Range Hoods Buying Guide
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The kitchen has evolved to be one of the most important spaces inside a home in recent years. The wide range of products available in the range hoods section further adds to the gravity of the role of the kitchen in a home. Kitchen hoods are more than just simple smoke-extracting devices in modern homes and the growing market of kitchen hoods is the best example of that fact. They come in countless designs, types, and sizes and the following section explores the different nuances of range hoods and presents to the customer community, an efficient buying guide for range hoods.
Range hoods, which are also known by the name kitchen hoods and exhaust hoods are one of the inevitable elements of a modern-day kitchen. It is generally sued in the kitchen to vent out gases, fumes, and smells from cooking and other processes. They are built above the cooktop and are equipped with an exhaust fan that extracts the gases and fumes out of the kitchen and expels them outside. They are ideal to extract heat, steam, smoke, combustion by-products, etc. Most of the range hoods are equipped with a sophisticated air filtration system that also collects, filter, and remove grease particles that tag along with smoke and combustion products. Some range hoods are also capable to recirculate the extracted air after passing it through a built-in filtration system.
The biggest advantage of having a range hood is the improvement in the kitchen air quality. It instantly removes all the unnecessary particles from the air around, leaving fresh air to breathe. It is also the best tool to remove any excess amount of heat from the kitchen. It also leaves the kitchen clean and tidy, as it can extract grease particles from the air. From an aesthetic angle also, a kitchen hood adds to the style and appeal of the kitchen.
Being a reasonably-priced product, every buyer of a kitchen hood should pay attention to several details and specifications of the product to make the most out of the deal. The first one is the size of the kitchen hood. The size of the kitchen hood should be proportionate to the size of the stove or cooktop. Having a bigger kitchen hood would just be a loss of space and money. Noise level is another major feature. Make sure that the noise level is low because there are several subpar products available in the market that causes high noise. Budget, installation time, type of exhaust, etc. should also be closely monitored during the purchase.
Among the wide range of kitchen hoods available in the market, wall mount range hoods are quite popular among the customer community. As the name itself describes, these are mounted on the wall and are positioned right above the kitchen range. They have a similar appearance to the under-cabinet hoods except for the fact that they are attached in different places. They are available in various versions, both ducted and non-ducted.
The major advantage associated with a wall mount kitchen range is that the buyer can avoid building any extra parts to attach the cooking range, but rather attach it conveniently to the wall. Also, wall mount range hoods tend to show more durability and strength than most of their counterparts. It also contributes to the aesthetics of the kitchen by adding a more modern twist to it. It is available in many sleek designs which suit almost all kinds of kitchens. They also show efficient suction power, especially with the grease particles and smoke that occurs from cooking. It also helps the wall from having any kind of discoloration. Being extremely stylish, they also add to the resale value of the house too.
When buying and installing a wall mount kitchen range, they are several things that have to be paid enough attention to. The first one is the size of the hood. As the hood is supposed to be attached to the wall, it is always better to buy a hood that is either the size of the stove or slightly larger than the stove. Buying very large hoods may cause harm to the wall to which they are being attached. Also, wall-mounted hoods can be of two types: top wall-mounted or side wall-mounted. Choose whichever one is suitable for the design and needs of your kitchen instead of buying any popular product. The air filtration system should also be closely monitored before buying a wall-mount range hood, especially the capacity to extract grease materials. Check out detailed reviews about wall mount range hoods.
Under-cabinet range hoods work the best in kitchens that do not have enough space to dedicate a wall for the kitchen hood. With under cabinet range hoods, the kitchen range can be attached under any of the cabinets that are present above the stove. When installing an under-cabinet range hood, the ductwork could either be done outside the cabinet in an exposed manner or else can be done through the inside of the cabinet which would not expose the ductwork to the outside. Several models available in the market are also capable of routing the ductwork through the back of the hood itself. Another model of under-cabinet range hood is the one that can be slid out of a cabinet whenever required and can be kept inside the cabinet the remaining time as they are quite smaller in size. Such models are most appropriate for small kitchens.
An under-cabinet range hood can remove all the unwanted particles and fumes produced by the stove. As they are situated in a closer range to the stove than many other models, they show greater extraction capabilities. It is also aesthetically pleasing and convenient. It can save space on the wall which can be utilized for anything else. The bottom part of a cabinet is mostly left unutilized and mounting an under-cabinet range hood can help make use of that space most productively.
One of the important things that have to be considered before buying an under-cabinet range hood is the space between the cabinet and the stove. It is a basic requirement for any kitchen hood to have a distance of 18 to 30 inches from the stovetop. Make sure that the cabinet is not placed within this range before proceeding to buy an under-cabinet hood. Also, check the possibilities of routing the ductwork of the hood in your kitchen. Make sure it can be done in an aesthetically appealing way to avoid any spoilage of the design and charm of the kitchen. Read more about under-cabinet range hood reviews.
Island range hoods are made with a larger kitchen in mind. They are placed or attached to the ceiling of the kitchen right above the kitchen range. They are much bigger than most other models of range hoods. The island range hoods are mostly connected to the air exhaustion system and try to extract the needless fumes and vent them out. As they employ venting rather than recirculating, the ductwork has to be done appropriately and it is to hide this ductwork that they are usually made as big devices. Still, there are several models of island range hoods that facilitate recirculating, and the devices that support recirculation mostly come in a smaller model.
The most important advantage of an island range hood is the extraction efficiency. Vented island range hoods offer the maximum extraction possible by any model of kitchen hood. They are also designed quite close to the stovetop and as they are present right above the stove, no other parts of the kitchen are affected by the smoke and grease materials. It is also one of the most basic models of kitchen hoods and thus, they are one of the most cost-effective options available in the market too.
When buying an island range hood, try to make up your mind as to which model to choose as there are a lot many options available in the market. Customers have to consider whether they require a vented model or a recirculation model. Also, many newer additions are appearing in the market like designer island hoods and thus, the customer should try to understand a bit more about the dynamics of the market and the latest additions in the particular section before settling on a basic model. As most island range hoods are found to be bigger in design, ensure that the kitchen has enough space to accommodate one. Read more about island range hood reviews.
The range of kitchen hoods is extremely wide and vast. It consists of numerous models that come in endless sizes and shapes. There are models like wall-mounted range hoods, under-cabinet range hoods, and island range hoods available in the market. Each of them is extremely popular among the customer community and the sole difference between them is the position or place in which they are mounted in a kitchen. All of them have their fair share of pros and thus, no one can differentiate them as one is better than another. The lone deciding factor between these options is the design of the customer’s kitchen. It is the availability of space, design of the kitchen, needs of the user, etc. that decides between the different types of kitchen hoods. But despite the different options and the difference in performance, kitchen hoods have proven to be an inevitable tool in modern kitchens both for their efficiency and for their looks.
This post was last modified on June 29, 2022 3:31 pm