A range hood is an essential tool to help you remove smoke, heat, and odors from your kitchen and make it a safer and more pleasant space. It comes in many different styles and models to suit your cooking habits and budget.

The type of ventilation your hood has determines how well it captures steam, fumes, and smoke. The two main types are ducted and recirculating. Ducted hoods use ducts to vent to the outside of your home, while recirculating hoods recirculate air through filters and back into your room.

Ventilation

A range hood is an essential part of any kitchen. It removes cooking odors, steam, excess heat and moisture from the air as it passes through the kitchen. This helps keep your kitchen fresh, preventing the accumulation of cooking smells, chemicals and dirt that could end up on your clothes, drapes or cabinets.

Ventilation hoods come in various styles and designs. They can be a wall-mounted hood that attaches to the kitchen wall directly above the cooktop, or a ceiling-mounted model that is suspended from the ceiling above the cooking surface.

Besides the functional benefits of proper ventilation, range hoods can also add a designer aesthetic to your home. They can be made from different materials, including stainless steel, copper or glass.

They may have built-in temperature sensors that turn on the fan if the temperature below it is too high. These can help to keep the microwave from overheating and damaging its electronics.

Some ventilation hoods are equipped with a remote control that allows you to activate and deactivate the fan remotely. This feature is convenient for homeowners who are unable to walk over to the appliance to turn it on and off.

The most common type of range hood is the ducted variety. This type is designed to vent air through ductwork in the ceiling or floor and into the outdoors.

Ducted range hoods are the most effective choice because they filter all of the grease, dirt and chemicals that enter your home from the kitchen. However, if you aren’t able to install ductwork in your kitchen or don’t want it to look like your neighbors’ homes, you can choose a recirculating ventilation hood that filters air as it comes through the hood and then pushes it back into the room.

Recirculating range hoods use charcoal, fiber or ribbed plastic filters to trap and scrub the air of any contaminates. These filters typically need to be cleaned or replaced about every few months.

It’s important to pick a hood that is rated for the amount of ventilation you need. The Home Ventilating Institute recommends a ventilation rate of 100 CFM for every linear foot of cooking surface.

Noise

A range hood’s noise level is important to consider because it can affect the comfort of the user. For example, it can be distracting or even cause stress.

The best range hoods are designed to minimize noise. They are also easy to clean and maintain, so you can be sure that they will continue to function well for years.

In addition to a quiet design, a range hood should be made of high-quality materials that will not break down over time. For example, stainless steel is a durable material that will not only look great, but also be easy to keep clean and shiny.

Another factor that can impact the noise of a range hood is the size of the motor. This will determine how much suction power it can provide. Larger motors can produce more noise.

This can be especially true for vent hoods with an external motor system, which is mounted on the roof or exterior wall to minimize the noise produced.

It’s also a good idea to choose a range hood with a multi-speed setting so you can control the noise levels. This will ensure that you can easily adjust the fan to meet your needs, without having to turn it up too loudly.

A noisy range hood can be a sign of a number of different problems, including damage, grease buildup, and improper installation. These can be difficult to diagnose, but they are all simple enough to fix.

If your range hood is making a lot of noise, it’s important to have an expert take a look at it to find out what’s wrong. This can help to determine the root cause of the problem and whether it requires service or reinstallation.

Using the right type of ducting can also make a difference in the amount of noise a range hood makes. For example, flexible ducting is less noisy than rigid ducting, and larger ducts are typically less noisy than smaller ones.

Finally, a range hood with a baffle filter should be chosen over a mesh filter because baffle filters have wider slit-like openings that allow air to flow through easier. This will reduce the resonating sound that can make a range hood sound like it’s roaring.

Looks

A range hood can be a focal point in a kitchen, so it’s important to choose one that’s a great fit for the rest of your design. There are plenty of styles to consider, so it’s a good idea to start with images that inspire you on Houzz or at appliance stores.

For example, a decorative wooden hood can add character to your kitchen and a lot of style to the space. If you’re looking for something that will be a little more unique, try a textured or stained wood. Here, Stacy from Stacy’s Savings uses a stained shiplap hood that complements her white shaker cabinets and gives the whole space a warm and inviting feel.

Another option is to go for a custom range hood that’s built into the cabinetry. This is what Jamie and Jeff from Dear Home Blog did by inserting a custom range hood insert into the bottom of their over-the-range cabinetry.

This hood’s chimney-style and sleek silver detailing add a sophisticated touch to the kitchen. It also ties into the crown molding around the window to make the design feel cohesive and well-planned.

In addition to its decorative features, a range hood can also help to unify your kitchen by providing a uniform look throughout the entire room. This is especially useful if you’re building a new home and want to match your kitchen to the exterior, as in this Edmonton, Canada, kitchen from Habitat Studio.

Using a brick finish or tile can also add texture and interest to your kitchen. These options are perfect for rustic and industrial kitchens, as well as more contemporary ones.

If you’re not sure how to go about creating a unique range hood, consider asking a designer to help. A good designer will be able to give you advice about the best materials for your range hood and how it can be designed to blend with the rest of your kitchen.

For example, the textured custom wood hood in this two-toned kitchen from Exquisitely Unremarkable is the perfect way to break up the monotony of traditional cream cabinetry. Its sculptural design also allows for negative space in the kitchen, which can be a key component to an open-air design.

Maintenance

Taking care of your range hood will help it last for a long time. It can even save you money, as it will prevent expensive repairs later on.

One of the most important features of a range hood is its ability to remove odors and smoke. These pollutants are harmful to your health, and they can also cause a fire if not removed promptly.

Most range hoods have a metal filter that filters smoke, grease, and food particles before they enter the ductwork. The filter needs to be cleaned every so often.

To clean a filter, remove it from the range hood by pulling out the loop that attaches to the appliance. Rinse it with clean water and a non-abrasive sponge.

Once the filter is clean, you can clip it back onto the hood. However, this may require some practice and careful handling.

Before you start, make sure to wear protective gloves. The filters will be slippery, and you don’t want to get any dirt or grease on your hands while scrubbing them.

If your range hood has a fan, you will need to clean the blades as well. If they’re greasy or dirty, they’ll affect your range hood’s performance and can cause the motor to burn out.

In addition to the fan blades, you should also check the motor bearings to make sure they’re properly lubricated. If they’re not, they’ll be prone to rubbing and causing your fan to work harder than it should.

You can lubricate your fan with either a spray or paste. A paste can be easier to apply, but you should check the manufacturer’s instructions.

It is best to use a cleaner specifically designed for the job. This will give the hood a shiny new look and ensure that it is working efficiently.

The frequency of cleaning your hood depends on the type of cooking it is used for. If it’s a high-volume commercial kitchen, it will need to be cleaned monthly or quarterly. On the other hand, if you have a moderately used hood, cleaning it once a year is enough.