When it comes to kitchen essentials, the necessity of range hoods often get neglected. But in reality, the range hoods are indispensable for kitchens if you want to have a clean, healthy, and welcoming environment for your cooking. Under cabinet kitchen hoods are installed under the kitchen cabinets above the cooktop. To bring you an amazing cooking experience, the range hood not only filters out the smoke and grease from air but also provides you with a fresh look at your kitchen.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide you with everything you need to know about under cabinet range hoods including their functions, benefits, and how to choose the right one for your house. No matter, whether you’re renovating your kitchen, building a new one, or simply looking to upgrade your existing ventilation system, this step-by-step guide will take you through everything you need to do.
What Is an Under Cabinet Range Hood?
A range hood refers to a type of ventilation device that is positioned underneath your kitchen cabinets and directly above your stove or cooktop. Its primary purpose is to remove smoke, steam, airborne grease, and odors generated by cooking. It is quite popular in kitchens because the kind of design it offers helps to save space while blending perfectly with your kitchen layout.
Why You Need an Under Cabinet Range Hood?
Reading up to this point, You might be wondering, “Do I need a range hood?” Well, yes, and here are the reasons why:
- Healthier Home: Range hoods minimize the critical threat of contaminating the air with harmful particles and gases, like carbon monoxide, which are released in the process of cooking. This would, in effect, serve to lower exposure to and thereby ameliorate lungs and respiratory tract problems and any other health problems.
- Improved Air Quality: This must be one of the most imperative reasons for owning a range hood. Cooking, especially at high temperatures, releases smoke, grease, steam, and volatile substances into the air. These very pollutants can adversely affect you by making your kitchen feel stuffy and unpleasant. A range hood efficiently extracts these contaminants and creates a healthier and more pleasant environment to work in.
- Cleaner Kitchen: Cooking often results in greasy conditions where grease quickly builds up on cabinets, counters, and appliances. A range hood minimizes the likelihood of grease settling on these surfaces thereby making clean-up so much easier and keeping your kitchen in a good appearance.
- Easier Cooking: A range hood helps remove excess heat and humidity while cooking, making it that much more pleasant to do so, especially during the sticky summer months. You will be able to prepare meals without feeling offensive heat or discomfort.
- Stylish Charm: The range hood comes in many styles and finishes, which can easily match any kitchen. Range hoods do come in a variety of finishes, from polished stainless steel to glitzy black stainless steel, all of which could enhance your kitchen’s decor.
- Increased Real Estate Value: A fitted kitchen that is adequately ventilated is one of the appealing selling points of a home that potential buyers take notice of. A range hood becomes another jewel in the crown of the home that will bulk up the asking price.
Types of Under Cabinet Range Hoods
Under Cabinet range hoods could broadly be classified into two distinct types:
- Ducted Range Hoods: These hoods vent their exhausted air from inside the home through the ducting. They are highly efficient in removing smoke, odors, and heat, thus making them more appropriate to serious cooks or people who frequently prepare food using strong-smelling ingredients. However, ducted range hoods can become an elaborate and expensive affair because they need proper installation of the ductwork.
- Ductless kitchen hood: Also called recirculating range hoods, these hoods do not vent the air outside. Instead, they remove air of grease and odors via filtration and reintroduce it into the kitchen. Ductless hoods tend to be cheaper and simpler to install than ducted models, as they do not need any ductwork. Unfortunately, ductless hoods offer less effective removal of heat and odorous air and require cleaning or replacement on a regular basis.
Convertible range hoods combine the features of ducted and ductless versions. Usually, they are supplied with a recirculation kit to allow for a switchover as often as one required, depending on free space and better application in the kitchen.
Key Features to Consider
When it comes to choosing an under cabinet range hood, the following features have to be given importance:
- Ventilation Power (CFM): Ventilation power is measured in cubic feet per minute or CFM. A higher CFM means a greater capability for the kitchen hood to move airflow in a given time. To determine the required CFM for your kitchen, you should consider the size of the cooking surface that you are using, your cooking style (how often you cook), and the type of stove you have -gas or electric.
- How Many CFM Do I Need For My Range Hood? Generally, the minimum CFM required for electric stoves is obtained by taking the width of the stovetop in inches and multiplying by 100. Meanwhile, for gas stoves, it is done by multiplying the BTUs of your stovetop by 0.01.
- Size and Fit: An undercabinet range hood should be at least as wide as the cooktop for proper capturing of cooking smoke and odors. Standard widths are 30-inches and 36-inches. Be sure to measure out the under-cabinet space to choose a model, which will fit your kitchen. Another factor to pay attention to is the depth of the hood to make sure that it will cover the entire cooking area and leave the required space underneath.
- Filter Type: Range hoods use filters to trap grease and other airborne particles. The two most common types are:
- Noise Level (Sones): Most range hoods tend to be a bit loud, especially on higher speeds. Noise levels are measured in sones, so a lower sone count means the hood will operate more quietly. Look for a sone level of 6 or less for quieter operation, especially if you have an open-plan kitchen (if your kitchen is integrated with the living space.).
- Baffle Filters-These filters generally come made from stainless steel with a series of baffles that trap grease while allowing efficient airflow through them. They are dishwasher-safe and durable, giving them an edge in their selection.
