A range hood removes steam, cooking smoke, fumes, and other pollutants that pollute the air in your kitchen. Look for models with a high cubic feet-per-minute (CFM) rating and low sones (noise).
Choosing between a ducted or ductless vent hood depends on your kitchen layout and future goals. Ducted models recirculate clean air into the kitchen while ductless vents dirty air outside your home.
Improved Airflow
Your range hood keeps indoor air clean by removing smoke, odors, and cooking residue. It also prevents lingering grease that can clog your microwave and refrigerator fans.
Kitchen exhaust systems can have difficulty pushing dirty air outside in tightly sealed homes. A duct system that’s too small or too long or has many 90-degree bends and elbows can cause resistance that reduces the exhaust fan’s performance.
That’s why it’s important to have a kitchen exhaust system that is properly designed and installed. For example, you should get a hood with a high capture efficiency, which measures how well the hood pulls out the dirt and grease in your kitchen. Then, ensure the ducting is sized correctly and goes outside, not back into the house. Getting a qualified professional to install your kitchen hood and ductwork is important. That’s the best way to ensure your hood operates at peak performance.
Improved Cooking Experience
A range hood installation Washington, DC can help reduce cooking odors and pollutants that can make their way into other areas of the home. Look for one with a high capture efficiency rating, which will help keep most smoke and grease particles from entering your indoor air.
Look for a hood with a stainless steel push button and a control panel that can easily be removed and cleaned to remove greasy build-up. You can also choose between a ducted hood with a built-in blower or a ductless model that will recirculate the kitchen air.
The installation process for a hood vent can include:
- Gathering the required tools and materials.
- Choosing the location for the vent.
- Preparing the roof.
- Securing and connecting the ductwork.
- Testing for proper functioning.
Regularly clean and replace the filters on your vent hood to ensure optimal performance. This will improve your cooking experience and help reduce odors and smoke in other parts of the house.
Increased Home Value
A range hood is a modern appliance that can help increase your home’s value. It removes smoke and odors, neutralizes heavy grease, and improves your cooking experience. Many homeowners also find that a range hood adds a sleek finishing touch to their kitchen remodel.
Studies show that cooking pollutants like particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and nitrates can harm human health, especially when the pollutants are trapped in homes with poor ventilation. A properly installed range hood that vents outdoors is a great way to reduce these harmful gases in your home, allowing you and your family to breathe cleaner air.
In addition, a high-quality range hood is a smart home investment. It can be equipped with various smart features, including a pollutant-monitoring sensor that automatically detects and alerts you to the presence of cooking pollutants and turns the fan on accordingly. These smart range hoods also feature built-in lighting options that allow you to locate food and dishes easily.
Improved Health
Research shows that homes with poorly ventilated kitchens can have unhealthy air quality. The good news is that a range hood can help. Look for a model with a high cubic feet per minute (CFM) rating and low sones rating to keep cooking smells, contaminants, smoke, and other volatile organic compounds from filling your home with harmful fumes and odors.
Ventilated or ducted range hoods are funnel-shaped appliances installed above a stove or oven that use fans to capture and recirculate the air in the home while venting pollutants directly outside. They also work to reduce unwanted odors by using charcoal filters.
The effectiveness of a ducted hood depends on its size, shape, and duct layout. A vent hood with a large, circular fan is typically more efficient than one with a propeller-type fan or smaller duct. Ensuring the ductwork is well-installed and sealed for optimal performance is important.