Ductless Range Hood Reviews and Buyer's Guide

Ductless range hoods are a modern and functional appliance for your kitchen. Unlike the more common ducted range hoods, ductless range hoods recirculate your kitchen air.

Do you live in an apartment or a condo? Are you not allowed to install ductwork? Are you looking for a quick kitchen upgrade on a tight budget?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, a ductless range hood may be right for you. Check out the video below to learn more about ductless or recirculating range hoods.

Although these range hoods are ductless, they happen to be four of the most popular hoods we sell. This is mostly because they are also convertible range hoods; in other words, they can be either ducted or ductless.

For an in-depth look at each one of these recirculating hoods, keep reading.

PLJW 185 - Low Profile

The PLJW 185 is a fan favorite here at Proline Range Hoods. Combine its power, sleek design, and user-friendly controls and you have everything you need in a range hood. The 185 is complete with a 600 CFM dual blower at just three inches tall. At this height, it is one of the most powerful ductless hoods in the industry.

The PLJW 185 is available in both 30” and 36”. Take a look at what our customers have said about it below.

PLJW 185 - Ductless Range Hood Reviews

“We had the proline PLJW 185 installed in 2017 as part of our total kitchen renovation. It is simple, neat, quiet, and most of all, does the job. Filters are easily removable. I recommend this product.” -Grace Q.

“Purchased a low profile PLJW 185 range hood in 2016 while remodeling my kitchen. Perfect match with my new stainless appliances. The blower function works well venting to the outside. No complaints.” - Kevin M.

“The old hood in our home did not remove the air sufficiently enough. We noticed this problem more when frying foods and we were getting a greasy build-up on things all over the kitchen & dining room. I installed a 30" Under Cabinet Hood PLJW 185.30 and WOW... what a difference... better lighting over the stove.... and with all the different exhaust fan speeds we now do not have that greasy build-up happening anymore. I wish I had made this upgrade years ago!” - Koen H.

PLFW 520 - Super Quiet

The PLFW 520 is a sleek wall range hood for your kitchen. Like the 185, it boasts a powerful 600 CFM blower. This is much more powerful than most ductless hoods from big box stores, which are rated at around 400 CFM or less. The PLFW 520 features modern stainless steel push buttons to adjust the blower speed and bright LED lights. Your 520 range hood can run as low as 100 CFM and as high as 600 CFM when necessary. It runs at a max noise level of just 4.5 sones, so you are sure to enjoy a comfortable, quiet kitchen experience.

You can find the PLFW 520 in 30”, 36”, 42”, and 48”. It is a versatile convertible range hood – the perfect appliance to jump start your kitchen remodel.

PLFW 520 - Ductless Range Hood Reviews

“In remodeling our kitchen on a limited budget we looked at several range hoods and chose the 30" Wall Mount 6 speed PLFW 520 because of the sleek SS design, nice standard features all at an affordable price. One year later it continues to run smooth, quiet, reliable and the LED lighting creates a great cooking experience.” - JT B.

“I just did a complete remodel of my kitchen which also included a vent hood over my gas stove. I removed my new over the stove microwave that was also a vent hood and replaced it with the Proline PLFW 520.24 over the stove vented hood. I needed a special size, and after many reviews of many companies, Proline came up glowing. Perfect size, made of stainless with a very good price and excellent shipping. I would include a picture, but I have not finished the tiles on the wall where it is mounted, so I will post when I have that done as well. I have already spread the word to friends to check out the site.” - Sheila S.

“We love our Proline exhaust hood. Not only does it look awesome in our kitchen but its efficiency is what we love most. With 6 speeds to customize your airflow. On its low speed, you can hardly hear it and at high speed, you will smell your bacon in the backyard instead of your kitchen. It’s awesome.” - Salvador C.

PLFW 544 - Unique Glass Design

The PLFW 544 is a modern glass range hood that packs a powerful punch. The 600 CFM blower will clean your kitchen air with ease. This is the only glass range hood we offer at Proline. Most of our range hoods are tapered with stainless steel housing, but this glass range hood will give your kitchen a new look. The stainless steel push buttons are easy to use and accessible in the front of the vent hood. Not only that but the bright LED lights keep your cooktop incredibly bright.

