You can cook without a hood or a vent, but moisture, grease, odors, and heat from cooking on a cooktop can damage the rest of your kitchen.

Also, steam from cooking condenses on windows and walls, and in some cases carbon monoxide from the burning of gas can build up.

A range or cooktop hood or vent will remove most if not all of the above problems.

Hood Styles

Hood choices range from basic ductless wall-mount units, to systems with lights, timers, and easy-clean surfaces.

You can buy hidden slim-line hood designs which are concealed under cabinets which slide out when in use. Another kind can be used as a shelf for microwaves with the venting fans underneath. Yet another kind can incorporate a wall-mounted microwave above the range.

Hoods come in many styles, stainless steel, tile, or paneling that matches the cabinetry, for example.

The hood or vent should be at least as wide as the range top.

Hood components

Most hoods have a fan which moves stale air from inside the hood to the outside through ducts. There are two types of fans; axial, which have blades similar to ordinary fans, and centrifugal, which look like a wheel and can move more air if your ductwork is longer.

Filters will trap grease and small particles, essential to avoid their build-up inside the ducts which could be a fire hazard. Filters should fit well and be easy to remove for cleaning or replacement.

Hood Performance

The size of your kitchen and stove will determine the required rate of air removed, which is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM).

In general for each linear foot of your range you will need to remove 40 CFM. An average size range will require the air removed at 120 CFM.

Types of Hood

Recirculating or Ductless Range Hoods

The most basic but least efficient system. These hoods attach to the wall above the cooktop and pull air through a filter, recirculating it (and odors or gases) back into the room. Filters absorb grease and require frequent cleaning or replacement. These hoods are easy to install because they don’t require ductwork. Should never be used with a gas range.

Updraft systems

Pull air through a filter then vent it along ductwork to the outside.

Downdraft systems

Typically part of the range, often on the stove top near the burners. Some stove designs can be retrofitted for venting from underneath. “Hidden” styles remain flush with the cooking surface until necessary. Then, with the push of a button, they rise 8 to 10 inches above the cooking surface. These are best for island or peninsula cooktops where hood installation may be awkward or impossible.

Downdraft units use one or more fans, pulling air through a filter into ductwork (usually beneath the floor or above cabinets, and sometimes out the wall). They need a minimum of 150 CFM. Stove placement is also a factor; wall units need up to 400 CFM; an island cooktop needs up to 600 CFM.

Cleaning and Maintenance

By design hoods and vents quickly collect dirt and grease and therefore require regular cleaning. Always check the manufacturer’s specific cleaning instructions if available.

Wash external surfaces often with a solution of warm water, detergent, and ammonia. Rinse well with clear water. Don’t use abrasive pads as they will scratch the surfaces.

The (cooled) light bulbs will also need to be cleaned with a sponge dipped in the same solution, rinsed, and allowed to dry thoroughly.

The blades of the fan should also be cleaned with the washing solution if accessible (if not then get them cleaned during annual maintenance by a professional).

Metal mesh filters can be removed and soaked in the solution for a few minutes, then sponged down, rinsed, and dried before replacing in the hood.

Charcoal filters cannot be cleaned and should be replaced once a year.

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The stylish 90cm wide Neff cooker hoods offer performance, functionality and design to satisfy the most discerning homeowners. The D99W44N0 wall mounted cooker hood can be used in ducted or recirculation mode and comes with simple to use push buttons that operate 3-speed motor with maximum air-blowing performance of 710 m³/h. Winner of 2009 iF Product Design Award, this hood is quiet keeping noise under 56 dBA, has dishwasher-safe metal grease filter, two 20 watt halogen lamps and carbon filter. Price is around £490.

The second of Neff cooker hoods is the sleek D99W45S1 hood with black glass canopy, Neff 7-segment display and SoftKey electronic controls. Designed for exhaust configuration only, the cooker hood comes with 4-speed motor including an intensive level with automatic reset and maximum suction rate of 640 m³/h. Noise levels are around 54 dBA. Other main benefits include double-entry high-performance blowers, automatic 10 minutes after-running, automatic revert setting, dishwasher safe metal grease filter, filter saturation indicator, two 20 watt halogen lamps, SoftLight and dimmer function with stepless brightness adjustment. Price is around £800. Neff.

Other hoods by Neff,
70cm wide extractor hoods
Stainless steel telescopic hood
Stainless steel range hood
Hood with rotatable glass canopy
Cube chimney hood
Canopy range hood

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New 90cm wide ATAG cooker hoods successfully blend modern aesthetics with quality and advanced technology, bringing additional flexibility and individuality to the kitchen. Designed to reflect the trends and ever fluid design dynamics, these cooker hoods are exceptionally quiet, with noise levels as low as 45 dBA, an important requirement with open plan living. The WS9092EM wall mounted Futura and the ES9092EM island Bloc hoods now come in Graphite Black, one of today’s hottest colours. They have soft touch electronic controls, and are powered by a high performance 4-speed motor with 610 m³/h maximum suction rate. Main features of these cooker hoods are
- use-controlled grease level indicator
- 15-minute over-run time
- 3 dishwasher-safe aluminium filters
- halogen illumination
Prices are € 810 and € 990 for WS9092EM and ES9092EM cooker hoods respectively. ATAG. Also ATAG plate warmer.

