Range Hoods

An under-cabinet range hood mounts directly to the bottom of a wall cabinet that’s above the stove top. The vent hood suctions smoke, steam, and heat as you cook, keeping them away from the surface of your cabinets. Under cabinet range hoods tend to be on the less expensive end of the spectrum and are typically easy to install.

Wall-mounted range hoods can come in handy when no cabinet exists above the stove top, making an under-cabinet range hood impossible to install. As the name suggests, wall-mounted vent hoods mount directly to the wall. They feature wide bases that narrow toward the ceiling. This type of range hood is sometimes referred to as a wall-mounted chimney.

Island range hoods are similar in shape to wall-mounted range hoods, but they’re installed over a stove top that’s located on a kitchen island where there is no wall or cabinet available for mounting. Island range hoods vent through ductwork placed in the ceiling.

An insert range hood provides a custom option, acting as a liner that’s designed to fit into an existing cabinet space, wood frame, or other space above the stove top. These range hoods are sometimes referred to as power packs. They are typically easy to install, providing you with flexibility in your kitchen design.

A downdraft range hood is connected to ducts beneath the floor, directing the steam, smoke, fumes, and heat in a downward direction. You can install a downdraft range almost anywhere in your kitchen, but such ranges are most commonly used in conjunction with kitchen islands. Take a look at this kind of vent if you want to avoid the expense of installing an island range hood or if you aren’t able to run ductwork into the ceiling.

Size is important when it comes to choosing a range hood. The width of the range hood should be at least as wide as the cooktop it’s positioned above, and some homeowners choose to allow some overhang on each side. The general rule of thumb is 3 inches of overhang on each side of the stove top. If you’re installing an under-cabinet range hood, you must also pay attention to the space available beneath the cabinet. The most common range hood widths are 30 and 36 inches. Overstock.com offers range hoods that vary in size from 20.5 inches wide up to 54 inches wide. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how much space to leave between the cooking surface and range hood.

A range hood’s power is measured in cubic feet per minute, or CFM. Range hoods with a higher CFM rating have more power to vent smoke, steam, and heat from your kitchen. If you cook or fry foods often, opt for a range hood with more power. The Home Ventilating Institute recommends selecting a range hood with 100 CFM per linear foot of the range if it’s installed against a wall or 150 CFM per linear foot of the range if it’s installed above an island.

Range hoods come in vented or ductless models. Vented range hoods use ducting to suction smoke, steam, and heat out of the home via ductwork that may run through the ceiling, wall, or floor. A ductless range hood draws smoke, steam, and heat away from the cooking area, passing it through a filter or series of filters and recirculating it back into the kitchen. Ductless range hoods require frequent cleaning and changing of filters. Many vented range hoods feature an aluminum filter that requires periodic cleaning; some vented filters are designed to be dishwasher-safe.

Range hoods that are Energy Star-compliant meet strict energy performance guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency. These models have been proven to use less energy, cost less to operate, and release fewer greenhouse gas emissions than their non-Energy Star-rated counterparts.

Some range hoods feature variable fan speeds to use depending on the type of cooking you’re doing. Use higher fan speeds for heavy-duty cooking or foods that produce stronger aromas. Some range hood models offer a low fan speed and a and high fan speed, while others provide the option of up to six different speeds. Some range hoods feature LED touch panels or remote controls to control light and fan settings.

Built-in temperature sensors are useful features included with some range hoods. Sensor-equipped range hoods automatically turn on when the temperature below becomes unexpectedly high. For example, some models may activate the exhaust fan upon sensing a temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit or higher in the area between itself and your cooktop.

Automatic shut off is another convenient feature that comes with some range hood models. This option switches off the range hood’s exhaust fan after a set period. For example, the range hood may automatically turn off the exhaust fan 15 minutes after it’s turned on to save electricity.

Certain range hood models feature a filter indicator light that alerts you when the filter needs to be replaced.