Shane Gannaway on August 5, 2015 32 Comments One of the most important things to consider when installing a new cooking range is what type of exhaust hood you’re going to need. There are a lot of different options out there for exhaust hoods, including both ducted hoods and ductless models. Ultimately, depending on your range and the setup of your kitchen, the choice will be yours to make. However, it is quite important that you make an educated choice. This being the case, it is definitely worth taking a few minutes to consider the pros and cons of both ducted and ductless ranges alike. First, you need to understand what a range hood is, then you should understand the major differences between the ducted and ductless models. Research the pros and cons of each in order to make to smartest choice for you and your kitchen. What Are Range Hoods? A range hood, often referred to as a vent hood or exhaust hood, is an enclosure for the area over your range that uses a fan to collect steam, smoke, fumes and other airborne particles that may be generated while cooking. The additional ventilation that a range hood can provide is a way to filter what is coming off the stove out and away from you and the food. Depending on the type of range hood you have, there is usually a mechanical fan that you can switch on or off in order to pull in the airborne items and push them out somewhere else. This helps to keep these particles from collecting on the walls, ceilings, and other surfaces. This can significantly cut down on the grimy buildup that can accumulate in your kitchen overtime. In this way, range hoods make for a cleaner kitchen that involves less upkeep and scrub-downs. A range hood can also help reduce cooking odors from dispersing to the rest of your home or restaurant. A typical hood usually looks like some sort of canopy that hangs over your cooktop. The Bottom Line: A range hood helps to keep your kitchen cleaner and more comfortable while you are cooking. What Are Ducted Range Hoods? Ducted hoods are fairly common, although some kitchen designs may limit where they can be installed, due to the fact that these hoods need to be able to move the air out of the kitchen. In this way, they are restricted as to where they can be placed in the kitchen. A ducted range hood must be connected to a duct with pipes that carry the airborne particles away from the kitchen to the outdoors. This is what differentiates it from a ductless range hood, which instead just recirculates through a filter and then back into the kitchen. If you choose to go with a ducted hood, you’ll need to have the proper ducts installed to move the dirty air and particles out of the kitchen completely. Ducted hoods are quite common in commercial kitchens, but depending on your kitchen and cooking habits, this kind of hood might be just what you need for your new home range. What Are Ductless Range Hoods? Ductless hoods can be installed almost anywhere. Since they don’t need to vent to your home’s exterior and are ductless, you are not required to install them only where there is a duct. These hoods operate by filtering the air they suck in and then blowing it back out into the room, essentially using a recirculation process. The filter often contains activated carbon or charcoal which helps to remove odor and smoke particles from the air, which can then be cleanly recirculated back throughout the kitchen. Of course, with the ductless model, it may be necessary to clean or change the activated charcoal filter about once or twice a year. This cleaning and replacement from time to time is necessary for your range hood to work most efficiently. The Pros & Cons of Different Types of Vent Hoods By weighing the various advantages and disadvantages of each type of hood, you can better decide which one is most suitable for your particular kitchen. Ducted Range Hoods: The Good & Bad Ducted hoods are commonly found in commercial kitchens or homes that have larger ranges that tend to generate greater amounts of smoke, fumes or dirty air that should be vented outside. Ducted hoods tend to be more efficient for getting rid of humidity and steam from the cooking area due to the fact they are not actually filtering and recirculating the air, but are instead venting it out of the kitchen completely. Some people claim that ducted exhaust systems run more efficiently, and tend to me more quiet. This is debatable, however, as efficiency and noise production will differ depending on the brand, size, model and how well you take care of your range hood. One of the few drawbacks of a ducted hood is that it must be installed in an area where there is a duct system that goes from inside the kitchen to the exterior of the home or building. This can potentially limit the areas in the kitchen where you can actually position your range and hood. Ductless Range Hoods: The Good & Bad A ductless hood has the advantage of being a bit more versatile and can be installed just about anywhere you please. Because a ductless range hood merely filters and then recirculates air throughout the kitchen, you do not need to worry about installing it near any pipe or ducts that reach the outside. In this way, a ductless hood can be more convenient than a ducted system, at least in regard to the installation process. Some ductless models even run on timers and can be programmed to turn on or off automatically. The ductless range hoods