One of the most important kitchen accessories is a range hood. Without a proper ventilation unit, cooking-related smoke, odors, and grease will linger throughout your house, resulting in poor air quality. Installing a range hood above or below your cooktop will help trap cooking grease, moisture, and heat, while filtering and circulating the air out of your kitchen.
The best range hoods will improve odors and the ventilation in your home, and luckily, the best range hoods in Virginia can be found right here at East Coast Appliance. Continue reading to learn more about the various types of range hoods, buying considerations, and a few of our favorite picks.
Types of Range Hoods
There are several range hood options available. The perfect range hood depends entirely on your cooking habits and your kitchen layout. Let’s explore these ventilation models below.
Wall Mount Range Hoods: Wall mount hoods are installed directly above your stove in place of a set of cabinets. They are shaped like a chimney and have exposed vent stacks, which creates a unique industrial design in your kitchen. They are often ducted, but ductless and convertible models can be used.
Island Range Hoods: Those who have a separate cooktop installed on their island will require an island range hood for ventilation. This line of range hood is installed above the island and vented through the kitchen ceiling. It needs to be slightly wider (around six inches) than your stovetop because there are no cabinets along the side of your appliance to help direct air toward the hood.
Insert Range Hoods: Also referred to as power packs, insert range hoods are smaller appliances that already connect to existing parts of your kitchen. They are designed to match your cabinetry and blend into your kitchen décor.
Under Cabinet Range Hoods: This range model is mounted beneath the cabinets and set directly above your stove. Under cabinet range hoods can be either ducted or ductless, and air is taken in and dispersed toward the vents in the ceiling or through an adjoining wall.
Downdraft Range Hoods: Those who are exploring a custom kitchen design might gravitate toward the luxurious nature of a downdraft range hood. They are hidden inside the cooktop and rise along the back of the range to reduce steam. The fumes are pulled down beneath the floor and out of the house to help decrease mildew, peeling, and discoloration on floors and walls due to moisture.
Range Hood Buying Considerations
Don’t assume all range hoods function the same. Before you choose a range hood for your kitchen, consider these key factors.
Hood Size: Unless you’re beginning a complete kitchen renovation, your hood will have to fit specific dimensions. Your range hood should be as wide as your cooktop and sometimes larger depending on the exact model. The standard width of a range is about 30 inches, so most range hoods also measure 30 inches. If you have a larger cooking appliance, you can find hoods as large as 48 inches.
Ducting: A ducted or vented range hood draws in air particles from the kitchen and transfers them outdoors. They are excellent at removing smoke and odors but aren’t compatible with every kitchen design. Ductless range hoods filter the air and circulate it back into your home. They aren’t as effective at eliminating cooking odors, but they are much easier to install and can often be found at more affordable prices than ducted models.
Range Hood Features: Ventilation units come with a wide range of features. Select models will include anywhere from one to six fan speeds, automatic exhaust timers, heat-detecting temperature sensors, energy-efficient LED lighting, filter indicators, and WiFi connectivity, just to name a few. These items can enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of your range, in addition to improving the cleanliness of your kitchen.
Appearance: With their placement above the range or cooktop, hoods can act as a visual centerpiece to anchor your kitchen space. They often come in a variety of colors and finish options that can blend in with existing cabinetry or create a nice contrast. Stainless steel is the most popular finish choice because it matches any other stainless appliance and it’s easy to clean.
Installation: Ductless range hoods are quite simple to install and don’t typically require a professional. However, ducted range hoods are more complicated and will most likely need professional installation. The ducted models have vents at the top or back of the appliance, which lends to a different style of installation that a regular homeowner might not be able to facilitate.
What Type of Range Hood is Best for You?
If you think your kitchen could use the upgrade of a range hood, follow our list of our best range hoods, along with some of our favorite recommended products.
Best Overall Range Hood: GE Stainless Steel Wall Mounted Range Hood (UVW9301SLSS)
This wall mounted range hood from GE provides a clean, modern design that makes a statement in any kitchen. Attractive controls are easy to read and instantly wipe clean, while LED modules ensure bright lighting for the entire cooking environment.
