Range Hood vs Exhaust Fan

Ryan M. Grambart
Founder & CEO - CopperSmith
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Ryan M. Grambart

Cooking is expected to be done at a place of comfort, with proper ventilation. Then you ask yourself - how do I neutralize odors for my kitchen remodel? What you need is a well-ventilated system. This helps to keep away grease, smoke, and fumes in the ventilation when cooking on your cooktop either stove or gas cooktop.

In this article, we'll like to compare two ventilation systems, the exhaust hood, and the range hood

Do you need a range hood?

Yes, Range hoods help to improve the air quality of your kitchen during and after cooking. You require a range hood (gas range) in your kitchen, which can be either a ducted range hood or a ductless range hood

The air vent ingests the polluted air and mesh filters it or ejects it through an exterior wall. To collect emissions from every burner, the cowl must completely enclose the range top. I think you'll appreciate having adequate clearance for kitchen odors. Below is the list of reasons why you need a range hood

1. Clean ventilation improves better health

As you know, health is wealth. In your kitchen, a vented range hood enhances the air quality. Unwanted air extraction cleans and re-freshens the ventilation by removing impurities.

You can create a healthier environment in your home by regularly using your range hood to clean the unwanted air and ventilate your cooking surface.

Your cooking space will have less buildup, which will lessen the chance that remaining debris, cooking odor, dirty air, residue, grease, and filth can encourage the growth of bacteria or attract undesirable pests.

There are a lot of cooking fumes and steam produced when cooking. If you use high heat when cooking, this is especially true.

You may have trouble breathing if steam or smoke remains on soft surfaces. For those who have asthma and allergies, removing these pollutants is extremely crucial.

2. Your investment is secured

Apart from ventilation cleanliness, the ductless hood traps grease and other unused products of cooking. Grease can be so difficult to clean up manually, and prolonged remnants could damage the vent hoods.

Range hood also helps to reduce the time you spend cleaning. For personal preferences, you can choose any style of range hoods that's best for you.

Typically, a hood, either vented or unvented, is included with microwave ovens made to be positioned over the range.

3. It prevents annoying false alarms.

You might be cooking sometimes, and the excessive fumes trigger the smoke alarm. You rush down to check what's wrong just to find out its just smoke. That's not a better way to have a meal.

With the right range hood, you can extract any smoke that could cause disturbing issues later.

4. No more cooking odors

Who wants to smell like yesterday night's cheeseburger when they wake up the next morning? You'll discover that without a vent hood, every meal will smell far longer than you'd like.

These smells will remain and accumulate in your house. Using a range hood will stop such cooking odors from lingering.

Do you need an exhaust fan in your kitchen?

You start to remodel your kitchen and the question keeps coming up, do I need an exhaust fan in my kitchen? Yes, you do.

If there's no exhaust fan in your kitchen, the kitchen may be in a mess with smoke and food leftover smell. Your need for an exhaust fan also depends on your location. More importantly, your health. Some areas do not require an exhaust hood for residential use.

As you can see, there's not much difference between exhaust fans and range hoods, your choice depends on your kitchen space, cooking area, and cooktop area.

For a commercial kitchen, choose your options carefully to know which kind of hood to go for.

Different Types of Range hoods

There are different types of range hoods, which include:

  1. Wall-mounted Range hood
  2. Under cabinet range hood
  3. Island range hoods
  4. Outdoor range hoods
  5. Professional vent hood
  6. Range hood insert
  7. Custom Range hood

Ducted Range Hoods

They are the most typical varieties of exhaust fans. Since they must move the air outside the kitchen, certain kitchens may restrict their installation. You must install them exclusively in designated kitchen locations as a result.

To move the soiled air and bad odor from the kitchen to the outdoors, the range hood needs pipes that link to a duct.

The ductless fans are unable to adequately remove the moisture that builds up in the kitchen as a result of an increase in moisture and vapor during food preparation. If you have enough experience, you can perform the installation yourself or hire a professional.

One of the few disadvantages of a ducted hood is that it needs to be put where a duct system connects the inside of the kitchen to the exterior of the house or structure. To match up with the location of the existing exterior ducts, microwave range hoods feature the same duct cutouts..

How a ductless range hood works

By sucking oily kitchen air through mesh or charcoal filters, a ductless range hood operates. After going through these filters, the air travels on to carbon filters, which catch debris and mask intense cooking scents.

Downdraft hoods pull any rising smoke or steam downward and away from your cooking area,

Although island range hoods help the quality of your indoor air, they are less efficient than ducted range hoods.

Is a ductless range hood worth it?

Depending on the individual. In general, ductless range hoods are preferable to none at all.

Island hoods require extra cubic feet to compensate for cross drafts. You can install a ductless range hood within a bespoke range hood, above a kitchen island, or on your wall.

Because you won't have to pay a professional to install the ducting, they are also a cost-effective solution for your kitchen.

As opposed to ducted hoods, which circulate kitchen air outside via ductwork, ductless hoods are less effective.

Does my Range hood need to be vented inside or outside?

Kitchen hoods are increasingly being vented to the outside. Venting outdoors is a far more effective way to remove the rising smoke, steam, and other toxins from the air unlike the unvented range hood

To install ducted exhaust hoods, choose a space close to any pipes or ducts that lead outside.

Many homeowners with houses that lack defined venting places hire a pro to install ventilation.

Ductless hoods or recirculating hoods just circulate the air inside your kitchen, as opposed to ducted hoods, which vent air to the outside unlike unvented range hoods

Advantages of Ductless Range hood

Ductless range hoods have a few definite advantages, such as their low cost and simplicity of installation.

However, the majority of individuals choose to vent their kitchen hoods outside when it comes to the health, safety, and cleanliness of their homes.

Disadvantages of Ductless Range hoods

Recirculating hood has drawbacks as well. Recirculating hoods don't pull greasy cooking exhaust and vent it outside the house, which is never ideal; they just circulate air inside the house.

Recirculating hoods frequently require substantially more fan power, which can make them noisier than their ducted counterparts. It's also crucial to keep in mind that the homeowner will continue to pay for the filter, which must be cleaned or replaced regularly to maintain the hood operating properly.

Keeping a Ductless Range Hood Clean

Use acetone or glass cleaner to saturate a cloth.

Your vent hood's surface should be cleaned.

Apply a tiny amount of no grit cleaner if the stains persist. Use a cloth and soft scrub to clean the hood. As a last resort, use this.

your stainless steel filters out of the way

Remove the vent hood's blower by unscrewing it.

To remove charcoal filters, unscrew the side of the blower.

Change the charcoal filters.

Is it safe to use a ductless range hood?

Yes, In your kitchen, ductless range hoods are safe to use. However, a ductless hood won't have enough power to vent your hood to the outside if you frequently cook or enjoy fatty or Asian cuisine. Poor indoor air quality could result from this, which is harmful to your long-term health and particularly risky for people who already have respiratory or lung diseases.   

Choose The Best Range hoods with CopperSmith!

Are you looking for various types of kitchen ventilation system range hoods. Perfect for your home, Coppersmith is here to offer you a broad range of top-quality options that you can choose from.              

August 2, 2022