are not without their disadvantages, unfortunately. For this type of hood, due to the fact that it recirculates air instead of pulling in new air or venting out stale and dirty air, your kitchen may become fairly humid. The decibel levels of a ductless hood may be a bit higher than ducted exhaust systems due to the fact that they often require much more fan power. Again, this will be dependent on many factors, including the brand, size and model you choose. It is also important to remember that the filter needs to be cleaned or replaced regularly for optimum performance. This may mean an ongoing cost for the homeowner. How to Choose the Best Hood For Your Kitchen To choose which of these two types of hoods is right for your kitchen, you really need to examine your work space, your cooking style, and your personal preferences. You might have to mull over a few important questions regarding your kitchen situation before you pick the right range hood. Are you flexible about where your range hood can go? If there are ducts in your kitchen, then you may be able to choose between ducted or ductless range hoods. If you do not have ducts in your kitchen, you may be limited to going ductless or paying to have ducts installed in your home. Remember, a ductless range hood will generally be more flexible. Where you plan on putting your range or cooktop will likely determine what type of range hood you can have. How important is the air quality and humidity in your kitchen? With this question, there should be a clear answer. If having a humid kitchen with recirculating air is out of the question, then you would be better off going with a ducted hood. If you are fine with recirculating air and a little more noise, then you will be fine with a ductless hood. Some people are fine with recirculating air while others may be uncomfortable with it. The answer to this question should give you a clear indication as to whether a ducted or ductless hood is best for your home. What is your budget like? The range and range hood are going to cost money, but you also need to consider the price of installation. If you need to install all brand new ductwork just to accommodate your duct range hood, it can potentially be quite costly. If you plan on moving your range hood, it will also cost money to patch up any holes that the old one left behind. If you are replacing an old range and hood, it may sometimes be easier to just get the same type of range hood as you had before. This will save you a lot of money and stress. On the other hand, if you are replacing your old hood because you want a different type, just make sure to budget for the cost of installation. It’s Your Choice Choosing to go with a ducted or ductless range hood is ultimately your choice. Although ducted hoods tend to be more efficient, ductless hoods are also fine and even more flexible in a lot of settings. Commercial kitchens are likely to need duct range hoods while residential kitchens can go either way. Examine and research all of your options carefully and consider the advantages and disadvantages of either type. Ask yourself the questions above to get a better idea of where you stand. Then all you need to do is go out and select the style of hood you like most.
John C. says May 30, 2016 at 10:52 am Your information took me out of the dark on the subject. Thank you, John C. Reply
Julia Kilgore says September 28, 2016 at 4:44 pm I still have questions about the air quality. Does a ductless vent filter enough to keep the smoke out of the open space. I find this is generally the problem, they do not eliminate the smoke or odor adequately. I have heard there are ductless hoods that have multiple filters and it is equivalent to the duct hoods. Do you have this type of ductless hood? Reply
Mariko Cruse says March 20, 2020 at 11:20 am Please tell me if you know a ductless hood system with an improved exhausting of fume. Reply
Richard Tilghman Wendel says May 22, 2017 at 12:39 pm I have the same concerns as Julia, about air quality. We don’t live in caves anymore, ducting cooking fumes out-of- doors makes good sense. If you’re stuck with a duct-less kitchen, certainly you would want the best filtration possible. Well-presented discussion! Thank you. Reply
Margaret says June 5, 2017 at 8:43 pm I really need to locate a recirculating vent that is 7 inches or less in height, 30 inches or less in width and 18 inches or less in depth. The height seems to be my challenge. Any suggestions? Reply
Suz says June 13, 2017 at 2:01 pm Thank you for writing this helpful article! I thought I was going to have to install duct work on my kitchen remodel. Thanks for the information! Reply
Breccia Cressman says August 22, 2017 at 2:29 pm I really need to know about getting the VOC’s out of the kitchen (volatile organic compounds). I have a gas range, and with my VOC meter, the VOC”s go to dangerous levels if I am running two burners on the stove. Will a vented range hood take out these dangerous fumes, or will it just take out smoke and steam? thanks Reply
Kris says November 26, 2017 at 5:57 pm Really useful article. I appreciate knowing more than I did an hour ago. Now to purchase a ducted range hood just like the old one and develop the courage to connect it. Reply
