What is the vent above the stove called? A kitchen hood, exhaust hood, or range hood is a device containing a mechanical fan that hangs above the stove or cooktop in the kitchen. It removes airborne grease, combustion products, fumes, smoke, heat, and steam from the air by evacuation of the air and filtration.
Why does my Stove have a vent on the top?
These vents move heat out of the oven. You may notice the stove getting a little hot when the oven is on. The vents release heat, smoke, and so on into the air through a duct. That's when you turn on the range hood as needed to ventilate the area. Thanks! Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
How do you vent a gas stove directly to the outside?
Most kitchen stoves have ranged hoods over them to direct gas outside. If you’re using a wood-burning stove or a similar appliance, it will have a spot to hook a vent pipe directly to it.
What is another name for a stove hood?
It is also called a kitchen hood, stove hood, exhaust hood, cooker hood, vent hood, or ventilation hood. Other names include cooking canopy, extractor fan, fume extractor, and electric chimney .
How do you check the vents on a freestanding stove?
Try blowing air through the vents with a fan or another tool to check for leaks or loose connections. Use a voltmeter to detect if the wires have an electrical current running through them. What are the vents on the back of a freestanding stove or oven for? These vents move heat out of the oven.
What does the vent above the stove do?
Hoods are designed to remove odors, smoke, grease and other pollutants that are released into the air while cooking. The polluted air is sucked through a motorized fan and is either carried outside or filtered and re-circulated.
What is the difference between range hood and vent hood?
Any ventilation unit is designed to control and disperse smoke, steam, and grease- or oil-related odors out of your kitchen. A range hood collects and transfers these unhealthy vapors to prevent your cooking from fogging up your kitchen.
Do you need a vent above a stove?
The truth is that you should consider a vent for your electric stove. Even if you cook one or two times a week, a vent hood can be beneficial for you. It will clean your indoor air and improve your indoor air quality. For electric stoves, we recommend a range hood of at least 600 CFM.
What are the three types of ventilation hood?
Wall-Mount Range Hoods. Ceiling-Mount Range Hoods. Downdraft Vent Hoods.
What is a ductless vent?
A ductless (or ventless) range hood does not vent out of the home, instead, it carries the debris and smoke form the air and filters it through a charcoal or carbon filter before releasing it back into the room. While many times this method is not as functional as a vented hood, it does work.
What is a ducted vent hood?
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.
Is a downdraft vent necessary?
Although it is a desirable option, a regular kitchen cooktop does not need to be vented and exhausted to the outside. A downdraft cooktop and grill must be vented from the kitchen to the outside, following manufacturer's specifications.
Do range hoods have to be vented outside?
Do range hoods have to be vented outside? No; range hoods without a duct, or ductless range hoods, can recirculate air back into your kitchen. However, to clean your kitchen air most efficiently, purchase a ducted range hood. Rather than relocate the cooking exhaust, it will evacuate it from your home entirely.
How do downdraft vents work?
Downdraft vents work by pulling the air across the cooking surface and drawing smoke, steam and grease down through a filter and into a duct that carries it beneath the floor or along the cabinet kick space and outside your home.
What's the difference between canopy and chimney hood?
It's main difference is that the parts are different. So your traditional chimney cooker hood has, believe it or not, a chimney, whilst the canopy hood doesn't. This doesn't mean they can't be ducted outside, it just means that they are for the purpose of being installed into chimney breasts that are being concealed.
When should you use a kitchen exhaust fan?
Turn on your exhaust fan every time you cook. If you use a recirculating fan, replace or clean the filter regularly. And realize that although these filters are good for capturing grease, they really aren't accomplishing much in terms of air pollution. In those situations, opening a kitchen window is your best bet.
Which are the types of hoods?
Here are the types of range hoods to consider.Undercabinet Hoods. These mount under the bottom of a wall cabinet. ... Wall-Chimney Hoods. Wall-chimney hoods work where there are no cabinets over the range and mount with exposed vent stacks on the wall to vent to the outside. ... Island Hoods. ... Downdraft Hood. ... Ductless Hoods.
Under-Cabinet Range Hoods
One of the more common and compact options for range ventilation is the under-cabinet hood. This sort of range hood is mounted underneath of the ca...
Island Or Ceiling Mounted Range Hoods
Kitchens that have a range located on an island or not against a wall may need to be paired with an island or ceiling mounted hood. For larger, pro...
Downdraft Ventilation Hoods
A less common ventilation system is called a downdraft ventilation hood. This type of exhaust product is kept inside of the cook space hidden away...
