Types of Range Hoods

Range hoods have become an important part of a kitchen. This is not only because of the main function that they serve in venting or filtering the air from the cooking that we do. Kitchen range hoods are also a fashion statement in your kitchen in and of themselves. Additionally, they add other features such as specialized lighting. There are several different types of range hoods available for different types of ranges that people have. They range from vented hoods to ductless range hoods. There are exhaust hoods for standard type ranges and there are also island range hoods for ranges that are installed on an island situated in the middle of the kitchen. It is important to evaluate your kitchen, your needs, your desires and your budget before embarking on a mission to buy a range hood. To this end, you need to know about the different options available and the benefits and drawbacks of each type.

If you already have a range in the island that exists in the center of your kitchen or you are considering remodeling and would love your range to be located in this very convenient spot in the center of your kitchen, you need to investigate the different options of island range hoods available. Although it makes for an extremely efficient kitchen when the range is located in the center of your utensils, supplies and food making cooking easier, an island isn't really the optimal place for a range hood. The reason that this is the case is that it is really best to vent a range hood and you can not do that when your range is in the middle of the room far away from an exterior wall.

There is no reason to give up your dreams of an island range though because other options exist that can solve this problem. A ductless range hood does not need to be vented and this is the reason that it is the next best thing next to a vented hood and particularly suitable type of island mount range hood. Ductless hoods work on the concept of filtering the air and then pumping it back into the room that it came from - namely the kitchen. Many ductless range hoods require that you change the filter regularly. Neglecting this will result in your range hood overworking and breaking down or simply not working the way that it should. It is recommended to clean or replace the filter every 3-4 months for best results. There are also ductless range hoods available for all types of ranges whether they be on an island, on the wall or underneath a cabinet.

Standard Range Hoods

If you don't have a island range and own a standard type of range that is situated against a wall then you may want to consider a vented range hood. Experts claim that venting your range hood is definetly the first choice if all things are equal. This is because there are no filters to change or to get clogged up with grease. The ductless hood filters can be hard to clean and are therefore sometimes neglected. This means the cooking odors will be channeled back into the kitchen. Even if the filters are cleaned and maintained, ductless hoods keep hot air circulating in the kitchen instead of venting it outsides. This creates both heat and moisture in the kitchen.

The major drawback to vented hoods however is the fact that the range has to be close to an exterior wall and the hassle and cost of venting your hood and be prohibitive for some people.

The most important thing to do is to make a list of pros and cons and decide what features or issues are the most and least important to you. By comparing the pro and cons of the different types of range hoods available, you'll be able to find the most suitable option for your needs.