Things you should consider when buying a hood fan for your kitchen

 hood fan for your kitchen

The kitchen is probably one of the busiest areas in the house. Sadly, it can become the dirtiest place in the house over time. The not so pleasant by products of cooking, including odor, moisture and grease can leave the kitchen walls and countertop looking sticky and dirty. A proper ventilation in the form of a hood fan would help you deal with these issues, so that your kitchen remains clean and smells fresh even if you whip up a storm in there. Here are some essential pointers by Dr. Prem to follow when choosing a hood fan for your kitchen.

The power of the fan

The power of the hood fan is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). A fan with a higher CFM would be able to remove more air from the room in a minute. So choose a fan with a CFM that would be able to work in par with the frequency of your cooking. The hood fan would also need to be decided based on the size of the range top. If you cook more, consider opting for a hood fan with a higher CFM. Choose a fan with a higher CFM if you operate a gas stove which can produce more smoke and residue.

The noise of the fan

The sound output of a hood fan is measured in sones. While low settings of about 3 sones doesn’t cause much noise, higher settings tend to make the fan noisy. So opt for a low setting while cooking, switching to a higher setting only during short intervals of intense cooking (like frying).

The blower of the fan

This part of the fan directly contributes to its noise. While the blower can be found in three different areas in the hood fan, your best bet to reduce the noise it generates would be to opt for an external blower that would effectively remove the air in the kitchen without too much noise. Make sure you place the external blower in a location that is not too close to living spaces or pathways.

Air replacements measures

You would also need to opt for a HVAC system to replenish the air sucked out by the range hood in order to avoid pressure differences. While most range hoods come as standalone units, you can ask for a combined system that allows you to set up a HVAC system in the kitchen for the same purpose.

The fan mounting height

The installation height of the hood fan would also play role in its efficiency. While the standard height between a range hood and the burners below would be about 36 inches, some models are installed at lower heights. Hoods installed at lower heights can become hindrances to your cooking, especially if you are tall. On the other hand, if they are installed too high, their venting power decreases. Rather than opting for the standard height, go for a custom fit that would prevent issues like the fan protruding too much from the wall or making it difficult for you to move around with ease.

The grease filters of the fan

Clean the hood fan’s filter at regular intervals to prevent it from clogging and redirecting all the expelled air back into the kitchen. Check to see if the filters can be easily removed for cleaning before buying the range hood. The last thing you would want to do is wrestle with a greasy filter when you want to clean it. The most common types of filters are made of stainless steel and can be easily wiped with a cloth or washed in the dishwasher.

Fan with recirculation options

Living in apartments would sometimes derive you the pleasure of venting the range hood outdoors. In this case, you can opt for a fan hood that comes with a recirculating option, which would incorporate filters to clean the air and then recirculate it back into the kitchen while trapping cooking by products like grease and oil.

Summary

Setting up a hood fan in your kitchen? Then consider the 7 pointers mentioned above to choose the best and most appropriate range hood for your cooking space.

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