Range Hoods and Ventilation

With newer kitchens trending more and more toward professional grade cooking appliances - especially large gas ranges - it's more important than ever to have proper ventilation. Ducted range hoods improve indoor air quality, keep kitchens cleaner, and even help lower heating and cooling costs. Of course, not all models are created equal, and there are a few features to look for specifically, but XtremeAir range hoods definitely come out at the front of the pack.

Ventilation Type

[caption id="attachment_7063" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Wall Mount Pro-X Range Hood From XtremeAir[/caption] First and foremost, the best range hoods are ducted range hoods that vent outside - XtremeAir's specialty. A good kitchen ventilation system will pull heat, smoke, steam, and grease away from the cooktop and keep it from ever escaping into the kitchen in the first place. Ideally, the ductwork should be as close to the exterior of the home as possible, and make as few 90 degree turns as possible to aid the flow of grease and moisture-laden air. In some cases, of course, installing new duct work isn't possible (or at least prohibitively expensive). Ductless or recirculating range hoods aren't as powerful as ducted ones, but high quality ductless range hoods with multiple layers of filtration are the next best thing, and can remove a majority of odors, toxins, and grease, but won't do much to reduce moisture or heat levels. Shop XtremeAir Range Hoods:

Filter Type

[caption id="attachment_7064" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Undercabinet Mount Range Hood With Baffle Filters From XtremeAir[/caption] The great bane of range hoods is that because they suck up grease, they inevitably get filled with grease that can be very difficult to clean. Each manufacturer has their own way of trying to combat this, from centrifugal blowers to the simple mesh aluminum filter. But aluminum filters get clogged very easily and are notoriously difficult to clean. XtremeAir offers stainless steel baffle filters - a feature that's standard in industrial kitchens and is becoming quite popular in home design - which are much, much easier to clean (they're even dishwasher safe), and collect grease more efficiently.  Because of the way they're designed, hot air that moves up through the ducts causes the grease to melt down into the baffles, reducing buildup inside the ducts themselves, while offering a more finished appearance on the kitchen side.

Power

[caption id="attachment_7065" align="aligncenter" width="461"] Undercabinet Range Hood With 900 CFM From ExtremeAir[/caption] For maximum efficiency, the power of a range hood should be matched to the surface area of the range it's covering at a rate of about 50 CFM per square foot of cooktop, or about 300 CFM for a 36" range. Of course, for higher heat and smoky, smelly, steamy cooking, more power means better ventilation. XtremeAir offers 900-1200 CFM range hoods suited for a restaurant quality kitchen, an ideal pair for an professional style range. Typically the range hood should be about the same size as the range, but a slightly wider range hood gives better coverage and a more professional culinary look.

Intuitive Controls

[caption id="attachment_7061" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Undercabinet Range Hood With LED Touch Display From XtremeAir[/caption] Good controls should be both easy to use and intuitive to understand. Historically, range hoods have had analog controls - a simple on/off or hi-low-off switch or a power level dial. But these days controls are more often LED panels, either with push buttons or an integrated touch screen. XtremeAir's controls, both touch and button press, allow greater control over the performance of the range hood, offering a wider range of power levels. XtremeAir's range hoods also come with an auto-on feature that will activate when it detects smoke, as well as a timed auto-off, filter clean reminder, and a basic timer and clock. If possible, test out the controls before purchasing - all the features in the world aren't worth much if it isn't obvious how to activate them.

Construction (Including Noise Levels)

[caption id="attachment_7066" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Island Mount Range Hood With 1mm Stainless Steel Construction From XtremeAir[/caption] Even the best range hoods on the market don't do any good if they're never turned on, and the noisier the fan, the less likely it is to get turned on. Many range hood fans operate at just slightly higher than the normal level of human speech, meaning it's impossible to hold a conversation at a normal level while it's on. Many manufacturers have their pet solutions for this problem (some of which work better than others), but XtremeAir's solution is simple: reduce the sound by improving the quality of the range hood overall. They use only commercial grade 19 gauge stainless steel in the bodies of their range hoods, with a seamless construction that, combined with their quiet blowers, helps reduce noise levels.

Lighting/Design

[caption id="attachment_7062" align="aligncenter" width="311"] Island Mount Pro-X Range Hood With LED Lights From XtremeAir[/caption] Range hoods are an important source of task lighting in the kitchen, casting bright light directly on the cooking surface. But newer designs are also aesthetically pleasing, providing light that's attractive as well as functional. Especially in an island installation, decorative range hoods can function as island lights or even chandeliers, with a beautiful decorative appearance rather than the stereotypical big metal box. If lighting is an especially important consideration, look to see what type of bulbs are used (XtremeAir uses bright LED lights) and whether or not the range hood has a night light feature or multiple light settings. What are you looking for in a range hood? Shop All Range Hoods: ...

