Rangehoods unmasked
Home Design January 31st, 2009
What a range there is in rangehoods. I thought doing an article on rangehoods would be fairly dull but I have been pleasantly surprised. Recently there have been significant changes to kitchen exhausts. Listed below are 6 different systems available on the market.
Canopy and Island Canopy rangehoods: A Canopy range is the most expensive, but also the most visually pleasing, cooktop exhaust on the market. They range in price from $400 to $2,000. Canopies also come in an “Island Canopy” form but they are more expensive because they need to be structurally sound and self-supporting.
If you buy a more expensive unit you will get extra power, more filters, and a sexier finish, as well as a better and quieter system. If you are ducting your system to a roof or external wall this will also increase the unit price. Many of the high-end hoods also come with dish washable parts. Most exhaust systems have a 2 year warranty and many suppliers offer extended warranties.
Note: there is a huge downside with canopy ranges: they can not always be installed with sufficient clearance, therefore the corners of the hoods often collide with human heads! Unfortunately if the hoods are installed with more clearance, they do not function as well. So be warned.
Retractable rangehoods: The retractable range is priced between $200 and $1,000 and the lower end models are very basic and do not perform very well as there is no room for a powerful motor. But the higher-end models are an integrated system that extends into overhead cupboard space. The latter option has a larger motor and performs exceptionally well. Remember you will also pay more for a system that is quieter; this is not always obvious when you are shopping. The retractable/integrated model has the ability to equal the performance of the canopy range hoods but is cheaper than the higher-end rangehoods as these systems have no expensive or showy parts. The obvious benefit of the retractable system is that it retracts and there are less unfortunate head-collision situations.
Fixed rangehoods: The fixed rangehoods are priced between $100 and $400. As there is limited space for a good motor these systems are generally less powerful and are also noisier than the canopy and retractable models.
Downdraft systems: Down draft systems suck cooking air either into a wall mounted system or directly into the cook top. These systems may look great but are not used very often in Australia (see this discussion on Vogue’s online forum). However there is an Australian supplier; see DownDraft.com.au. Remember hot air rises from a cooktop and these systems rely on moving the naturally rising air down or sideways, therefore the unit would need to be exceptionally powerful to out perform a decent overhead system.
The natural system: A window behind a cooktop is a natural option but be aware of the danger of operating the window when the cook top is being used. There are also standards on how far an operable window can be from a cooktop so you will need to make sure you comply if you do not want certification issues. Call your local council or private certifier for more details.
DIY rangehoods: You can do a DIY system and buy all the individual components. Here is a shopping list:
- 1x inline fan
- industrial filters (you will need a cupboard space for this to fit into)
- ducting
- roof mounted air mover
This system can only be ducted and roof mounted and the connection between the filters and the fan can allow grease to build-up over time. The advantage of this system is that it is the quietest ventilation system around because it is wind driven (you will not even know it is running). These systems are also great for bathrooms.
So here is the checklist for buying a rangehood:
- How much do you cook?
- How many people are in your family?
- What kind of cooking do you do?
- How tall are your family members?
- Do you want or are you able, to have recirculating or ducted system?
- What is your budget?
- Do your wants match the style and function of the kitchen?
So buy a rangehood that meets all your requirements and do not buy a system purely for aesthetics.
Happy shopping!
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