Four-speed fan control helps draw smoke, grease, odors, and moisture out of the kitchen air, convertible venting options let you choose between recirculating or external venting, and duct cover extensions reach ceilings up to 10 feet high.
Why we like it:
- WiFi connect
- Digital display with timer and clock
- Four different speeds
- Dishwasher-safe filter
Best Budget-Value Range Hood: Bosch 500 Series Under Cabinet Ventilation (DUH30252UC)
For an affordable and effective ventilation unit, look to the Bosch 500 Series under cabinet unit. This hood will complete your Bosch kitchen suite with matching user interfaces and sleek European design.
Reap the benefits of vertical or horizontal venting along with ducted or non-ducted options. This model comes with 4-speed rotary controls and a 280 CFM blower that quickly and quietly clears the air of smoke and odor.
Why we like it:
- Stainless steel finish
- Dishwasher-safe mesh filters
- Rotary controls with incandescent lighting
Best Luxury Range Hood: Viking® Professional Series 66" Island Hood-Stainless Steel-(VCIH56608SS)
This island mount range hood from Viking is an ideal accessory over an island cooktop or range. You'll get a powerful motor to handle your most aromatic ingredients with a Whisper Quiet System that operates at levels that allow you to carry on a conversation. Plus, with auto heat sensing, cook without care as our ventilator automatically increases power if temperatures reach uncomfortable levels.
Electronic Touch Control with Boost Function enhances performance when using high-temperature cooking techniques by providing a timed, short burst of high-speed ventilation to effectively filter steam, grease, and odors from the air.
Why we like it:
- LED task lights
- Easy-to-clean grease filters
- Heat sensors
East Coast Appliance & Mattress Recommendations
As a bonus, we chose a couple of our favorite ventilation units that are sleek, easy to use, and affordable. Time to check under the hood!
LG Stainless Steel Wall Mount Chimney Hood (HCED3015S)
When your mouthwatering meal leaves an equally impressive scent, the LG chimney hood offers superior ventilation to quickly neutralize smoke, grease, and cooking odors. The professional-grade blower adjusts from 200 to 600 CFM for greater ventilation as well as moisture and odor removal when you need it most. It's a powerful system with quiet performance that won’t disrupt your dinner conversations.
The touchpads give you complete control over 5 fan speeds, delay-off function, auto reminders, and Airflow Control Technology, plus it includes removable aluminum mesh filters that can simply be popped into the dishwasher when you’re done — making smoke buildup and grease splatters a distant memory.
Why we like it:
- 5” low-profile body
- Accommodates ceilings up to 9'6"
- 5-Speed IR Touch Controls
- Dual-Level LED Lighting
Frigidaire Modern Glass Wall Mount Range Hood (FHWC3660LS)
This glass wall mount kitchen hood by Frigidaire provides a modern look in your kitchen. It helps remove smoke and odors by concentrating hood suction to targeted zones on your cooktop with Perimetric Venting technology and a 3-speed, 400 CFM motor class.
Noise reduction technology features sound insulation and a special chimney design to provide a quiet kitchen ventilation system. When venting at low speed, sound levels can get as low as 49 dBA. It's easy to see what you're cooking with efficient LED task lighting, and the range hood's glass edge LED lighting acts as a night-light by sensing when your kitchen lights dim and automatically turn on.
Why we like it:
- In-Line Smart Blower
- Convertible ventilation
- Quiet operation
Why do You Need a Range Hood?
It’s really quite simple — a range hood keeps cooking odors, moisture, grease, and smoke out of your kitchen while improving the air quality in your kitchen and streamlining your cooking experience. If you’re planning to install a new range hood, first decide if a ducted or ductless unit best suits your kitchen. Any model with at least 300 CFM will ensure optimal air quality in your cooking space.
And if you’re ready to make a purchase look no further than the selection of quality range hoods right here at East Coast Appliance. If you have additional questions or would like more information on any of the products listed, our ventilation catalog features a fully comprehensive display of each hood model, and our previous blog on range hood options will give you an even greater wealth of knowledge.
Visit us in person at one of our 6 store locations or shop online today!