PLFW 544 - Ductless Range Hood Reviews

“We purchased a 36" wall-mount PLFW 544 stainless steel and glass range hood in September 2013. It looks as great today as it did the day it was installed. It works great, operates as expected. Contacted customer service about replacement lights. They answered the phone on the first ring and were able to send out the LEDs the same day. Outstanding product at a great price and backed by outstanding service! Highly recommended.” - Roger D.

“We have a Proline PLFW54430 range hood that was installed during a complete kitchen remodel over an induction range. It finishes off the contemporary look we were going for with its sleek glass and stainless design. But the most important part is that it works beautifully and keeps the cooktop smoke away from the kitchen and living area. It has handled the exhaust for four smoking and steaming pots at once with no problem. Would definitely recommend this unit.” - Nancy S.

“We ordered the 36-inch PLFW 544 wall mounted range hood for our kitchen remodel project. Beautiful design, quality construction, competitive price, installed about 6 months ago. Touch controls and fan speed display are also very nice. The 6-speed fan and LED lights are great. The packaging was very good and the shipment was on time. Installation instructions are good. A beautiful addition to our new kitchen. Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.” - Dave K.

PLJW 109 - Most Powerful

The PLJW 109 is a powerful ductless range hood. It features a 1000 CFM blower to vent all the grease and smoke from your kitchen. You can adjust the blower speed to four different levels to match your cooking style. At 1000 CFM, the PLJW 109 is one of the most powerful ductless hoods on the market.

Dishwasher-safe baffle filters make cleaning simple and easy. Just toss the filters in the dishwasher when you’re done in the kitchen and that’s it!

Purchase your 109 wall range hood below and check out some of our customer reviews.

PLJW 109 - Ductless Range Hood Reviews

“Proline Range Hoods supplies outstanding products, high quality at a very reasonable price. Their customer service is exceptional! I especially liked the flexibility to communicate with them via chat, phone, or email. They were very responsive to all my purchase needs, installation questions, and post-consumer questions. We installed 42" PLJW 109.42WC 1200 CFM with Chimney in our kitchen. My wife and I love the way it looks and functions. It paired really nicely with the Wolf Range top as well (see pic). I highly recommend Proline Range Hoods!” - A. McEwen

“We were in need of an outdoor BBQ exhaust hood for our new BBQ outdoor kitchen. We live in Florida directly on the ICW. After researching and contacting multiple suppliers Proline Hoods came up high in our list. The online site and support lines gave many options and choices and excellent prices The Hood with optional extension arrived in excellent condition and on time. Delivered on the spot. My wife and I did the installation, it went very smoothly, no issues.” - Louis R.

Are ductless range hoods any good?

Ductless range hoods are not as good as ducted range hoods, but they are more effective than no range hood at all. It is much better to vent the greasy cooking exhaust to the outside than to recirculate it back into your kitchen. Ductless hoods use charcoal filters to neutralize odors and trap grease and dirt, but they are not as efficient as the stainless steel mesh and baffle filters of ducted range hoods.

Which is better: ducted or ductless range hood?

It is always preferable to install a ducted range hood. If you can’t afford ductwork or if your building codes don’t allow for ductwork, purchase a ductless range hood.

Are charcoal filters effective in range hoods?

Yes, but they are not as effective as stainless steel baffle or mesh filters. Charcoal filters trap contaminants and odors from your kitchen, but they do not handle heavy cooking such as Asian food or greasy food. If you cook often, definitely go for stainless steel baffle filters.

What is the best ductless range hood?

The best ductless range hood is the PLJW 185. It is a versatile convertible range hood that is quite powerful. At just five inches tall, it runs at an impressive 600 CFM – the most powerful range hood on the market for its size.

What should I look for in a ductless range hood?

The most important thing to look for in a ductless range hood is the blower power. Most ductless range hoods simply don’t have the power to adequately vent cooking exhaust from your kitchen. So, if you need a ductless range hood, definitely consider the most powerful CFM options.

For more information on choosing the best ductless range hood for you, check out this comprehensive article.

Thank you for checking out Proline’s best ductless range hoods. If you have any questions about ductless hoods, feel free to call our customer support team at (877) 901 - 5530.

See you around!

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