Previously,
ATAG Air Logic range hoods
Cooker hood from Elica
Stainless steel cooker hood
Baumatic designer cooker hood
AEG Visible cooker hood
Dual function cooker hood

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This 60cm island hood, Moonlight offers powerful 830 m³/h suction force, produced by versatile 4-speed blower with intensive option. Made of high quality stainless steel and equipped with automatic cut-off timer, perimetric extraction system and filter saturation indicator, Franke cooker island hood is ideal for a smaller kitchen with busy chef. Continuous 24-hour ventilation, digital display, 4 halogen lights 20 watt each, comfort light, dishwasher-safe filters, optional remote control. 60cm wide Moonlight island hood sells for approximately £1,500. Previously, Kubus Franke hoods.

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The modern looking Gala combines stainless steel cylinder with white square glass canopy, giving your kitchen contemporary look and plenty of suction power. This Franke range hood comes 4-speed motor that provides 800 m³/h extraction rate to keep air clean from unwanted fumes and odours. 24-hour ventilation, electronic control with digital display, automatic cut-off timer, filter saturation indicator, perimetric extraction, washable filters, optional remote control, four 20-watt halogen lamps with dimmer and four 9 watt ambient lights. Gala works in ducted or recirculated mode. Price for this Franke range hood is around 2,070 €. Previously, stainless steel vent hood.

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Sleek stainless steel vent hood, Franke Quadra brings the state of the art performance, low profile electronic controls, halogen lighting, quiet operation and optional wireless remote control. Part of the new collection, this stainless steel hood helps achieve the perfect balance of style and practicality. 90cm wide Quadra comes with 4-speed plus intensive level motor, with top suction force of 950 m³/h. Other vent hood features include continuous 24-hour ventilation, digital display, automatic cut-off timer, filter saturation indicator, perimetric extraction, washable filters and three 20-watt halogen lamps with dimmer. Noise level does not exceed 66 dBA on intensive setting. Price for this stainless steel vent hood is approximately £1,065.

More from Franke,
Franke cooker island hood
Kubus Franke hoods

Other stainless steel hoods
Stainless steel chimney hood
Stainless steel telescopic range hoods
Custom stainless steel range hoods
Neff stainless steel range hoods
Italian stainless steel range hoods

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Touch controls, automatic cut-off timer, continuous 24 hour ventilation option, digital display, filter saturation indicator, 4 bright 20 watt halogen lights, comfort light, metal washable filters and optional remote control are other main features of Franke Kubus hoods. Maximum noise level on intensive setting is 69 dBA. Price range is from £790 for 60cm wide hood to £1,370 for Kubus High Island. Franke.

Other Franke hoods,
Franke Crystal hood
Franke swing hood
Vent hood
Angled island hood

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The 90cm wide DA 5990 W is wall mounted Miele range hood that combines matt brushed stainless steel and glass for the sleek contemporary look. The hood offers touch controls with LED indicators for ON/OFF, hob illumination and fan settings and 3-speed blower with additional intensive setting that can be set to switch off automatically after 10 minutes, for the best extraction results. Other features of this Miele range hood include electronic suction power regulation, removable, dishwasher-safe stainless steel grease filter, double-sided radial fan, safety switch-off and 50 watt halogen lamp. Maximum extraction rate 500 m³/h at 70 dBA of noise. Miele designed this range hood for extraction mode, but with optional conversion kit and active charcoal filters you can install it in recirculation mode. Miele.

Previously,
Miele hoods
Motorized height adjustable hood
Island hood from Miele
Cooker hood from Miele

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The stunning 60cm wide Prestige creates a truly unique atmosphere for your kitchen. The polished finish of exclusive AISI 304 steel and the purity of the tempered glass of the bands that forms the hood canopy, combined with superior play of LED lighting make unforgettable impression. 4-speed motor with 800 m³/h top rate, dishwasher safe filters.

Falmec Vision offers the best extraction, LED lighting and a 19″ LCD TV, incorporated into hood tempered glass. For those who want to keep with the latest trends in design as well as extraction and TV technologies. Perimeter extraction, 4-speed motor with 800 m³/h top rate, dishwasher safe filters.

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For those looking for a combination of handcrafting and modern styling with top grade professional performance, Viking range hood from Designer Series is an ideal choice. With its contemporary, timeless appearance, the range hoods in the Designer series offer Viking renown standards of quality, meticulous design and attention to detail. The island models are available in 110 and 140 cm widths while wall mounted hoods are 100 and 130 cm wide. Each Viking range hood feature a reinforced frame on the inside, giving much greater rigidity and solidity. The 15 mm thick mesh filters can be washed in the dishwasher and are fitted with magnetic fixings for easy positioning. Once set in place, the filters are hidden behind the lower glass panel, mounted on pressurised screws.

The hoods are made of hand-polished stainless steel throughout for a perfect, impeccable finish and are fitted with a very silent peripheral aspiration system that offers extremely powerful aspiration and a smooth, seamless design. The extraction performance is second to none, either with or without chimney, wall or island Viking range hood from Designer Series has an integrated or external motor that offers 1,450 m³/h rate with up to 1.700 m³/h, depending on the roof height. Viking.

The powerful halogen lights provide excellent visibility of your range cooker or cooktop.

A discretely lit LED panel indicates the speed and power level of the fan motor

The glass lower panel opens smoothly, guided by pressurised shocks to allow easy reach of the filter.

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