If a kitchen remodel is in your future, you will likely be selecting new appliances and that may include a range hood. Unlike the rest of your appliances, this one may be a little more complicated to choose. It performs the important function of ventilating smoke, steam and odors out of your kitchen, but it also can play a big role in the overall look of the space.
To help you navigate the options, we’ve put together some tips to help you consider which range hood would be the best choice for your kitchen.
First let’s look at ventilation options:
- Ducted. For households that do a lot of cooking, this may be your best option. A ducted ventilation system will remove smoke, humidity, and smells and dispense it through pipes connected to a duct system, which then expels the particles to the outside of the home.
- Ductless or Recirculating. This is a closed system that uses a fan to suck heat, grease particles, and smoke, through a charcoal filter and then recirculates it back into the kitchen.
Next, here are the types of range hoods available:
- Wall mount range hood. As it sounds, this type is attached directly to the wall above the range and does not require cabinetry for mounting. Often, a wall mount hood will become a focal point of your kitchen design.
- Ceiling mount range hood. When your range or cooktop is located in an island or peninsula, you will need a ceiling mount hood. Here again, the style you choose will become an important style element in your kitchen.
- Under-cabinet range hood. To incorporate your hood seamlessly into your cabinet layout, you may want to consider this option. Here, the hood mounts to the cabinetry positioned directly above your range.
- Microwave combo hood. This space saving option utilizes an over the range microwave with a built-in fan that removes steam, odors, and fumes created while using the range or cooktop.
- Downdraft or pop up vent hood. This system is hidden and installed directly behind the cooktop. When not in use, it will sit below your countertop, but one press of a button will raise the vent upwards and suction all the bad stuff out and release it into ducts that lead outside the home.
Discuss these options with your designer, who will be able to direct you to the best range hood choices based on your needs and kitchen layout.
Topics: Featured, kitchen remodeling, kitchens, thompson remodeling grand rapids mi, range hood