Ventilator Power Pack Hoods
If you don’t care for the look of some of the more common range hoods, such as the wall-mounted or ceiling variety, you may want to go with the mor...
Why vent a stove?
Proper stove ventilation is necessary to prevent the build-up of smoke, grease, and unpleasant fumes. Most kitchen stoves have ranged hoods over them to direct gas outside. If you’re using a wood-burning stove or a similar appliance, it will have a spot to hook a vent pipe directly to it.
How far above a stove should a hood vent be?
Keep in mind that the distance will vary slightly depending on how you vent the stove. A basic hood vent rests 24 to 30 in (61 to 76 cm) above a stovetop.
How to check if a vent is working?
Test the ventilation system to see if it works. If you installed a hood, turn the power back on to your room. Turn on the fan, light bulb, or filter features on it to ensure they work properly. No matter what type of venting you have, use the stove to make sure the vent takes smoke outside your home.
How to get daylight on stove?
The best route is the shortest path to daylight. If your stove is near an exterior wall, the fastest way is to go through the wall. Other vents have to go up through the roof. If your home has a chimney, you can often connect the vent pipe to the chimney instead of creating another hole in an exterior wall.
Do you need a range hood for a wood stove?
Range hoods hang over stoves and cooktops, eliminating smoke and other fumes. You don’t need one if you’re using a wood-burning stove or something similar that has its own exhaust pipe. Most kitchens have one for safety. Range hoods come in a variety of sizes and styles, but they all work the same way.
What is a kitchen hood?
A kitchen hood, exhaust hood, or range hood is a device containing a mechanical fan that hangs above the stove or cooktop in the kitchen. It removes airborne grease, combustion products, fumes, smoke, heat, and steam from the air by evacuation of the air and filtration. In commercial kitchens exhaust hoods are often used in combination ...
What are the different types of kitchen hoods?
Types of kitchen hoods. Kitchen hoods are broadly classified into ducted hoods and ductless hoods. This classification of these kitchen hoods is done purely on the basis of how the hoods process the air that is being sucked in.
What is an extractor hood?
An extractor hood consists of three main components: a skirt or capture panel to contain the rising gases (also known as the "effluent plume"), a grease filter, and a fan for ventilation . Extractor hoods may be ducted (or vented) or ductless (or recirculating).
What is a ductless hood?
Ducted kitchen hoods are the most common and a primary type of kitchen hood. As the name suggests, a ducted kitchen hood has a duct that is used to process and expel any smoke that is generated on top of the kitchen hob.
How much noise does a kitchen hood produce?
Most kitchen hoods produce 60-70 dB (A), while "quiet" models can go as low as 40 dB (A). Noise levels are generally given for the maximum speed, so it may be useful to compare noise levels at specific flow rates. The European Union standardizes the measurement of hood noise.
Do ductless hoods have a duct?
Ductless kitchen hoods do not have a duct that is used to process the air. Instead, it makes use of strong air filtration and then pumps out the air back into the room. These types of range hoods are usually used in houses.
Do extractor hoods recirculate?
Although many vent hoods exhaust air to the outside, some recirculate the air to the kitchen. In a recirculating system, filters may be used to remove odors in addition to the grease. The device is known as an extractor hood in the United Kingdom and Singapore, as a range hood in Canada and the United States, and as a rangehood in Australia ...
How high should a range hood be above a stove?
In some cases, you may have to remove a section of cabinets above your stove to create the most effective capture area which is recommended to be 28″-36″ above your cooktop.
Where is the duct work for under cabinet range hood?
In order to provide proper air ventilation, the duct work for your under cabinet range hood is either installed behind the hood out of an exterior wall or up through the cabinet above the range hood. This is great because it ends up saving you a little more wall space due to its compact size. 3.
What is a range hood insert?
Range hood inserts are great options for those who may prefer the look of a custom-built range hood cover as opposed to the look of a more visible appliance. The great thing about range hood inserts is that you can build a custom range hood cover to match your cabinet design.
Do you have to remove cabinets before installing a range hood?
Under cabinet range hoods are great for that homeowner who may want a low profile design. A great thing about under cabinet hoods is that you don’t have to remove any cabinets before installing the range hood. You will be installing it underneath your cabinet instead of on the wall.
How far apart should a range hood be from the stove?
These vent hood types are mounted securely against a wall in the kitchen. Ideally, mount your wall range hood about 28″-36” between the bottom of the hood and the stove cooking surface to capture the most cooking fumes and to prolong the life of your range hood.
What is an under cabinet range hood?
