7 Things To Consider When Buying A Range Hood

Are you thinking about buying a range hood for your kitchen? From range hood size, CFM, and ductwork to your cooking habits and personal preferences, there’s a lot to consider.

You’ll find all the answers you need right here. Here are seven of the most important things to consider when buying a range hood.

1. Know Your Kitchen

Where is your kitchen range?

The type of hood you need depends largely on where you installed your kitchen range.

You have several options when it comes to the type of range hood you need. Yes, it might seem pretty basic once we review it, but here we go.

If your range is against a wall, you’ll want a wall mount range hood. If it’s under cabinets, you’ll want an under cabinet range hood.

Ranges on a kitchen island are also popular. For these, you’ll want an island range hood.

If you have custom cabinetry or a custom hood over your range, you’ll want a range hood insert.

Lastly, if your kitchen range is outside, you’ll want an outdoor range hood.

What is the height of your ceiling?

Depending on the height of your ceiling, you may need a range hood that comes with chimney extensions. A chimney extension is an additional accessory for your range hood that covers your ductwork.

Most wall and island range hoods come with chimneys made for standard 8’ and 9’ ceilings. But, if you have a particularly tall ceiling, you will likely need a chimney extension.

Do you have room to mount the hood?

The best practice is to mount your indoor hood between 28 and 36 inches away from the cooktop. Make sure you have the room in your kitchen to fit this requirement.

For an outdoor kitchen, you need the room to mount your hood between 36 and 42” away from the surface of the cooktop. This ensures that your hood can vent the heavy grease and smoke coming from your grill effectively.

Is this hood for an indoor or outdoor kitchen?

Professional outdoor hoods are made of durable, weather-resistant, stain-resistant materials. These hoods can handle the elements and the intense heat of your stainless steel grill. So, if you’re remodeling or building an outdoor kitchen, it’s important to find a hood with the right materials.

Proline’s outdoor hoods are built with a durable 304 stainless steel . It’s heat resistant and weather-resistant, so it can last for years outdoors. Our indoor hoods feature 430 stainless steel, which is not suitable for outdoor kitchens.

2. Range Hood CFM

It’s important to get your range hood CFM right. We want you to be satisfied with your range hood. But, if you make a purchase and find out the hood doesn’t have enough power, you will be disappointed.

Generally, it doesn’t hurt to buy a range hood with a higher CFM than you think you’ll need – especially because you can’t increase your hood’s CFM after your purchase.

Here are a few things to consider to find the right CFM for you.

How large is your cooktop?

In general, the larger your cooktop, the more powerful it will be. The more powerful the range (measured in BTUs), the more CFM you need for your range hood.

Also, the larger your cooktop, the larger the hood you’ll need. We’ll discuss this more a little later.

3. Range Hood Size

For indoor kitchens, we recommend sizing your hood three inches larger than your range on each side. The added coverage helps gather all the smoke and fumes produced from your cooking effectively.

For outdoor kitchens, size your hood at least six inches larger than your range on each side. So, for example, if you have a 36” grill, your hood should be at least 48”.

4. Noise Level

The noise level of your hood, measured in sones, might be a determining factor for you. Do you prefer power over noise or vice versa? It is somewhat of a trade-off, but a quality range hood, even a powerful one, shouldn’t be unbearably loud.

Remember, quality matters. Low CFM doesn’t always mean low noise – you want a hood with an efficient motor too. For example, a 1000 CFM hood could have a quieter motor than a 600 CFM hood. It depends on the quality of the materials and manufacturing process used. Keep this in mind when shopping.

5. Exhaust Type – Vented & Non-Vented

There are two ways that you can set up the ventilation system on your range hood: a vented, or ducted system and a non-vented, or ductless system. The vented system uses ducting to channel the air away from the kitchen and out of the home.

With vented range hoods, you have a few venting options.

Venting Options

You can either vent your hood horizontally or vertically. Island hoods have to be vented vertically. But, wall and under cabinet hoods can be vented horizontally through a wall or vertically through the ceiling.

Unlike a vented system, non-vented systems use no ductwork. The hood sucks air through charcoal filters and then recirculates it back into your home. You can use a recirculating kit or charcoal filters for this type of hood, depending on the specific model.

Ductless or recirculating hoods aren’t as effective at removing fumes and smells from your home, but can be a great option if you live in an apartment where you can’t install ductwork.

6. Installation Time and Cost

Beyond the hood itself, you’ll want to learn how to install the hood or how much it will cost.

Most homeowners can DIY the installation. We have several instructional videos on our website that may be helpful for you.

This wraps up our guide on seven things to consider when selecting a range hood. Remember, here’s the list:

1. Your Kitchen Layout
2. Range Hood CFM
3. Range Hood Size
4. Noise Level
5. Exhaust Type – Vented or Non-Vented
6. Installation Time and Cost

Did this article help you find the right hood for you? Thanks for reading!