Kitchens are increasingly becoming the entertainment hub of the home, and entertaining has become more casual. Instead of formal dining rooms, these days people are turning to kitchen islands for a place to seat their guests. In fact, full sized, custom kitchen islands - complete with a built in range - are one of the most desirable additions to a kitchen with an open floor plan. But it can be difficult to properly vent a full sized range in the middle of your kitchen, and hugely expensive to try to incorporate new ducts to keep your kitchen air clean. If you really want a centralized island range, but don't want your guests breathing hot, smoky, greasy air, you need to invest in ventless island range hoods. These simple devices filter and recirculate air rather than pumping it out of your house like traditional range hoods, which means no construction, and even some pretty cool designs. [caption id="attachment_3876" align="aligncenter" width="449" caption="Platinum Series Island Range Hood From Elica"][/caption] Shop Modern Range Hoods by Elica: This simple Platinum Series ventless range hood from Elica is a great example. It's equal parts ventilation and lighting, with a two stage filtration process that includes a washable mesh filter and long-life charcoal filter, as well as two halogen lights for soft, over-all lighting. Unlike a traditional range hood, it won't wick heat away from your range top, but it will keep your air smelling fresh (and your walls grease-free) without a complex ventilation system. Plus, it has the appearance of a sleek, modern lighting fixture, which allows you to have the style of a kitchen island light and the function of a range hood in a single unit. [caption id="attachment_3877" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Star Ceiling Mounted Lamp And Ventless Range Hood From Elica"][/caption] Your average range hood isn't a whole lot to look at. They're often boxy, with broad faces of unadorned stainless steel - basically an extension of your ducts with a filter and a fan inside. But because island range hoods don't even have to connect to your ceiling (let alone be incorporated into a metal duct), there's a whole lot more room for stylistic creativity. I can't even tell you how much I like this Star Range Hood. Made of glass but sparkling like crystal, this is absolutely the perfect solution to needing a range hood but wanting a chandelier to provide all-over kitchen lighting. It, too, has a combination aluminum/charcoal filtration system, but has more built in lights than the Platinum series range hood, and even has an optional remote controlled dimmer function - an excellent combination of style and function. [caption id="attachment_3879" align="aligncenter" width="315" caption="Wave Ductless Island Range Hood From Elica"][/caption] Many ductless island range hoods are made with a similar bucket style design, roundish with a wider base that tapers towards the top. This is partly practical - a conical shape helps aid in air filtration by catching the hot (smoky, greasy) air as it rises up from your cooktop and filtering it down into the filters. But it's also a cool stylistic choice, eliminating the boxy edges of traditional range hoods and giving you something that looks more like a modern take on a bucket light. This Wave Range Hood offers a nice twist on the style, with an elegantly curved bottom and repeating "wave" patterned halogen lights in addition to three ambient incandescent lights. [caption id="attachment_3880" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Grace Ductless Island Range Hood From Elica"][/caption] This Grace Range Hood is actually designed to look more like a lampshade than anything, with soft incandescent lighting that illuminates it warmly from within. A far cry from Elica's other futuristic range hoods and hyper-modern stainless steel island range hoods, this is a more intimate interpretation - something with a little more library/lounge and a lot less industrial. So if you're looking for something a little more cozy cottage inspired, this is probably a lot more up your alley. The modern kitchen it's pictured in above might be a little misleading - when this baby lights up, it's nothing if not warm and cozy. [caption id="attachment_3881" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Ola Bright Series Ductless Range Hood In Red From Elica"][/caption] The really nice thing about these well-designed bucket-style island range hoods, though, is that they're easier (not to mention more stylish) to double up than your traditional range hood. Because they're, in all honesty, as much light fixtures as they are range hoods, it makes sense to have multiple similar or identical island range hoods throughout your kitchen - say, if you have two ranges, or one very long or double-sized island range. So installing two of these Ola Range Hoods coordinates just as easily as two matching pendant lights, or two chandeliers from the same collection. As a side note, I really like the modern vibe of this collection - it comes with a variety of color options (stainless steel and blue or red, or pearly white and violet or grass green) that have a nice chromotherapy effect, and add a nice pop of color to your kitchen. [caption id="attachment_3882" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Evolution Plus Ductless Range Hood From Elica"][/caption] If you don't like the look of doubling up on your island range hoods, you can find some larger ones, too, like this Evolution Plus. These are nice even if you don't have an especially wide range, simply because the larger hood provides better coverage, and is better at catching all the hot air coming up off your stove. After all, anything that doesn't make it into the hood in the first place certainly isn't going to get filtered out. [caption id="attachment_3878" align="aligncenter" width="355" caption="Duct Free Centrifugal Range Hood From Vent-A-Hood"][/caption] All that said, if you're going to be doing some really serious cooking - say, using a culinary grade gas stove or searing meat at very high heats, you probably want something a little more heavy duty. This Centrifugal Range Hood from Vent-A-Hood might not be quite as nice to look at as some of the other ventless range hoods shown here, but it's renowned in the industry for its effectiveness. There's more than one thing that makes for a Vent-A-Hood advantage, but to put it briefly: their ductless range hoods have more filters, more types of filters, bigger filters, and a self-cleaning blower that allows them to stand up to really tough smoke and grease where other models might falter, and can even help with humidity, which most ductless island range hoods can't handle. What are you looking for in your new island range hoods? Are you more concerned about appearance or functionality in a range hood? Is putting in ducts cost prohibitive, outright impossible, or just not a priority?...