Comprehensive Range Hood Glossary

B

Backdraft Damper

A valve, either spring-loaded or gravity-operated, installed inside a duct. During range hood operation, the air pressure opens the valve, allowing polluted air to be exhausted outside. When the range hood is off, the backdraft damper closes, preventing outside air from entering the ductwork.

Blower

The heart of the range hood, the blower is the device that moves air. The terms "fan" and "blower" are often used interchangeably; however, fans operate at lower speeds, whereas blowers are designed to move air at higher speeds and pressures.

Types of Blowers:

• Internal Blower: Located inside the range hood unit.
• Inline or Remote Blower: Installed outside the range hood (e.g., in the attic or between joists).
• External Blower: Positioned outside the house in a weather-resistant enclosure.

Most ProLine range hoods feature built-in blowers, covered by the manufacturer’s 10-Year Warranty.

BTU

Acronym for "British Thermal Unit," used to measure the heat output of gas-fueled appliances.

C

Charcoal Filter

A cartridge or cassette filled with activated charcoal, used to filter contaminants from the air in ductless range hoods. Charcoal filters should be replaced every few months, depending on cooking frequency. Note that charcoal filters are not necessary for ducted range hoods.

CFM

An acronym for "Cubic Feet per Minute," which measures the volume of air flow from vent hoods. This rating indicates fan power.

D

Ducted

Refers to a range hood installed with a duct leading outside the house. Ducted range hoods remove all forms of airborne pollution without needing carbon filters, leading to higher performance without additional noise or expense.

E

External Blower

A blower motor unit installed outside the house in an outdoor-rated enclosure. This setup reduces operational noise but requires additional expense and labor.

G

Grease

A form of airborne pollution caused by cooking. Grease can combine with other substances to create a sticky film on kitchen surfaces and may damage kitchen cabinetry by attracting mold and fungi growth. Range hoods use grease filters to remove airborne grease.

Grease Filter

A cartridge or cassette filled with layers of metal mesh, which traps airborne grease. Grease filters are typically made from anodized aluminum and do not need to be replaced. ProLine range hoods include metal mesh grease filters, with the Professional Series featuring stainless steel baffle filters and grease cups.

H

Height Adjustable

Refers to an island-mount or wall-mount range hood with a vertical chimney that can be adjusted to fit various ceiling heights. Also known as "Telescoping Chimney" or "Adjustable Chimney Section."

I

Inline Blower

A blower motor unit installed outside the range hood but within the house (e.g., in the attic or between joists). This setup reduces operational noise and does not require an outdoor-rated enclosure.

Insert

A range hood insert or liner designed to be installed inside an enclosure, such as a kitchen cabinet or custom-built structure. ProLine range hood inserts include the liner panel, blower, and control unit.

K

Kitchen Exhaust Fans

Fans designed to ventilate a kitchen by drawing air from the interior and expelling it outside. See Range Hood.

M

Mounting Height

The distance between the cooking surface and the range hood. For optimal performance, the range hood should be installed 28 to 32 inches above the cooktop, with 30 inches being the standard.

R

Range Hood

A kitchen appliance that hangs above the cooking surface and eliminates air pollution produced by cooking through filtering and extracting air.

Remote Blower

A blower located outside the range hood but inside the house (e.g., in the attic or between joists). Also known as "inline blower."

S

Sone

A unit of perceived loudness equal to the loudness of a 1000-hertz tone at 40 dB above the threshold.

Steam

Water vapor created during cooking, which can carry other forms of pollution and damage kitchen cabinetry by condensing on surfaces and attracting mold and fungi growth.

SuperQuiet

A special operation mode built into the ProLine PLJW Professional Models, allowing the range hood to operate at its quietest setting while moving the largest volume of air.

T

Tempered Glass

Glass toughened through a special process to increase its strength. Once tempered, the glass is almost impossible to cut or modify. ProLine range hoods use clear, transparent tempered glass, which may appear slightly green at the edges due to chemical changes during the annealing process.

U

Undercabinet

A range hood designed to be installed under a cabinet. Modern undercabinet hoods are fully ducted and range from 30 to 60 inches. However, economy models may suffer from limited blower power, minimal design impact, and size constraints.

W

Wall Mount

A range hood designed to be installed on a vertical wall directly behind the cooking surface, as opposed to an island mount range hood.