If you want a subject on which you will find far-ranging opinions this is the one for you. Because of the varying types of cooking equipment available, and their possible locations in your kitchen, it comes as no surprise that the solutions for venting your cook top are also quite varied, from configuration to price-point.
Gone (almost) are the days that fumes from the stove were pulled through a charcoal filter (that was never changed) through the bottom of your microwave! Higher BTU gas and electric cook tops, replete with woks and deep-fryer options require a serious approach to keeping air in the home free from toxins and airborne grease. Product price ranges from $300 to, well infinity, meaning that you need to a take a good look at the options available before you jump. Here is a quick look at some of the product out there.
The simplest and most cost efficient units are still those that attach to an exterior wall. They are not the works of art that some chimney-style vents are, but if you want to put your money elsewhere in the home these do the job.
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These Kenmore units are about pure functionality and cost about $300
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The next step up provides you with a more attractive look, halogen lights, multi-speed fans and dishwasher-safe filters – of course you are now moving into the $1000 range.
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Most popular today in kitchens, where a good portion of the home's budget is devoted, is the chimney-style venting system, which adds a professional touch to a modern kitchen. The cheaper units tend to be noisy, and if you entertain extensively in the kitchen itself, are best left alone. The quietest solution is to install the hood on the exterior wall and install the motor outside the room. If you have an island cook-top look carefully at the noise factor before making your final selection.
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Entry level hoods like this one have minimal bells and whistles
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This Miele chimney (two photos pictured above) has many features, including an LED trim light package that can be customized to the color scheme of your kitchen!
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As in most things these days, if “off-the-shelf” is not to your taste, and you are looking for something you will not see in the home next door, the sky is the limit for custom options.
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Hand hammered copper hoods can be crafted in many styles and pricing can run into the many thousands of dollars.
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Custom work can be ordered in any finish material.
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| For the serious chef, operating a high-BTU wok or six burners at once, a restaurant-style hood may be the best solution. |
If an overhead chimney-style system is not an option or preference a downdraft ventilation system, which is designed to draw gas fumes downward, is the likely solution. Downdraft vents are used most often when overhead hoods or venting is not a practical solution. If you have a kitchen island with a cook top, you are probably going to have to get a downdraft system unless you already have a hood system in place. The two types of ventilation are flush-mount and telescoping. The
flush-mount downdraft vents are often built into the range or cook top.
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| The vent, between the burners, pulls fumes through the center of the cook top and out of the kitchen via an exterior duct. |
They carry vapors and fumes downward, out through the base of the cabinet and out the ducting. Experts say that the flush mount vents are less efficient than the telescoping or overhead models. You would really rather not have the heat "pulled away" from the cook top, but whatever works.
Telescoping downdraft ventilation systems are what you see in many homes, especially those with 6 gas burner cook tops located in the middle of the kitchen.
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| This entry-level Whirlpool Gold system has received consistently good reviews. |
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| This Miele unit is smooth, quiet and oh yes, twice the price of the Whirlpool. |
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| If you must have downdraft and you want a great look too there are plenty of options! |
These units extend into the air (only when needed) and then disappear behind the cook top when not in use. These are very efficient when compared to the flush mount style and great for larger pots that sit higher up on the cook top. The one drawback to the telescoping vents is that they take up space in your cabinet below the cook top and some people say they are noisy. In terms of price, the telescoping downdrafts run between $500 and $2000. Overhead hoods will probably cost you more, plus you may need to reconfigure your ceiling or ducting to get them in place properly.
What are the top brands? Frigidaire, Electrolux, Kenmore, Broan, Maytag, Bosch, GE, Whirlpool, DCS, and Thermador.
