Why is proper ventilation important in the kitchen?

Proper ventilation is vital for keeping your kitchen safe and clean by removing grease, smoke, chemicals, and odors from the air. This helps protect both your food and your family, and it also makes cleaning easier with fewer airborne particles sticking to surfaces such as cabinetry, kitchen islands, and other appliances.

What's the difference between ducted and recirculating range hoods?

Ducted systems funnel poor-quality air out of your home entirely, while recirculating hoods use fans and charcoal filters to clean the air before sending it back into your kitchen. Recirculating is less effective than ducted but is a good option when venting outside isn't possible. Both options improve kitchen safety and air quality.

How does a downdraft ventilation system work?

Downdraft systems are a discreet alternative to overhead hoods. They hide in your range or are installed behind or beside it, rising up from the counter when needed to pull air directly above your cooktop. They can be either vented outdoors or recirculating.

What does CFM mean when choosing a range hood?

CFM, or cubic feet per minute, measures how much air your range hood can move. A higher CFM means more powerful air movement and better odor and smoke removal, but it may also result in louder operation, so consider your kitchen needs and noise tolerance.

What if I need a range hood but have limited space above my cooktop?

If space is limited, consider an over-the-range microwave. These appliances offer both ventilation and microwave functionality, available in both ducted and recirculating models, maximizing kitchen space and utility.

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Frequently Asked Questions

All Range Hoods and Downdrafts

Range hoods are an essential part of every kitchen, whether you’re an amateur chef who loves experimenting with ingredients or just a casual meal prepper. While some might think these are unnecessary, they’re a safety must-have. Proper ventilation helps to keep uninvited houseguests like grease, smoke, chemicals and odor out. That means away from your food and the people in your home—all you’re left with is aromatic recipes and clean air. And it means you’ll have an easier time cleaning up, too. Less grease in the air means fewer airborne particles to stick to surfaces like cabinetry, kitchen islands and other appliances. So whether you cook all meals from scratch or prefer to use one-pot recipes, you’ll need the right range hood or downdraft for your lifestyle. Explore our selection of classic chimneys, hidden inserts, downdrafts and more.

Ducted vs. Recirculating Air

Before falling in love with a stainless steel model that’s perfect for your home’s design, consider how your kitchen is ducted—or if it is at all. Ducting is a type of circulated piping that funnels the poor quality air up and out of your home completely. Meanwhile, recirculating systems use a fan and charcoal filtration system to pull in poor quality air, then strip it of grease, smoke and toxins before recirculating back into your home. Recirculation is not as effective as a properly vented system, though it’s a great option for homes when proper ducting isn’t feasible. Whether that’s due to lack of space, building codes or other issues, both of these range hoods and downdraft circulation options will make your home much safer.

What’s A Downdraft?

If you truly don’t think these overhead versions match your style, you can always opt for a downdraft. These appliances perform the same job that hoods do, but hide either in your range or can be installed behind or beside them. When activated, they’ll extend up about ten inches from your counter and begin pulling the air from just above your burners. These can be vented or ducted as well.

What’s CFM?

CFM stands for cubic feet per minute, and it's the amount of air that these machines can move. A higher CFM rating means that your appliance is more powerful and can quickly keep up with odor and airborne smoke. Keep in mind that higher CFM ratings generally mean louder operation, so you’re choosing between power and volume control.

What If I Need A Multitasker?

If your kitchen is small and you barely have enough room for countertop appliances, consider using an over-the-range microwave microwave instead. These come in ducted and recirculating versions as well, all while taking one more thing off your counter.

Still not sure which of these kitchen appliances is the right one for your home? You’re in the right place: our team of experts has been helping people to build their dream kitchens nationwide. Give us a call at 800-860-3577 to speak to a specialist, or head into the store to see us in person. If you’re hoping to learn more, check out our Range Hood Buying Guide.