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May 18, 2009

Should you use a ducted or ductless range hood?

Any kitchen, be it a domestic or a commercial one, all have one thing in common: range hoods. Range hoods are placed above a stove in order to properly ventilate any unnecessary fumes or odors that might be produced during the course of cooking. In turn, this keeps any odors from leaking out into the rest of the building or house, thereby ensuring that all fumes are properly circulated and ventilated.

It is because of these reasons, that range hoods are an extremely vital part of a well operating kitchen. Apart from providing comfort to anyone who might be cooking in the kitchen, it also keeps people safe from any unnecessary accidents that might a direct result of lingering fumes in the kitchen.

In the market today, there is an extremely wide variety of range hoods, all of which are built to cater to different needs, specifications and requirements. Some range hoods are made of special non-stick materials, which make relatively easy to clean, whereas others are designed to be stored away when not in use. In addition, you will also be able to find different range hoods that have been designed to suit specific designs and layouts of kitchen, making it relatively easy to find a range hood that will suit your needs.

Most range hoods can be roughly categorized into two main categories. For range hoods that have been designed for use in kitchen, they will either be ducted, or ductless. Understanding the operational difference between each of these two types of range hoods is essential, as it will help you decide on the type of range hood to use in your kitchen.

For ducted hoods, you will need to have a connecting exhaust duct to blow the fumes from the kitchen, out into an open space that is normally outside the house. With ducted range hoods, you get very efficient venting of unnecessary fumes, but depending on the overall layout of your kitchen, might be very troublesome to install.

However, for ductless range hoods, you will find that these range hoods are extremely easy to install, as they do not need to be connected to an external ventilation duct. The only requirement for these range hoods to operate is an electrical socket that powers the ventilation fans. These ventilation fans help to blow the air back into a certain area of the room, thereby isolating all the intended kitchen fumes.

Despite the ducted range hood having a much higher level of effectiveness, you will find that most common domestic kitchens use a ductless range hood. This is simply because there is not enough space in domestic kitchens, for the luxury of being able to install a ventilation duct for the ducted range hood.

Despite this, you should always take the time to measure and weigh your requirements, before deciding on the type of range hood to install, as it will be a long-term choice that you will be making.

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Filed under Kitchen Appliances by Steven Tsang

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