Several years ago, a customer of mine kept trying to get a different answer from me by asking the same question over and over. “Can I mount my hood 42″ above my range?” No! This went on for several months. A couple months after he moved into his home, he called me and said he was having problems with his hood. “It’s not venting properly” he said. I asked him several questions about the installation and couldn’t figure out what the problem was so I sent a technician out to look at it. The technician called me after he left. “The hood won’t ever work for him” explained the technician. I asked why? “His hood is mounted 42″ above his cooktop.” Aha! I didn’t think he’d actually do it after I said no so many times.
For quite some time designers were fixated on putting the cooking surface on the island. The thought was it was nice to not have to turn your back on guests while you are entertaining and cooking at the same time. The problem is how do you vent properly? Downdraft cooktops are not as efficient as updraft hoods, and island hoods aren’t as attractive when you’re trying to preserve a view. Function and form clash more in this category than anything else in kitchen appliances.
If you are using a pro-style cooking surface with a high BTU output, or induction cooktop it is best to consider a better performing hood. Look for a high CFM (cubic feet per minute) rate. I really like to recommend a brand called Vent A Hood. They are powerful and have ample capture area – an important consideration, too. Capture area holds heat, smoke, and steam before the blower can extract it.
Another factor to consider is noise. Moving air at higher CFM rates will cause more noise. Some hoods are better than others (Vent A Hood being one of the least noisy – notice I didn’t say quiet?). Mesh type filters are noisier than commercial style baffles. Another way to quiet a hood is to use a remote blower instead of putting the blower inside the hood. Not all hoods are capable of this option. This is also typically available for downdrafts, as well. You will spend more with this option, but if quieter ventilation is important to you, it may well be worth the expenditure. Don’t bother with a remote blower if the duct run is under 6′ long. You may not benefit from the reduced noise as the vibration may transmit through the wall that houses the blower.
If at all possible, keep 90 degree angles to a minimum. Too many 90’s will put more backpressure on the blower and will decrease efficiency, not to mention create more noise. Also, it is far better to use round ducting than rectangular ducting. Air travels in a circular motion. You may not be able to avoid rectangular ducting if you are going through a floor joist. Round ducting will also produce less of a noise factor, too.
A quick tip: Crack a window in your kitchen about a ¼” and start your hood while you are doing prep work for the meal. You’ll create an airstream, and it will give you much better draw into the hood.
When planning your kitchen ventilation, it really is best to make sure you do the proper research and planning. The extra work you do will help you not smell bacon for 3 days after you cook it!
Check out Best Cooktops 2016
Best Cooktops 2016Check PriceRamblewood High Efficiency 4 Burner Natural Gas CooktopCheck PriceGE CGU366SEHSS Cafe 36Check PriceNew Modern Cooktop 2016Check PriceGE JGP329SETSS 30Check Price
0 comments:
Post a Comment