Do I Need a Range Hood?
Yes. A range hood keeps cooking exhaust, chemicals, and smoke out of your kitchen. It improves your indoor air quality and streamlines your cooking experience. Depending on where you live, a range hood may be required by your building codes. Talk to your local authorities or landlord to find out.
Before installing a range hood, be sure you have enough room to run ductwork to the outside.
If you’re still not sure if you need a hood, keep reading. We’ll go over why you might need a ductless hood, ducted hood, hood for a gas stove, hood for an electric stove, and much more.
Do I need a ducted range hood?
Here are a few reasons why you may need a ducted range hood:
- You cook 4+ times a week.
- You cook food with strong odors.
- Your smoke alarm goes off sometimes when you cook.
- You’re concerned about the amount of smoke and poor air quality in your home.
Ducted range hoods are the most efficient vent hoods on the market. They remove all the cooking odors and heavy grease from your kitchen and move it to the outside. They are always preferred over ductless hoods. But, there are some situations where you can’t install a ducted hood. We’ll go over those later.
Do I need a ductless range hood?
Here are a few reasons why you may need a ductless range hood:
- You live in an apartment or condo
- You don’t have the room for ductwork
- You cook 3 days a week or less.
- You can’t afford a ducted range hood.
A ductless range hood is a versatile option for your kitchen. You can install it on your wall, over an island, or in a custom hood. It doesn’t involve the time or money that it takes to install a ducted range hood, which may make it a valuable option for you.
Do I need a range hood for a gas stove?
Yes. Gas stoves produce intense heat and smoke, so you need a kitchen fan that can vent heavy cooking exhaust outside your home. Buy a range hood that is at least 900 CFM to keep your kitchen air clean and fresh.
Do I need a range hood for an electric stove?
Yes, but it does not need to be as powerful as a range hood for a gas stove. Even though an electric stove is not as powerful as a gas stove, it can still produce a lot of heat and grease. Buy a range hood that is at least 600 CFM for your electric stove.
Do I need a range hood for an induction cooktop?
Yes. Induction cooktops are electric cooktops, so your hood doesn’t need to be as powerful as a gas cooktop. Go with at least a 600 CFM hood over your induction cooktop. More CFM is always better, but it’s not absolutely necessary because you won’t likely produce heavy grease and smoke while cooking.
Like electric cooktops, induction cooktops do not use natural gas to heat your food. But, unlike electric cooktops, induction cooktops heat by transferring electricity from copper stove coils directly to the pan. This keeps the burner cool to the touch and heats your food more efficiently than a standard electric stove.
Do I need a range hood for my BBQ?
Yes. BBQ grills produce a heavy amount of heat, grease, and smoke. To keep this out of your outdoor patio area, buy a 1200+ CFM outdoor range hood. Sometimes, you’ll be barbecuing for an hour or more at a time. When cooking for long periods of time, it’s important to have adequate ventilation.
Do I need a range hood insert?
If you are building a custom hood, you need a range hood insert. An insert for your custom hood keeps it grease and grime-free. It also improves your air quality by venting cooking exhaust and other contaminants outside your home.
Custom hoods are a beautiful addition to your home. They allow you to conceal your range hood, which is popular if you like a minimalist look.
Learn more about range hood inserts and what insert is right for you in this article.
Is a range hood required by code?
Depending on where you live, a range hood may be required by code. States and sometimes cities may have restrictions on what you can and can’t install in your home. Similarly, if you live in an apartment or condo, your landlord may require you to install a range hood.
Find out if a range hood is required by building codes in your area right here.
Is it safe to cook without a range hood?
A range hood drastically improves the indoor air quality in your home. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air quality has been a leading cause of many health issues, including but not limited to:
- Eye, nose, and skin irritation
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Chest pain
- Flu-like symptoms
Research has shown that cooking, especially with gas stoves, produces dangerous chemicals that can be detrimental to your long term health. Beyond smoke, steam, and grease, some of these toxins include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. So, it’s important to have adequate ventilation.
To learn more about range hood safety, check out our article 'Is it safe to cook without a range hood?'
What are the different types of range hoods?
If you’re wondering if you need a range hood, you might also be wondering what type of hood is best for you. The most common range hoods are wall hoods, along with under cabinet, island, hood inserts, and outdoor hoods. To learn more about the different types of hoods, check out our comprehensive list.
What type of vent hood do I need?
The type of hood you need depends on where you installed your kitchen range. If it is against a wall, you need a wall range hood. If it is under cabinets, you’ll want an under cabinet range hood. If your hood is over an island, go with an island range hood. A flush island hood is a modern addition to your kitchen if you don't want to go with the standard tapered design.
If you installed a custom hood in your home, buy a range hood insert. Finally, for outdoor kitchens, buy an outdoor range hood.
How to Choose a Range Hood
Now that you’ve figured out whether or not you need a range hood, it’s time to shop for one. There’s a lot of things to consider. We broke all of them down in this short video.
If you have any questions about range hoods, feel free to call Proline at (877) 901 - 5530. We’re happy to help.
What size range hood do I need?
You need a range hood that is at least six inches larger than your range for an indoor kitchen. For an outdoor kitchen, buy a hood that is at least 12 inches larger than your range.
This is one of the most common questions we hear from customers at Proline Range Hoods. For more information on sizing your range hood, check out this FAQ page.
Recap
Hopefully we helped you decide if you need a range hood for your kitchen. Generally, everyone benefits from a range hood. Some people may need one more than others because they cook often or love strong-smelling foods. But, improved indoor quality benefits everyone, especially since studies have shown that Americans spend nearly 90% of their time indoors.
Check out more of our range hood guides at the links below.
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