering how to prepare for your new appliance? Give us a call or stop by our Aberdeen store and we’ll help you with the basics like range hood installation and more. Whether your shopping online or in-store, Lang’s TV & Appliance has you covered.