Buying a kitchen hood, or a range hood as they are also called, can sometimes seem a little intimidating. There are a lot of available options and features. There are different types, sizes, and prices to consider. The best place to begin making your decision is by deciding what will work best for your kitchen.
There are two main options in air filtration when buying a kitchen hood. In most, air is taken from the kitchen and taken outside through a vent system. A newer design available in home kitchens is a closed circulation system. The air is taken to the top of the unit where it is filtered and returned to the kitchen. Vented kitchen hoods have two options for venting. Some use the same air duct system that is already in place in the house. Others have their own ventilation system.
When buying a kitchen hood, there are a lot of options to consider. The first is the size of both your kitchen and your range. Hoods should be at least as big as your range, if not larger. At the same time, a large hood can take up a lot of room in a small kitchen. Also consider the type of range you have. Backdraft hoods are great if you have a stand-alone range, but you can’t use them with a full stove.
A kitchen hood should fit the style of cook who uses it. Someone who cooks two or three times a week only needs the bare minimum. A hood that has a couple different speeds and a light will be all he or she needs. On the other hand, if you love to cook, and do a lot of it, a high end model, with a lot of options, might be worth the cost. Extra features can include multiple fans that can run separately or all together, heat sensors, and a grease tray. Also, a hood for a stove that is used a lot should be made of a higher quality material.
The location of your stove or range is another thing to consider when buying a hood. If your range is located as part of a kitchen island, you’re only choice is to get a chimney range. These are self-contained, not needing to be attached to the wall. If your stove is under cabinets, an under cabinet range is your best bet. If your stove is against an outer wall, setting up a kitchen hood that leads straight out through the wall is an option. This can make setting up a larger hood easier.
There are many green, or energy efficient, kitchen hoods now available to consumers. These hoods use compact fluorescent bulbs instead of halogen for lighting purposes. Energy efficient models also have better airflow, making them work quicker and quieter than most other hoods. Energy Star rates kitchen hoods by calculating the amount of energy used to cycle through a cubic foot of air. Hoods that meet their standards are listed on the Energy Star website.
Kitchen hoods are essential if you have a kitchen that seems to retain smells easily. A kitchen hood will get rid of more than just cooking smells. They can filter out smells from the garbage can, moisture from washing dishes, and anything else in the air. There are a lot of options to consider when buying a hood. Think about what features you want, and the price you’re willing to pay, before leaving your home. Go to a store that has kitchen hoods on display to get the best idea of how the ones you like look when they are set up. A kitchen hood is meant to last for years, so it is important to find a hood that fits the style of your kitchen and your needs as a cook.
