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Range hoods add elegance and charm to kitchens around the world but they are also very important in regards to your air quality. Hoods of all styles are designed to remove odors, irritants and grease that are expelled into the air.
Is it necessary to have a range hood?
Yes. A range hood keeps cooking exhaust, chemicals, and smoke out of your kitchen. It improves your indoor air quality and streamlines your cooking experience.
Is it bad to not have a range hood?
Most residential building codes do not require a range hood above a stove or cook top, but you’d be wise to ensure your locale is not the exception. Even if it’s not legally required, you should think long and hard before forgoing a hood altogether.
What happens if you don’t have a range hood?
Having ventilation in your kitchen is essential even if you’re not cooking frequently. If you don’t have a range hood, you could be dealing with pollutants, splatters and smells that stick around.
What can I use if I don’t have a range hood?
10 Things to Do If You Don’t Have a Range Hood or Vent Use a window fan. Use a portable HEPA air filter. Use a fan in another room, like the bathroom. Get a grease splatter guard. Wipe down your kitchen cabinets frequently. If you paint your kitchen, use a satin or semi-gloss finish, or choose scrubbable paint.
Are ductless range hoods worth it?
In general, a ductless range hood is better than no range hood. Ductless range hoods can be installed on your wall, over a kitchen island, or inside a custom range hood. They are also a cost-effective option for your kitchen, since you don’t have to pay a contractor to install ductwork.
Can you use a stove without a hood?
Kitchen range hoods are designed to collect cooking odors, moisture, and airborne grease. There are residential building codes that do not require a range hood above a cooking stove. However, you should think about the functionality of your kitchen before you forgo a range hood.
Is a kitchen exhaust fan required by code?
California requires kitchen ventilation in all new construction and remodels, and even if your local authorities don’t require it, you should address it anyway. You can satisfy most local codes by installing a range hood.
Do I need a hood over my electric stove?
An electric or induction stove will not need a range hood or vent that is as powerful as one for a gas stove, but you’ll still need one to keep control of the grease and moisture in your kitchen.
Why do some kitchens not have a range hood?
Some kitchens have been designed and constructed on the cheap and may not have a range hood. This is more common in rentals and some older homes. It can be the scourge of the home with no way to exhaust airborne grease, smoke, cooking smells, and steam out of the kitchen.
Can I use an exhaust fan instead of a range hood?
Many people have up to 1000 CFM for smaller ranges and cooktops. A hood will help collect the cooking fumes while the aperture of an exhaust fan is not as large. Real kitchen hoods have grease collection mechanisms and are designed to be easy to clean. An exhaust fan will not.
Do ductless range hoods plug in?
Ductless range hood models do not vent to the outside of your home; the fan circulates air through a charcoal filter. Most basic range hoods are directly wired into the home’s electrical system, whether they are ductless or ducted.
How does ductless range hoods work?
How does a ductless range hood work? A ductless range hood works by sucking greasy kitchen air through mesh or baffle filters. Once the air passes through these filters, it moves through carbon filters that trap dirt and neutralize strong cooking odors.
Do ductless range hoods meet code?
The code further states: “Range hoods shall discharge to the outdoors through a duct. Ducts serving range hoods shall not terminate in an attic or crawl space or areas inside the building.” One exception to this rule is ductless range hoods.
Can you use a ductless range hood with a gas stove?
A non ducted or ductless range hood is not the best option for gas stoves because they work by filtering the air inside the hood and returning it into the kitchen. Even if you have a hood with a high CFM rating, charcoal filters will not capture all the gas produced by the stove.
Should Hood be wider than range?
A hood should be at least as wide as your cooking surface, but an extra 3 inches on each side can improve efficiency. A wall- or island-mount should be about 30 inches above the cooktop, while undercabinet-mounts, typically less powerful and with smaller ducts, should sit 24 inches above the range.
Is it OK to vent range hood into attic?
It is definitely not a good idea to vent a range hood into the attic. Ideally, the range hood should be vented to the outside, usually through the roof. This requires installing some ductwork, but is worth the extra work and expense.
How far should a vent hood be over the stove?
This type of range hood should be installed at the height of 30” to 36” above the cooktop. A different kind of range hood for professional gas cooking ranges is the vent hood insert/liner.
What type of duct is best for venting a range hood?
Rigid duct is the best type of duct to vent your range hood. It requires a one-time installation and little to no maintenance as long as you clean your range hood filters. Most rigid ductwork is made from durable stainless steel, as opposed to rigid ductwork which is aluminum or flimsy plastic.
What is the difference between duct and ductless range hoods?
A ducted model releases moisture and other airborne particles outside the kitchen. This means that your kitchen will remain cooler and drier. A ductless range hood may filter the dirty air from your cooktop but your kitchen will retain the heat and moisture when the air is recirculated back to the room.
