Kitchen Island Range Hoods at Abt
A range hood's purpose is to provide ventilation in your kitchen while you're cooking. They pull smoke and other fumes from the room and recirculate clean air in its place. Range hoods are typically located above stoves and ovens as they are direct sources of heat. If you burn something in your pan, the goal is for the ventilator to catch the pollution before it spreads throughout the home. Island range hoods, specifically, are necessary for those who have built their cooktops into their kitchen island. They're usually installed directly into the ceiling above the burners. One benefit of island cooktops and their accompanying hoods is the flexibility of space. You are not limited by cabinets and instead, have the whole entire ceiling to install your hood. Your island range hood should at least be as wide as your stove in order to cover all the burners and heat sources. Proper coverage of your cooktop will not only keep your air clean but will protect your cabinets from possible smoke damage. Before purchasing a unit, be sure to measure the length and width of your cooktop.
Ventilation For Cleaner Cooking
When it comes to ventilation systems, the island range hoods at Abt have two options: ducted and convertible. Ducted hoods are able to direct the polluted air outside of your house. Ductless models, in contrast, use a fan to suck up smoke, heat, grease and other odors through a charcoal filter that then reintroduces clean air back into your kitchen. Convertible models are able to ventilate your kitchen with or without ducts and are, therefore, the most versatile choice. The volume of air your island range hood is able to move and ventilate is measured in CFM, or cubic feet per minute. The higher the CFM, the quicker your hood will be able to clean the air. While a higher CFM can be noisier, most hoods have two or more fan speeds that allow you to adjust the CFM as needed. So how do you measure what CFM your kitchen needs before purchasing? Your hood will need 1 CFM for every 100 BTUs in your cooktop or range. For example, if your range has 54,000 BTUs, then your hood will require 540 CFMs. Remember: if you have a gas range, your island range hood will require a higher CFM than an electric range.
Blowers & Other Features
Many of the island range hoods at Abt come with built-in blowers, otherwise known as exhaust fans. Having the blower contained inside of the hood is convenient, as it eliminates having to purchase one separately and simplifies the installation process. If you're a local customer, you can even take advantage of Abt's installation services. Separate blowers are either in-line or external. In-line blowers require a duct between your hood and the vent outside. External blowers are located outside of your home, usually mounted on roofs or walls. They are quieter than other options and able to support more powerful range hoods. There are plenty of other additions island range hoods can have as well, like an automatic shut-off timer, built-in lights and designer colors like silver, black, white, gray and more. They can even have sensors that speed up the fan when they detect increased heat coming from your range.
For more information about the island hoods sold at Abt, you can speak to one of our team members at 847-954-4100. To learn more about range hood and downdraft functions, explore our range hood buying guide.
