Comprehensive Range Hood Glossary

Range hood terminology gets technical fast. We put this glossary together so homeowners, builders, and remodelers can speak the language with confidence — whether you're sizing a hood, planning a duct run, or comparing finishes. Jump to a letter or scroll through.

A

Airflow Efficiency

A measure of how effectively a hood moves air relative to the power it consumes. High efficiency means achieving maximum CFM with minimal energy use and noise.

B

Backdraft Damper

A valve, either spring-loaded or gravity-operated, installed inside a duct. During range hood operation, 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.

Backorder

An order status indicating that a specific model or part is currently out of stock but is expected to be delivered to the customer once replenished. Customers can still purchase the item and reserve their spot in the fulfillment line.

Backpressure

The resistance an exhaust fan encounters when pushing air through a duct system. Caused by friction, narrow pipes, long duct runs, or too many turns in the ductwork. Excessive backpressure reduces the hood's CFM, causing the motor to work harder and louder.

Baffle Filter

Constructed from interlocking stainless steel or aluminum slats, baffle filters force grease-filled air to change direction quickly. As the air turns, heavier grease droplets condense onto the metal blades and drain into the tray. They are durable and dishwasher-safe.

Black Stainless Steel

A contemporary finish created by applying a protective polymer coating over traditional stainless steel. It offers a sleek, matte, or brushed appearance.

Blower

The heart of the range hood — 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 but inside the home (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.

Burners

The sources of heat on a cooktop.

C

Capture Area

The physical footprint of the hood's underside that hangs over the cooking surface. A larger capture area helps vent smoke and steam before they can escape into the rest of the kitchen. Ideally, the capture area should be slightly larger than the cooking area.

Ceiling

The upper interior surface of the kitchen, which dictates the mounting height and ducting path. For island range hoods, the ceiling provides structural support for the entire unit.

CFM

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

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.

Chimney / Chimney Extension

A decorative covering that hides the ductwork leading from the hood to the ceiling. A chimney extension is an additional segment used for kitchens with extra-high ceilings, typically over 9 or 10 feet.

Circuit Board

The brain of the range hood, managing electronic functions such as fan speeds, lighting, and touch controls.

Cleaning

The routine maintenance required to keep the hood functional and fire-safe. This involves de-greasing the grease filters, wiping down the exterior finish, and clearing the fan blades. Regular cleaning prevents grease buildup that impedes airflow and eliminates lingering odors. Read our full filter maintenance guide →

D

Decibel

A unit used to measure the intensity of sound produced by the range hood's motor. Lower ratings indicate a quieter, more premium user experience.

Duct / Duct Size

The piping system that carries kitchen air to the outside of the home. Duct size refers to the diameter of the pipe (usually 6, 8, or 10 inches), which must match the hood's CFM output to prevent backpressure. Use our Ducting Calculator →

Ducted

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

Ductless (Recirculating)

A setup where air is filtered through charcoal and mesh before being released back into the kitchen rather than exhausted outside.

E

Efficiency

The ratio of smoke and grease removal to energy consumption. An efficient hood clears air quickly using the lowest possible fan speed.

Elbows

Angled duct fittings (usually 45 or 90 degrees) used to navigate the exhaust path around wall studs or corners. Every elbow added increases air resistance and reduces static pressure performance.

Exhaust

The air that is pulled away from the cooking surface and expelled from the building.

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.

F

Fan (Blower)

The mechanical component that creates suction to move air. See Blower for the distinction between fans and blowers.

G

Gas Stoves

Cooking appliances that use natural gas or propane to create an open flame for heating. Browse our gas freestanding ranges.

Grates

The heavy-duty metal frameworks, usually made of cast iron, that sit atop a gas cooktop to support pots and pans.

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 that 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

Halogen

A type of high-intensity incandescent light often used in older or entry-level range hoods for its bright, warm glow.

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."

Height (Mounting)

The vertical distance between the cooking surface and the bottom of the range hood. For optimal performance, this is typically set between 28 and 36 inches.

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 Range Hood

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. Find your insert size → Or browse our range hood inserts.

Installation

The process of physically mounting the hood, connecting the electrical wiring, and securing the ductwork. See our full range hood installation guide →

Island Range Hood

A ventilation unit designed to hang from the ceiling above a kitchen island or peninsula. Browse our island range hoods.

K

Kitchen

The central hub of the home where cooking, cleaning, and socializing occur.

Kitchen Exhaust Fans

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

L

LED

Light-emitting diode. Offers a crisp, bright light, produces very little heat, is extremely energy efficient, has a long lifespan, and is the gold standard for range hood lighting.

