Does Your Space Require a Kitchen Vent Hood?

Yes, you definitely require a kitchen vent hood.

An essential element in your kitchen, a vent hood absorbs the exhaust fumes emitted from your stove and keeps your cabinets, ceilings, and walls from accumulating grease. 

The equipment comprises a blower, vent hood, filter, and a light system. Whether you have a gas or an electric stove, a range hood is an essential appliance that improves your kitchen’s air quality by filtering out toxic gases and chemicals. 

If you’re planning a kitchen remodeling or even building a new one, you might want to know more on this. 

Functions of a Kitchen Vent Hood

Cleanliness

Smoke, fumes, and hot gases emitted while cooking are bound to land on the surface of your kitchen’s walls, cabinets, and slabs. If you’re a cleanliness freak, you wouldn’t want your countertops and kitchen windows to be layered with grime.

The best way to prevent this is to install a range hood that will eat up all these chemicals. It also helps keep smell odors from lingering after you’re done cooking. No one wants their kitchen smelling like fried onions all day long. 

Prevents Health Hazards

The grease that’s collected due to the constant emission of fumes poses a serious health hazard. It’s responsible for bacteria growth and can infest your food. Besides, hot fumes release carbon monoxide which can lead to poisoning.

A range hood takes in these dangerous elements, thereby keeping your kitchen hygienic and safe.

Improves Air Quality

The hot fumes released during cooking can make your kitchen humid. The damp air makes for a perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. It can also cause suffocation, allergies, and respiratory issues if you spend too much time amidst the fumes.

Having a vent hood helps prevent mold infestation as well as leaving your kitchen fresh and fume-proof. 

Adds Value to Your Home

Although you might not have presumed this, a a kitchen vent hood enhances your kitchen style. Stainless steel vent hoods lend a cool vibe to your space while the lighting system illuminates your cooktop making it easier to prepare meals.

If you ever decide to resell your property in the future, having a range hood can add to its value. 

Cost-Effective

Another advantage of having a vent hood is that it’ll save you a lot on your electricity bills. The thing is, without ventilation, your kitchen will turn unbearably hot and then you’d need to turn on your air purifier more frequently.

You’d also need lighting near your cooktop to help you chop veggies and cook meals.

But vent hoods come with built-in lighting while also absorbing all the gases right during the process of cooking. Isn’t that a cost-effective option?

Where Should You Place the Kitchen Vent Hood?

Kitchen vent hoods should be positioned directly above your cooktop, wherever that is. Ideally, the range hood is ceiling mounted. If you’re placing it above the kitchen island, the duct will run above the ceiling.

While vented range hoods are commonly available, you can also find unvented hoods. There are also a few high-tech downdraft range hoods that can be digitally controlled and customized as per your requirement and taste. 

Does a Gas Cooktop Need a Downdraft Range Hood?

If you have a gas stove, you can have your range hood over the stove or install a downdraft. However, make sure that your downdraft hood has ducts outside or else it might malfunction and be unable to ventilate your kitchen properly. Meanwhile, there are some downdraft vents that can only filter out moisture and grease but fail to improve the overall air quality. 

There’s no point in spending your money on something that can’t accomplish the key purpose of ventilation. While you care about the aesthetics of your cooking space, you shouldn’t compromise on the functionality. An overhead range hood is always a better idea as it not only looks good but also efficiently does its job. 

Is an Exhaust Fan Necessary When You Have a Vent Hood?

This is a question that might occur to a lot of us. Well, an exhaust fan isn’t required when you already have a range hood. However, if you’re staying in a rented or temporary residence and don’t want to invest in a vent hood, you must have an exhaust fan.

Your kitchen cannot be devoid of ventilation. The fan should be vented to the outdoors so the fumes are being pushed out instead of being recirculated with a filter. 

Closing Thoughts

As discussed above, a range or vent hood is essential over your stove. In fact, it is recommended by health authorities to avoid kitchen accidents, health risks, and regulate the air in your cooking space. For maximum benefits, you may consider getting a vent hood with cutting-edge features like speed memory. When it comes to installation, do not take chances and hire an insured contractor to handle the task.