When you cook certain dishes, such as meat or fish, in the kitchen, you create unpleasant smells that often do not disappear even by opening the window. In this case, the only way to remove them is to buy a good range hood that will suck the unpleasant vapors and odors.
There are many models on the market, so we thought of creating this guide containing opinions and useful buying advice to help you choose the one that best suits your needs.
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Buying guide – How to choose a good range hood?
Even reading the different opinions on the products makes it difficult to understand how to choose a good range hood, especially if you have never owned one. This section of our page will give you some useful purchase advice to help you buy the best range hood for your needs, investing your savings well.
The characteristics to be taken into account are not many. Still, it is always good to distinguish between design, power, and the energy class on which consumption depends. Therefore, we mainly advise focusing on quality-price without spending too much on an overpriced model.
Power
Before purchasing a range hood, you must know that the suction power is calculated in cubic meters per hour, indicated on the product sheets with CFM (cubic foot/minute). Based on this unit of measurement, you will understand how effective a hood is. You don’t need to look for the model with 600 CFM immediately. You really should consider your kitchen’s size and, above all, how much you cook.
For example, if you only use the stove for cooking a couple of steaks occasionally, then a 150 CFM hood will suffice, while if you have a huge kitchen and love to prepare different dishes, you can opt for a model with 300/350 CFM. Usually, modern hoods’ motors have three different speeds and are quite noisy, especially if set to the last.
Dimensions
The power of a range hood is often connected to its dimensions and, consequently, adapts to your kitchen. The classic range hoods, the models with a square shape to be applied to the wall, can be found from 24 or 35 inches and are suitable for most hobs. However, before buying any model, we strongly recommend that you take steps to be 100% sure of your purchase.
If you own an island kitchen instead, you must focus on products with a particular design, such as the retractable hoods that can be easily extracted when cooking. There are also hoods with hooks hanging from the ceiling, equally powerful and performing as normal ones. Try to find a range hood covering the entire hob to optimize the suction of bad smells.
Consumption
Here we are at the sore point of every appliance: energy saving. Is it worth spending very little on a range hood and then paying salty electricity bills at the end of the month?
It depends on how many hours you are in the kitchen. If you are used to cooking every evening, we advise you to spend a little more and buy an energy class A hood. At the same time, if you plan to turn on the hood only those two or three days when you put yourself in the kitchen, you can opt for an economic product, but of energy class D or E.
Most range hoods with affordable prices fall into the latter two classes, so you must consider that their use will weigh heavily on consumption.
Frequent questions
How much does a range hood consume?
It depends on the energy class. Like all appliances, the range hoods also come with different energy classes, according to which the consumption will be higher or lower. For example, energy class A allows a considerable amortization of expenses on the electricity bill and provides only 37 kWh per year.
We must count that the range hood is not an appliance that is kept on for many hours, and by setting it at minimum speed, you will still be able to have a little impact on consumption, even with those of a lower energy class.
How much does a range hood cost?
The wall-mounted energy class D or E and 120 CFM models are cheap, ranging from $65 to $165. On the other hand, the most powerful products (350 CFM) and energy class A reach up to $450, while the design ones for island kitchens can reach $1,000, especially if they are retractable.
Is it difficult to assemble a range hood?
It is not enough to have a drill and screwdriver to drill the wall to apply the screws of the supports that will be screwed firmly. Take the measurements well, mark all the points to place the various components, and carefully follow the instructions.
The wall-mounted models are elementary to install, while the design or concealed ones could give you more headaches. In general, we advise you to have at least one other person help you speed up the process and be more relaxed.
Does the range hood necessarily have to be connected to a chimney?
Yes, the steam and the smells sucked will only pour into the environment, and you will not get any positive effects. However, if the suction models do not convince you, you can always opt for the filtering ones, which expel bad odors and, on the other, purify the kitchen air. Some range hoods can be converted into filters with the right spare parts.
What to do when the engine or filter breaks?
Simple, replace it with a spare. You can find different spare parts sold online at very advantageous prices. We recommend that you first check the compatibility of the products with your range hood.
Especially for the motor, you must be careful to connect the cables correctly or risk causing severe damage or even a fire in the house. So, if you are not feeling particularly confident, call a technician.
How to use a range hood
How to clean the filters of the range hood
Cleaning your range hood’s filters is of primary importance, and maintenance must be done periodically and should not be underestimated. This is not a simple aesthetic reason, but personal safety and hygiene, as a dirty hood, will encourage bacteria and germs that can spread in the air. You will need lukewarm water, soft clothes, soap, and a pot with hot water and baking soda to clean your hood.
With soap or neutral detergent, you can clean the outside, while as regards the filters, you can wash them with the dishwasher. If you do not have a dishwasher, use hot water and baking soda in the above pot. Remove the filters, soak them in the pot, and then rinse and dry them before putting them back in the hood.
How the range hood works
The range hood comprises different parts and comes in different shapes, from the classic rectangular one to other designs. However, the operation remains the same: the body, or the external part, protects the anti-grease filters and the suction unit. The filters filter the intake air while the intake unit connects to the chimney, allowing the hood to convey fumes and vapors to the outside.
The range hoods are activated simply with the touch of a lever to set the power on different levels and switch off in the same way, bringing the lever to power 0. Count that the consumption will be higher at a maximum power level, and above all, the hood aspirant will tend to produce more noise.
How to install a range hood
The classic or wall-mounted models are usually straightforward to install, although the same cannot be said for the concealed ones or those with a particular design. Before assembling, you must take the measurements well, drawing a vertical line from the hob to the ceiling for safety.
Note that the hood must never be too close to the stove because the dust accumulated in the filters could catch fire. Once you have drawn this line, you must take the instruction manual and write all the measurements on the wall, marking the various components’ fixing points, such as the flanges.
Once you are sure that you have taken the right measurements, you can insert the plugs into the flanges and insert the hood body into the supports. Bring a good screwdriver and a drill to make holes and tighten the screws firmly.
Now you have to remove the filters, screw the anchor points, take the valve, and fix it on the upper part of the hood to connect it to the chimney through the joint. Once this is done, you have to connect the hood to the electrical socket and try it.
The Best Range Hoods to buy
Let’s see the most effective currently on-sale ranking to choose the best range hood.
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