Lights

Integrated illumination located on the underside of the hood to provide clear visibility over the cooking surface.

Liner

Another term for an insert range hood.

Local Blower

A blower motor installed inside the range hood housing itself, as opposed to a remote/inline blower (mounted in the attic or within the duct run) or an external blower (mounted outside the home). Local blowers are the most common configuration and the simplest to install, since wiring and ductwork meet at a single point. Sometimes used interchangeably with "internal blower."

M

Makeup Air

The fresh air brought into a home to replace the air being exhausted by the range hood. Many local codes require a makeup air system for hoods over a certain CFM threshold (commonly 400 CFM). Learn how makeup air systems work →

Manufactured Home

A factory-built home (sometimes called a mobile or modular home) with unique ventilation requirements due to tighter construction, limited ceiling cavity depth, and code restrictions on duct routing. Range hoods installed in manufactured homes often require shorter duct runs, low-profile chimneys, and careful attention to makeup air.

Mounting Height

The distance between the cooking surface and the range hood. For optimal performance, the range hood should be installed 28 to 36 inches above the cooktop. Take the Range Hood Quiz →

N

Noise

The sound produced by a range hood during operation, generated primarily by the blower motor and the movement of air through the ductwork. Measured in decibels (dB) or sones, with lower numbers indicating quieter operation. Typical range hoods operate between 40 and 70 dB on high speed; premium models like the Proline Professional Series run significantly quieter by using larger, slower-spinning blowers.

O

Outdoor Range Hood

A ventilation unit engineered for outdoor kitchens, patios, and covered grilling areas. Outdoor hoods are built with weather-resistant materials (typically 304 stainless steel), sealed electronics, and higher CFM ratings to handle the heavier smoke and grease output of outdoor grills, smokers, and pizza ovens. Browse our outdoor-rated range hoods.

Oven

The enclosed heating chamber used for baking, roasting, or broiling.

Q

Quiet Operation

A design philosophy and feature set focused on reducing perceived noise without sacrificing CFM. Achieved through larger blower wheels spinning at lower RPMs, vibration-dampened motor mounts, insulated housings, and aerodynamically optimized air paths. Proline Professional hoods feature SuperQuiet mode as a dedicated example of this principle.

R

Range Hood

A kitchen appliance that hangs above the cooking surface and eliminates air pollution produced by cooking through filtering and extracting air. Not sure which hood you need? Take the quiz → Or save on a range + hood bundle.

Recirculating

A venting style where the hood pulls in air, scrubs it through a series of filters, and pushes the cleaned air back into the kitchen.

Recirculating Kit

A specialized bundle of components — usually including charcoal filters, air diverters, and specialized grates — used to convert a ducted hood into a ductless hood.

Remote Blower

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

Roof Cap

The external termination point of a duct system, sitting on the roof to allow air to escape. Read our complete guide to roof caps and ducting →

S

Sone

A unit of perceived loudness equal to the loudness of a 1,000-hertz tone at 40 dB above the threshold.

Static Pressure

The resistance air encounters as it moves through ducting, elbows, and roof caps. High static pressure reduces real airflow, even in high-CFM range hoods.

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 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.

Touch Panel

A modern, glass-fronted interface that replaces physical buttons or knobs with touch-sensitive sensors.

Transition

A specialized duct fitting used to connect two different shapes or sizes of ducting, such as moving from a rectangular hood outlet to a round 6-inch pipe.

U

Undercabinet Range Hood

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

V

Vent

The overall system or specific opening through which air is directed out of the kitchen.

Venting

The process of exhausting smoke, steam, and odors to maintain a healthy indoor environment.

Ventless

Another term for a recirculating or ductless range hood that does not require an external exhaust path.

W

Wall Cap

The exterior termination point for a duct that exits through a side wall rather than the roof. See also Roof Cap.

Wall Mount Range Hood

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

White Range Hood

A range hood finished in white (usually powder-coated steel) rather than stainless steel or black. White hoods are popular in farmhouse, coastal, and traditional kitchen designs, where the hood is meant to blend with white cabinetry or serve as a soft focal point rather than a metallic statement piece.

Wiring

The electrical connections that power the range hood, including the supply line from the home's circuit and the internal harnesses connecting the blower, lights, and control board. Most range hoods can be either hardwired into a junction box or plugged into a standard 120V outlet, depending on local code. Always confirm the dedicated circuit amperage matches the hood's amp draw.