- Mesh Filters-Aluminum or stainless steel mesh filters that trap grease as the air passes through them.2941 These are cheaper than baffle filters, but they do require frequent cleaning.
- Lighting: Adequate lighting will improve visibility for you while cooking. Several of these hoods, especially under-cabinet ones, now come equipped with built-in LED lights for illuminating the cooktop area. The best are those with adjustable light levels, letting you customize the illumination based on your needs.
Additional Features: Some range hoods offer extra features to improve the performance and make those easier to use, such as:
- Controllable fan speeds: Adjustable speeds let you choose how much ventilation you need, according to the cooking you plan to do.
- Automatic shut-off: This means that after a set time, the hood automatically shuts itself off, thereby removing any smells and smoking still in the kitchen.
- Heat sensors: Some models offer built-in heat sensors that automatically control fan speed relative to the amount of heat emanating from the cooktop.
- Touch controls: These controls are very sleek and modern and give an easy-managing and cleaning feature.
- Smart technology: Some of the more premium models now provide Wi-Fi and smartphone app connectivity to control the hood from a distance.
How to install an Under Cabinet Range Hood?
Installing a range hood generally involves:
| Task | Description |
|---|---|
| Measure Kitchen Space | Ensure the range hood will fit the available space beneath your cabinets. |
| Prepare Installation Site | Clear the area and disconnect any existing ventilation system, if necessary. |
| Positioning the Hood: | The preset height for the hood is always above the cooktop for best performance and should be centered. |
| Mount Range Hood | Securely attach the range hood to the cabinet or wall, following the manufacturer’s instructions. |
| Ductwork Connection (Ducted Models): | For ducted models, connect the range hood to the ductwork, ensuring a proper and secure seal. |
| Electrical Connection: | Most under range hoods run on a dedicated circuit. Make sure the the connection is made properly and it is secured. |
| Test Installation | Once the Installation is done, turn on the power and test the range hood to ensure it’s functioning correctly. |
If you are uncomfortable with working with electrical or do duct work installation, letting a qualified electrician or contractor do the professional installation would provide you with more assurance.
How to Maintain Under Cabinet Range Hood: 3 Simple Tips
The under cabinet range hood needs maintenance so that it will work at optimal capacity and also last longer. Range hoods must be regularly cleaned to ensure their efficiency. Here are some maintenance tips:
- Clean or Replace Filters Regularly: Cleaning or replacement frequencies of the filters depend on the frequency of cooking as well as the kind of filter used.
-Baffle filters should be cleaned every 1-3 months, but if you use your kitchen frequently and embark on a lot of boiling, frying and stewing, then this should be done frequently;
-Mesh filters also need to be cleaned every 1-3 months;
-Charcoal filters, The charcoal filters that are installed in ductless hoods are not washable and need to be replaced in every 6-12 months depending on the usage of kitchen.
- Keep the Exterior Clean: It is highly recommended to wash down the exterior of the range hood with a damp cloth and mild detergent to please it. In choosing a cleaner, avoid abrasives, given the fact that these could damage the finish.
- Check the Ductwork (Ducted Models): Periodically inspect the ductwork for any blockage, leaks, or damage. Ensure that the ductwork connections are tight, and that there is no leakage of air along its length, since this diminish the functionality of the hood.
Leading Brands for Under Cabinet Range Hoods
There are some specific brands that have stood out with good reputations for their quality, performance, and durability in the market under cabinet range hood. The following are worth considering:
| Brand | Description | Store |
|---|---|---|
 | Broan-NuTone: Broan-NuTone, one of the most well-known in kitchen ventilation, offers a wide choice of under cabinet hoods to suit disparate needs and budgets. They assure reliability and value for money. Extremely durable, Broan-NuTone products thus deliver the desired value for money. | Visit Amazon Store |
 | Cosmo: The distinctive modern design, various options, and affordability of under-cabinet hoods aptly describe Cosmo. They also feature a forced ventilation design. | Visit Amazon Store |
 | Hauslane: Hauslane specializes in range hoods and offers a multitude of under cabinet units with a crisp look and advanced features. They are known for their powerful suction and quiet operation. | Visit Amazon Store |
 | Zephyr: Known for its stylish and innovative range hoods, Zephyr has various under-cabinet models that feature high-performance components and a sleek design. | Visit Amazon Store |
 | FOTILE: Extremely sleek designs attain FOTILE premium predicate range hood service, together with high-power processing. The most significant features are advanced technology and whisper-timeous work. | Visit Amazon Store |
 | KOBE: KOBE range hoods are known particularly for their quiet operation and effectiveness. They offer a wide array of under-cabinet hoods with one-of-a-kind features concealed within elegant designs. | Visit Amazon Store |
While picking up a brand, keep in mind one or two factors like the budget, features needed, style connotation, customer feedback, and so on.
Conclusion
An under cabinet range hood is definitely a smart investment that will help you create your kitchen environment much better as well as facilitate your cooking experience and this makes putting one into your kitchen a worthwhile venture. Knowledge about the various types, features, and considerations to keep in mind when selecting a range hood helps you choose one that will meet your needs and in turn, fit perfectly into your kitchen.. If you are a culinary enthusiast or merely just interested in a more functional and good-looking kitchen, a range hood is an indispensable appliance that you owe to yourself.