When it comes to purchasing range hood appliances, it's essential to stay updated with the latest features and options, especially if it's been a while since your last purchase. To assist you in selecting the perfect range hood for your home, we have curated a comprehensive buying guide.
- Introduction
Depending on the dishes prepared, cooking can generate various odors, smoke, and fumes. These unwanted elements can linger in the air, discolor your cabinetry, and adversely affect your health. Choosing the right cooker hood involves considering different styles and assessing your kitchen's layout and ventilation options.
- Sizing
Kitchen Layout
When planning your kitchen design, it's important to consider your cooking preferences, as they should determine the placement of your appliances.
Cabinetry Considerations
Decide whether you prefer a traditional stove and oven stacked design or a more modern layout with a separate oven tower. We recommend positioning the cooker hood close to the stove but with enough distance to allow two cooks to work simultaneously—one attending to the oven and the other to the stove.
Work Triangle or Work Zones
The choice between a work triangle or work zones depends on the size of your kitchen. In a work triangle layout, the refrigerator, cooking appliances, and sink/dishwasher form a triangle, allowing the cook to move efficiently within the space. Alternatively, if you have a larger kitchen, dividing it into five zones—consumables, non-consumables, cleaning, preparation, and cooking—enables smooth coordination between different kitchen tasks.
Island Bench Functionality
Kitchen islands commonly feature sinks, with a dishwasher located nearby. Over time, the island bench has become the kitchen's focal point, serving as a workspace and a place for conversations with guests.
Space Constraints
Before considering specific models, measure the available space above your stove to ensure compatibility. This will help narrow down your selection criteria.
Matching Your Stove
Ideally, choose a cooker hood the same width as your stove or slightly larger. It should effectively extract smoke and fumes while you cook. A hood that is too small may struggle to keep up, leading to lingering odors, fumes or even triggering your smoke alarm.
- Design
Color
If you prefer a cooker hood that stands out rather than blending in, consider the finish that complements your other appliance choices and the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. You can choose from traditional white or a modern touch with natural or dark stainless steel.
Ducted or Recirculating
When selecting a range hood, you have two options: ducted or recirculating. A ducted cooker hood removes air from your kitchen and sends it outside through a ventilation system.
If external venting is not possible, a recirculating cooker hood is a suitable alternative. It purifies the air through filters before releasing it back into the kitchen. However, keep in mind that recirculating hoods are generally less powerful than ducted ones, and you'll need to replace the filters regularly.
Power or Extraction Rate
A cooker hood's power or extraction rate is measured in m3/hour. Higher extraction rates indicate the removal of a greater amount of air from your kitchen. Consider your cooking habits; for instance, if you frequently use a wok, opt for a high extraction rate of over 600m3/hour.
Filters
Every cooker hood is equipped with filters, but the type of filters can vary between different models. Ducted cooker hoods typically feature aluminum filters that require regular manual cleaning or can be cleaned in a dishwasher. Proper maintenance ensures optimal performance of your cooker hood.
Recirculating cooker hoods utilize carbon filters to eliminate impurities from the air. When these filters have reached their lifespan, they should be replaced with new carbon filters to maintain efficient air purification.