by Lisa VandenDool
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A Wall Mount Range from Vent-A-Hood |
A kitchen range hood is a vital appliance for any kitchen. You shouldn’t be able to smell dinner from every room in your house; otherwise, even when it is not mealtime, your house, clothing and furniture will reek with a stale odor. That’s where a residential range hood enters your life, freeing you from such concerns. Let’s take a look at what else you might be looking for in hood besides whisking away odors.
Efficiency
A good range hood should be powerful enough that it reduces greasy buildup that can accumulate on cabinets and kitchen appliances, and strong enough to pull out contaminants that occur naturally while cooking. A good way to check on a model’s efficiency is to look at the manufacturer’s specifications. A CFM (cubic feet per minute) rating tells you the amount of air that is moved per minute in cubic feet. The amount of air that the unit will actually move once installed in you kitchen will depend on how airtight the room is. This rating varies significantly between models. A good hood (Bosch Appliances 30 in. Updraft Range Hood, 360 CFM - approx. $450, GE Profile 30 in. High Performance Range Hood in Stainless Steel, 410 CFM - approx. $350, Kenmore Elite 30 in. Updraft Range Hood with 3-Setting Halogen Lighting, 300 CFM - approx. $250) should be between 250 and 650 CFM, whereas a less effective model (Kenmore 30 in. Convertible Range Hood, 160 CFM - approx. $40, ) may only be 190 CFM or less. A Professional restaurant style hood (GE Monogram 48in Kitchen Hood, 1200 CFM - approx. $1,700) can even be as high as 1200 CFM, if you are willing to pay the price.
Hood Styles
There are different options that can accommodate the style, function and size specifications of your kitchen. They are:
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GE Monogram® High Performance Island Hood in Stainless Steel |
A Wall Mount Range from Vent-A-Hood |
Jenn-Air Gas Cooktop with Downdraft Ventilation System in Black |
Under Cabinet Hoods
This style is the most common and thus the one having the widest variety of color, size and feature options. Under cabinet models are generally easier to install, but still require some electrical and need ventilation ducting installed. Expect to pay $200 to $900. (Bosch Appliances 30 in. Updraft Range Hood, 360 CFM - approx. $450, GE Profile 30 in. High Performance Range Hood in Stainless Steel, 410 CFM - approx. $350, Kenmore Elite 30 in. Updraft Range Hood with 3-Setting Halogen Lighting, 300 CFM - approx. $250)
Liner Insert Vent Hoods
A liner insert is a popular designer option because it assimilates the hood into custom built cabinets for a clean, uniform appearance. Work with your kitchen designer or cabinet maker to ensure you buy the right liner. Expect to pay $300 to $900, plus the price of the hood's cabinet and installation. (Imperial Range Hood Insert 30 in, 360 CFM - approx. $300, Vent-A-Hood Standard Wall Mount Liner - Single Blower, 300 CFM- approx $630 - Dual Blower, 600 CFM- approx $860)
Island or Peninsula Vent Hoods
Island vent hoods can be a stunning design focal point. When your range or grill is built into an island the Peninsula vent hood is one viable option. These vent up through a chimney and require ducting that runs above your ceiling to an outside wall. Expect to pay $1,200 to $2,200 and up. (Broan 40 in. Rangemaster® Provisa Range Hood in Stainless Steel, 900 CFM - approx. $2,200, Jenn-Air 42 in. Chimney Hood in Stainless Steel, 650 CFM - $1,800, GE Monogram® 42" High Performance Island Hood in Stainless Steel, 1080 CFM - $1,700)
Wall Mount Hoods
Wall chimney models go on a wall where there are no cabinets. These units are large and heavy and require specialized installation by a professional. Despite being a more expensive investment these models offer much in terms of quality and design. If you've invested in powerful cooking equipment you will need match that power with the holding capacity of a large canopy. Hoods with deep canopies are able to trap more odor and smoke. They can also make a defining statement in your kitchen. Plan on spending $650 to $1,800 and up. (Vent-A-Hood 48" Euroline Pro Series Chimney Hood in Stainless Steel, 600 CFM - approx. $2,200, Frigidaire 36 in. Glass Range Hood in Stainless Steel, 350 CFM - approx. $1,700)
Downdraft Models
The downdraft design arrests steam and odors at the cooking surface, pulling them down and out of your kitchen. The ventilation is incorporated as part of the cooktop. Downdraft models can cost anywhere between $500 to $2000, but remember you are buying two things, a cooktop and a venting system. Jenn-Air, the brand that invented downdraft ventilation, is well known for this design. Downdraft vents are favored by some kitchen engineers because they keep the room open and eliminate the need for a more costly overhead hood. While these venting systems have appeal for their uncluttered look it is to be noted that downdraft models have difficulty removing smoke. This is not to say that they don't have a high CFM rating, it is just that smoke is best captured from above. Some downdraft models have a telescopic chimney or vent to aid in capturing smoke. (Jenn-Air 30 in. Gas Cooktop with Downdraft Ventilation System, approx $1,200, Kenmore 30 in. Telescopic Downdraft Range Hood in Stainless Steel -does not include cooktop, 500 CFM - $500)
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