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How to install a range hood?

Do I need a range hood?

  • Doing a major kitchen reno on a new old house, and the layout has no good spot to install a range hood. I've owned houses with a range hood and houses without one, and the only difference I've noticed is that the ones without one need a bit more frequent cleaning, although not really much. Actually very little. Maybe the kind of cooking I usually do doesn't require one? Do you have a range hood? Do you not? Is it merely a bright shiny status symbol? Do you think it's important to have one? Why?

  • Answer:

    My kitchen doesn't have a range hood, and I've promised myself that, if there is ever money for a remodel, there will be a range hood. Cooking simply throws so much...stuff...into the air and onto the ceiling, into cabinets, and every other surface. From bacon grease, smoke, even water vapor from boiling pasta water. A range hood that vents to the exterior (not one of those worthless deadended washable filter types) is a must, if you can do it. As for downdraft units...I've had one of those before, too. They work. Mostly. And, if that's the best solution for your situation, they're definitely better than nothing. But they really can't compete with a hood unit.

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Depends on the type of cooking you do and how much, and how much natural ventilation is already there. In my mind a hood is not really a status symbol so much as the range itself. I see hoods are more of a functional requirement than anything. It's important to have hoods for drawing away odors and grease particles so it doesn't build up on everything in your home, as well as preventing smoke detectors from activating if you are cooking anything that may trigger them.

cristinacristinacristina

What about a downdraft cooktop? I have one of those and it works OK. It's still vented to the outside.

Ostara

Yes. A Range Hood is super necessary. Please don't skip this important appliance in your kitchen.

jbenben

https://ask.metafilter.com/home-garden Maybe the kind of cooking I usually do doesn't require one Try scrubbing your ceiling with a Wet Swiffer and see if it leaves a clean streak.

The corpse in the library

For me, seeing what's inside the rangehood every time I clean it out is a reminder of why rangehood are so good. Our last apartment didn't have one - the ceilings around the kitchen and tops of cupboards were disgusting.

smoke

Don't forget the value of the hood light! It helps illuminate food while cooking and also can serve as a handy night light.

suprenant

I was recently told by a professional that you should use it if you have a gas stove, because the CO levels do rise appreciably even if the detector doesn't go off. So we've just started using ours regularly after a previous usage of 1-2 times per year.

tchemgrrl

I have one and run the fan on it pretty much every time I cook. It has filters and whenever I take them out to clean them they've got a ton of crud on them, which otherwise would have landed on the cabinets, ceiling, etc. I don't deep fry or anything -- this is just from normal cooking. I also use it when I'm making pasta, as I picked up the idea somewhere that you don't want to have that much steam in your house if you can avoid it. The previous owners of my house never cleaned, and the exhaust fan was so gunked up it didn't work and we had to replace it. There was so much grease on the cabinets that it took us over a year to get it off. My mom's kitchen has one of those downdraft ones. It works better than not having anything, but she isn't really pleased with it.

The corpse in the library

Is the range gas or electric? In my city, gas ranges are required by code to be ventilated outside, while electric are not. Check your local codes.

rhapsodie

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