A range hood in your Tucson kitchen helps contain rising gasses, grease and air while you are cooking, as well as provide ventilation and eliminate odor buildup. But the right range in your kitchen can also make a much bigger statement that just that!
Let’s start by looking at a few of the functional components of choosing a range hood. Determining what type of hood is best for your kitchen will be based on your cooking needs, the available space you have for the range hood and, of course, your preference in style.
How big—or small—should your range hood be?
Typically, hoods are 30”, 36” or 42” wide. You want to choose a hood that is at least as wide as your range in order for it to be the most effective. Now, bigger is not necessarily better in the case so you don’t want to select a range hood that it too large or overpowering for your kitchen.
What type of filter should you consider?
Filters are an essential component to any range hood. They help trap much of the grease and smoke from the range exhaust and keep them from clogging up the ventilation ducts. To maintain efficient and effective function, filters need to be washed or replaced regularly. In addition, there are various types of filters that can be used with range hoods. Choosing the right one will depend on how you use your stove.
Aluminum mesh - Aluminum mesh is one of the most popular types of filters and can be used for most regular cooking. It effectively traps grease and oil, and can be easily layered on top of each other for added efficiency.
Stainless steel mesh – If you are into heavy cooking—using all of your burners, deep-frying, or regularly using a wok for example—then stainless steel mesh may be a better way to go. This high quality metal provides excellent resistance against alkali, corrosion, acid and heat.
Charcoal filters – These filters are used for recirculating systems. They bond with the contaminants and remove them from circulation. Charcoal filters are considered one of the best filters available for minimizing cooking odor and keeping the kitchen clean and tidy by capturing grease.
Baffle filters – Baffle filters are made of stainless steel, set on an angle to the incoming air, to collect grease and particles. They are very effective and can be easily removed and placed in the dishwasher for super easy cleaning. The downside is that not every range hood is made to accept baffle style filters.
Oil cups – Some hoods are fitted with cups to gather the oil and grease, and help the filters to purify the air. These filters are particularly good for those who like cooking food with a lot of oil. The excess oil from the air is collected into a cup, making it easy to clean whenever required.
What types of ventilation are available?
There are two major designs of range hoods: vented and recirculating. In a vented hood, the hood’s blower motor is attached to a duct system, which ends outside the building. In a recirculating hood, a charcoal filter removes odor and smoke particles from the air before releasing the cleaned air back into the kitchen.
Each type has its advantages and disadvantages as with most items. A vented hood lets all forms of airborne contamination be removed, where as a recirculating hood pumps heat and moister back into the kitchen after passing through the charcoal filter. Some range hood designs allow for both types of applications.
While we always want the design of an item to come after the function of it, we think a great looking range hood can be a unique center point to your kitchen remodel. Take a look at the most common types of range hoods and the impact that they can have on your kitchen.
Under Cabinet Range Hoods – These hoods are the most common hood type and are ideal for standard ranges situated under the kitchen cabinets. They save space and are often installed with a light to illuminate what you have cooking over the stove.
Wall Mount Range Hoods – Wall mount range hoods are installed directly over the range, where they collect air and exhaust it through the hood’s blowers. Since they are standalone pieces, they’re often available in a wider range of styles and finishes.
Island Range Hoods – Island range hoods are similar to wall mount range hoods but are only necessary if your cook top is free standing. Because they are installed on the ceiling, ducting and a chimney are important for the installation of an island hood.
Downdraft – These space saving hoods sit at the back of the stovetop and pull air down into ducts and vent it outside the home. They are mostly used in kitchen island or peninsula situations—or perhaps if your range is placed in front of a window.
As you can see, there are a lot of components that go into choosing the right range hood to fit your needs as well as the style of your kitchen. Canyon Cabinetry & Design can help you every step of the way to make sure you have the function and look that is perfect for you. Come in to see us or give us a call and we’ll get started right away!
