What to Consider When Purchasing A New Range Hood

When looking to purchase a new range hood, there are countless items that homeowners should consider.  No need to fret, we at Appliance Educator have put together a comprehensive list of everything you should know before you start your search to purchase a new range hood. 

How To Choose a range hood

When purchasing a new hood, you’ll first need to pick a hood style from the many different range hood types. The first and likely most common, are wall mount range hoods. They are exactly what they sound like, mounted against the wall over your range. Unlike under cabinet range hoods, wall mounts have chimneys that can be adjusted depending on ceiling height.  Under-cabinet range hoods are also a bit smaller and are mounted underneath the cabinets that are already in place in your home. Another type is island mount hoods. Should your range or range top be on your island or centered in your kitchen, this is the type of hood for you. Range hood inserts are also an option, which allows you to customize your range hood to just about any design that you want, without compromising power. Over-the-range microwave vents are a great space-saving option, but typically are less powerful than the other types of range hoods.

Hood Size

When choosing the sizing for your hood, it’s best to have a hood that’s the same size if not bigger than your range. For example, if you have a 36” range, you should have a 36” range hood. However, this may depend on your range or cooking habits, and a larger hood may be necessary.

Ducting vs Ductless

This is important to pay attention to when installing. Some hoods must be ducted outside, while others may not need this and can be ductless. This is important for you to know before purchasing so that you can fit all of your needs. There are some hoods that are convertible, meaning that they could be both ducted and ductless. If you have any questions about a specific hood, be sure to reach out to that retailer.

CFM Ratio

Simply put, the CFM levels of a range hood determine how powerful it actually is. Typically if you are doing more cooking and have larger appliances, you may need a higher CFM level range hood. One way that experts recommend establishing the CFM you need in your range hood is to divide the British thermal units (BTU) of your stovetop by 100. So if your range has an output of 40,000 BTU, you should look for a range hood with a CFM of 400. For everyday kitchens, 300-500 CFM typically works.

There you go! Now you know everything there is about how to choose a range hood. Thank you for choosing Appliance Educator! Stay tuned for next week, we are picking out which range hoods on the market we think are the best. Be sure to follow us on all of our social platforms, listed below.

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