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Available in white and black tempered glass, this slant vent can be installed either as an under-cabinet or wall-mounted unit. Additional features, like the automatic open baffle place, motion-activated control panel, delayed shut-off function and a screen lock for cleaning make this a high-quality and high-performing range hood. This beautiful stainless steel range hood, complete with a tempered glass visor, brings a sophisticated and elegant look to whatever kitchen it is installed in. It has a 380 CFM motor, enough to handle even bulk cooking or larger meals and three different fan speeds. The baffle filters are durable and dishwasher safe, making them both long-lasting and easy to clean. Whether you’re a heavy-duty home chef or a casual cook, you should make sure your island range hood is compatible with your cooking style.
Island range hoods operate like normal range hoods, ventilating lingering smoke, grease or odors. Unlike other types of range hoods, however, island range hoods are mounted on the ceiling to hang directly over an island stovetop. Any necessary ductwork is run through the ceiling before venting outside the home.
Downdraft Range Hoods
Our recommendations will help point you in the direction of some great choices, as well as offer a few tips on what you should be looking for in a quality range hood. Island range hoods should have a CFM of 150 for every 12 inches of cooktop. While this is slightly more than the standard recommendation of 100 CFM for every foot, it takes into account the open nature of a kitchen island. You’ll need some extra power to suction up all the exhaust air being produced before it has a chance to spread into the rest of the kitchen. You can clean your island range hood using the same products you would use to clean a normal range hood. Multi-surface or all-purpose cleaners can also take off surface layers of gunk.
Since islands are typically located in the center of the room—or at least with significant distance from any nearby wall—no other type of range hood would be suitable for most standard island configurations. One of the most important features in a kitchen, a high-quality range hood will be almost unnoticeable. Its whole purpose is to help maintain the air quality and cleanliness of your kitchen—and good ones will filter out any pollutants or unwanted odors generated during the cooking process. For this reason it’s vital to make the best choice when selecting a range hood for your kitchen.
FOTILE JQG7501 Under-Cabinet/Wall-Mount Range Hood
Look at airflow in CFM , number of fan speeds and noise rating to help you determine whether a range hood will suit you. Island range hoods need to have a minimum clearance above the stovetop—a variable and model-specific requirement. Whether or not your island range hood will meet this requirement depends a great deal on the height of your ceilings. Most island range hoods will mention an ideal ceiling height in user manuals but it is often also possible to buy chimney extensions or shortening kits. Downdraft range hoods make for a sleek and stylish addition to your kitchen, especially because they are often installed as pop-up vent units hidden except when used. In theory, these operate by redirecting any smoke or air downward, where it is ventilated out of your home through a ductwork system in your floor.
These are a great choice for everyday cooks in apartments and homes where preserving cabinet space is a priority. The other alternative to an island range hood is a downdraft range hood, which vents through the floor. With lower CPMs and overall performance, downdraft range hoods in general might be attractive but are ultimately only worth it if you cannot install an island range hood. If you have aspirations to be a professional chef and are orchestrating heavy and intense cooking on the daily, you will likely want a range hood with high CFM and a noise level you can tolerate for long periods of time. If you only cook small meals once or twice a day—or a few times a week—a lower CFM and fewer fan speeds will suit you just fine . If your range hood is dirty or greasy, you can use a variety of cleaning solutions to remove the grime.
Downdraft Range Hoods Are Less Effective
For the heavier layers of grease, use store-bought degreasers and baking soda/vinegar combinations to help break down the grime. Designed for a nine-foot ceiling, the unit’s venting can be extended with a chimney extension, also available from Cosmo. You will often also have to buy separate filter kits—available from the manufacturer of your range hood—if you want to convert your system from ducted into ductless.
Since some kitchen layouts will require a certain type of range hood, it’s important to know what category yours falls into when going out to purchase a product. If you have open wall space above your stove, a wall-mounted range hood is the best. If you have cabinetry or a microwave instead, stick with an under-cabinet or microwave range hood.
This will give you a range hood capable of handling your everyday recipes. This professional under-cabinet range hood comes with a variety of features. The PS18 is a heavy-duty under-cabinet range hood meant for home chefs who cook multiple times of day or in an almost professional capacity.
Kitchens with islands will only be compatible with island range hoods or downdraft range hoods . With its gorgeous brushed stainless steel body and tempered glass visor, this island range hood gives a sophisticated and ultra-modern look to any kitchen. It has a 380 CFM motor with three fan speeds and only 65dB max volume, even at the highest setting. Though designed for a nine-foot ceiling, Cosmo sells a chimney extension designed for an 11-foot ceiling. The unit is also adjustable between 30” and 47.4”, allowing for some flexibility regarding installation location and the height of your kitchen. This Cosmo island range hood is made just out of stainless steel and has a modern, chimney-like design.
If your ceilings are taller than this, you can purchase chimney extensions to bridge the gap. This stainless steel, wall-mounted range hood from Cavaliere comes with a powerful 900 CFM motor and six different fan speeds. It can be converted into a ductless system with a Recirculation Kit, purchasable separately from Cavaliere. In a ducted range hood, the air processed by the range hood vents elsewhere via a duct system. This ductwork can be placed in the ceiling, walls or floor depending on your home. A ductless range hood, also known as a recirculation or recirculating system, will vent air back into the kitchen after filtration.
After a gentle dusting, a standard hot water and dish soap solution will work to remove some of the dirt. Follow this up with a vinegar solution or degreasing product to remove stubborn grime. Try not to use any brush product with sharp bristles, as this may scratch the surface of your range hood. When cleaning filters, you can put them in the dishwasher or wash them by hand using soap. If you prefer to use store-bought products, look for environmentally-friendly all-purpose or multi-surface cleaners and degreasers. This might sound painfully obvious, but having an stove-based island in your kitchen is also the biggest reason to pick an island range hood.
These kits are not included in the unit price and could eventually add up to be more expensive than installing an exterior vent. There are many range hood products out there competing for your attention. Read on for a better understanding of the features you should consider that will help you narrow down the field and make a final purchase.
Exhaust timers, auto shut-off, type of control panel, types of filters and lighting set-up are some of the other features you should consider when purchasing a range hood. While there is no best combination, some features may provide more use to you than others. For example, if you want to wash your filters in the dishwasher, make sure they are dishwasher compatible.
The most common range hood widths on the market are 30”, 36”, 42” and 48” and it is likely your cooktop will match one of those sizes. The height and depth of your range hood will depend on the size of the available space above and around your cooktop, as well as the depth of your cooking surface and what kind of range hood you plan on buying. Make sure to also measure for product clearance as some range hoods cannot be installed without a minimum amount of clearance above the stove.
She edited home repair and design content at websites like The Spruce and HomeAdvisor. She also has hosted videos on DIY home tips and solutions and launched multiple home improvement review boards staffed with licensed pros. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners. Lexie is an assistant editor who is responsible for writing and editing articles over a wide variety of home-related topics.
