Are you planning your kitchen remodel and finding yourself stuck on selecting the right range hood? With hundreds and hundreds of options available, range hood selection can be quite difficult and confusing!
But it doesn’t have to be!
So grab your wish list and objectives, and let’s go through a quick checklist to find that perfect range hood for your next kitchen remodel!
Range Hood Objectives
Before you go shopping for a new range hood though, you will need to think about its intended use, purpose, and your expected outcomes (expectation management).
What do you need it to do? Fit, Form, and Function???
Fit
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- Physical Size constraints
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- Shape constraints
- Dimensional constraints (length, width, height, depth)
Form
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- Style (see Range Hood selection below).
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- Materials – copper, stainless steel, wood, hidden (insert), trim, accents, etc)
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- Filter type – metal mesh or metal baffle
- Ease of maintenance and cleaning
Function
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- Performance requirements – Pairing with stove and room size will define this requirement. That’s why its important to plan and know the additional equipment and appliances to be integrated.
- What size range hood do you need – or rather, CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) of air moved? Refer back to the Range Hood Tutorial/Buyers Guide from the Range Hood Store.
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- Single motor (100-900 CFM)
- Dual motor (1000+ CFM)
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Wish List
What would your “perfect” range hood do (in terms of features)? Here are some good examples to ask yourself:
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- Provide heat removal when cooking?
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- Condensation removal when cooking?
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- Food odor removal when cooking? No one likes a smelly house!
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- Easy to clean?
- Dishwasher friendly (grease filters)?
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- Noisy or ultra quiet? Are you tired of yelling over your current hood?
- Any deal breakers? Size, shape, location, color, materials, etc.
Range Hood Selection
Bases on your requirements and wish list, select a range hood! Here are the most common types:
Under Cabinet Recirculating Range Hood – includes mircowaves (non-vented)
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- Non-vented
- For exterior or interior wall locations
- Loud motor in the kitchen hood assembly
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- Did I mention they are loud!
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- It only filters the air
- Doesn’t remove heat or humidity
- I don’t recommend this option, but if you must have a microwave over the range, then this is your only option.
Under Cabinet Range Hood – includes microwaves (vented)
- Vented to outside
- Good for exterior or interior wall locations
- Exterior wall: Loud motor in the kitchen hood assembly. Duct runs out of the rear, and exits through the wall.
- Interior wall: Loud motor in the kitchen hood assembly. Duct runs out of the top, and through upper cabinets to exterior wall exit – NOT RECOMMENDED, AS IT WASTES CABINET SPACE
- Interior wall: Quiet operation with remote blower if attic/basement space is available
- Convertible Microwave Option: SEE VIDEO
Freestanding Range Hood (vented) –loud motor in the kitchen assembly
- Includes “Island” range hoods
- Vented to outside
- Good for exterior or interior wall locations
- Exterior wall: Loud motor in the kitchen hood assembly. Duct runs out of the rear, and exits through the wall
- Interior wall: Loud motor in the kitchen hood assembly. Duct runs out of the top, and through upper cabinets to exterior wall exit – NOT RECOMMENDED, AS IT WASTES CABINET SPACE
- Interior wall: Quiet operation with remote blower if attic/basement space is available
- Island*: Duct runs out of the top, and through the ceiling cavity to exterior wall exit. In some instances, it could be used with a remote blower in an attic ( * downdraft at the countertop level, may be another option)
Range Hood Insert (vented)
- Vented to outside
- Good for exterior or interior wall locations
- “Inserts” into custom kitchen cabinet assembly, with a front service panel
- Exterior wall: Loud motor in the kitchen hood assembly. Duct runs out of the rear, and exits through the wall
- Interior wall: Loud motor in the kitchen hood assembly. Duct runs out of the top, and through upper cabinets to exterior wall exit – NOT RECOMMENDED, AS IT WASTES CABINET SPACE
- Interior wall: Quiet operation with remote blower if attic/basement space is available
Remote Blower
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- Super-quiet operation vs a standard range hood with motor in the hood assembly (kitchen)
- Non-exterior wall application – pipe/duct can run in a dedicated wall cavity, out the back or top of the range hood box, and to the remote blower where it exists the house (basement or attic)
- Refer back to the Remote Blower Range Hood Installation blog for more info
- See this range hood insert (above) fully integrated and installed during the Farmhouse Kitchen remodel
Range Hood Maintenance
Follow these simple tips to keep your new range hood operating like new and prevent it from becoming “gunked” up with grease.
Cleaning
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- Clean per manufacturer’s instructions
- Exterior – wipe down outside of cabinet as needed
- Interior – wipe down inside of cabinet as needed
- Bottom tray/channel – clean regularly with the filter inserts
- Mesh filters / Metal baffles (shown) – wash as needed (many are dishwasher friendly). The baffles are more durable, don’t wear out, and are easier to clean, as they are “commercial” style – just smaller!
- Remote blower – check drip tray annually. Clean as needed.
Conclusion
Range hood selection can be difficult with the many options to choose from! But, with a little information from My Old House”Fix”, you’ll be on the right track in no time! All you need to start is a wish list, a plan, and the tasks you need your new range hood to accomplish.
Good Luck!
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