Jan says December 12, 2017 at 11:54 pm Great help! I had a 3 season room added 6 years ago that covered my stove vent. I NEED the cupboard above my stove. I will be receiving a new stainless stove in a few days and the hood I have is white. I still need at least the light. Haven’t used the vent in years, obviously! I have seen vents that raise and lower on HGTV, but never a ventless hood. This is exactly what I need. I live alone and don’t cook that much anyway. Reply
Val Robinson says January 6, 2018 at 8:22 am Thank you very much. This was very helpful information. Reply
Barbara Ostipwko says January 11, 2018 at 3:44 pm Shane, One con that you omitted with ductless hoods…. Small kitchens can retain cooking orders for days! For example, cooking fish. The odors are in my entire living area for days! Reply
Marvin P. says February 18, 2019 at 3:48 pm there is an assortment of products on the market that can cover and handle those odors for you Barbara Reply
Nurse440 says February 9, 2018 at 3:35 pm Thanks Barbara , That response is what I was looking for , I will be going with a duct hood system Reply
Mike Robishaw says April 15, 2018 at 10:59 pm Adding an outdoor kitchen to my new build of a house. Considering a ductless range hood for my grill; which i plan to put near the opening to the pool area. Any thoughts on ductless for outdoor? Aside from possibly noisier than a range hood with duct work, will it still do a good job? Reply
Ferne says August 28, 2018 at 11:38 am I have a problem with husband cooking hamburgers on the stove and presently there is no range hood and not possible for a ducted one. Will the duct less keep the grease way from the walls and ceilings? Where does the grease in the air go with the ductless. Will it only be a matter of keeping the charcoal try filter cleaned? And can they be washed my hands with soap and water? Reply
Bob says December 11, 2018 at 6:58 pm The grease stays in the filters and the air goes through them when recirculating. If the smell is too strong the hood may not get it rid of it completely, but it will greatly reduce it. Washing the charcoal filter will be of little help at best and mess it up at worst as the soap may get stuck on it. You can just buy new filters, they’re very cheap. The duration of the filter will depend on how much you use the hood and of the strength of the odors and grease it filters. I find that I can change mine once a year. Cheers! Reply
Lita Unruh says December 31, 2018 at 4:00 pm We are designing our kitchen and have it set up for a “great room” with kitchen/dining/living space with vaulted ceilings… we were told that a recirculating hood might be best, but wondering how that works in case of smoke coming from stove… I’m a pretty good cook, but these things happen. Also, what is the price differential? Reply
Jumila says May 25, 2019 at 2:23 am Thank you SO much Shane, we were just back from watching Detective Pikachu and wondering about air vents. Thank you thank you Reply
Rick Cronshaw says October 21, 2019 at 9:24 pm Of course ducted hoods are best if you want to eliminate moisture and odors as well as grease. But be aware that ducted exhaust also requires filtering (which comes with most hoods). If you plan on ducting a hood to atmosphere without first filtering at the hood, this will result in ducting that accumulates a massive amount of grease and will need to be cleaned regularly. Commercial systems do not permit ducted systems that are not filtered at source. Residential systems are not strictly regulated. Selection of the packaged ducted hood should consider the fan performance required to handle not only ducting resistance but discharge cowl (on roof) and of course the filters. Reply
Jim McCann says December 23, 2019 at 3:26 am Great article, really helped me regarding a new installation, thanks for the help. Reply
Patrick Pitts says January 6, 2020 at 3:19 pm One issue with ducted I didn’t see mentioned above: if your house is very tight, you may need to add an intake system so the hood can draw. I replaced my silly recirculating microwave with an excellent ducted hood, but didn’t think about our super-tight energy efficient home being a problem. I have to open a window when I cook anything smoky or the hood is just a noisemaker. Reply
Abhishek says January 19, 2020 at 1:19 am This article has helped me with lot of ease in identifying what is best for my kitchen. Thanks a lot Shane & team. Reply
Anil D Mandke says January 23, 2020 at 10:31 pm Excellent presentation and sound informative. This article is certainly help for Kitchen chimney selector. Good Luck. What are other subjects you covered for guidance ? Reply
Gonzalo Z says May 30, 2020 at 6:53 pm Very informative. Thanks! Got me out of total ignorance in the matter. My debate is replacing my old ducted hood for a ductless in order to gain space for cabinets to the roof (30″ to 40″ height), have to remove the portion of duct that runs on that side of the kitchen insideca 10″ by 15″ box. Have to decide if would settle for a bit more humidity and maybe odour. Any insights? Reply
Alan Totka says July 3, 2020 at 5:02 pm do all microwave range hoods have the same duct cut outs to align with existing exterior duct location. Reply
Macdonald says July 11, 2020 at 1:38 am how big should the vent duct be for a 1 bedroom apartment Reply
CompactAppliance.com says July 17, 2020 at 8:06 pm The size of the venting should match the requirements/recommendations of the range hood you are venting. The size of the apartment will have very little to do with how large the ducting should be. Reply