Under cabinet range hoods are a great option for people who have cupboards or cabinet storage above their cooktop. This way, switching out an over-the-range (OTR) microwave with a professional range hood allows you to keep the extra cabinet storage space and upgrade your kitchen ventilation fan.
What is ductless range hood?
A ductless range hood is a hood that doesn’t evacuate the air from your cooktop area to the outside of your home. It tries to clean the air through a filter of some kind. The best ductless hoods use a charcoal filter to provide additional filtering of the air. These aren’t as effective as ducted range hoods.
What is a range hood insert?
Range hood inserts are designed to be used in your custom hood. Hood inserts are usually hidden as they are built into highly customized cabinets above the cooktop or stovetop.
What are the different types of kitchen range hoods?
These include wall mounted hoods, island hoods, range hood inserts, under cabinet hoods, and professional-grade hoods. Although all range hoods are made with the same important purpose of ridding smoke, grease, ...
What is insert in kitchen?
Inserts are a great appliance to set the tone or theme for your kitchen, whether you are aiming for a rustic, old-fashioned look, a modern and sleek design, or anything in between, use of an insert gives you ultimate creative control of your kitchen.
Can a microwave vent be outside?
That same thought process applies to kitchen ventilation built into microwave ovens. Microwave vent hoods are ductless – or recirculating – which means that they take the air in and then vent it out back into your home. These hoods don’t vent outside of your home and are less efficient than stand-alone range hoods.
How high should a vent hood be off a stove?
With a standard 36" countertop and an 8ft ceiling, a flush-mounted vent hood would be about 5 1/2' from the surface of the stove, which is a bit high. A 9' ceiling would put the hood over 6' off the stove surface.
Can a stove be on a counter?
OK , my understanding is that you have a stove on a section of counter that doesn't have a wall immediately behind it. This could result in a "peninsula" design, or an outright "island".
What is a kitchen hood vent?
An essential partner to your range, kitchen hood vents are workhorses that help keep your air clean. Here’s how to choose the right one. If you've ever forgotten to turn on the fan while trying to get a nice crust on a pan full of fish fillets, you're familiar with the importance of good ventilation.
Where is the blower located in the hood?
Blower: Also called a fan, it moves air into the duct. Most blowers are in the hood, but they can be located "in-line," up in the duct itself, or externally (inset), where the duct terminates. Ductwork: The metal channel that leads the air out to the exhaust vent.
How wide should a hood be?
A hood should be at least as wide as your cooking surface, but an extra 3 inches on each side can improve efficiency. The depth should cover the back burners and at least half of the front burners, though full coverage is best. The height at which the hood hangs above your cooktop will also affect how well it works.
Why do you need a vent hood?
Environmental Protection Agency strongly advise homeowners to install a vent hood to capture, filter, and then expel the fumes outside through a vent in an exterior wall or on the roof.
What is centrifugal force in a hood?
In place of a filter, centrifugal force within the blower liquefies grease , which is collected in a tray or a cup that's removable for cleaning. With no filters to slow the airflow, these hoods require fewer cfm than those with baffles or mesh to do the same job, often with less noise.
How high should a hood be above a cooktop?
The height at which the hood hangs above your cooktop will also affect how well it works. A wall- or island-mount should be about 30 inches above the cooktop, while undercabinet-mounts, typically less powerful and with smaller ducts, should sit 24 inches above the range.
How does a hood blower work?
The hood's blower pulls smoke and vapors through several layers of aluminum or stainless-steel mesh, catching the grease. These removable filters should be cleaned regularly—most can be popped into the dishwasher—to prevent clogs that can slow airflow.

Overview
A kitchen hood, extractor hood, range hood, or exhaust hood is a device containing a mechanical fan that hangs above the stove or cooktop in the kitchen. It removes airborne grease, combustion products, fumes, smoke, heat, and steam from the air by evacuation of the air and filtration. In commercial kitchens exhaust hoods are often used in combination with fire suppression devices so …
Description
An extractor hood consists of three main components: a skirt or capture panel to contain the rising gases (also known as the "effluent plume"), a grease filter, and a fan for ventilation.
Extractor hoods may be ducted (or vented) or ductless (or recirculating). Ducted hoods blow the gases to the outdoors; ductless hoods filter the air, often using activated charcoal, to remove odor and smoke particles from the air and then release the cleaned air back into the kitchen.
Types
Kitchen hoods are broadly classified into ducted hoods and ductless hoods. This classification of these kitchen hoods is done purely on the basis of how the hoods process the air that is being sucked in.
Ducted kitchen hoods are the most common and a primary type of kitchen hood. As the name suggests, a ducted kitchen hood has a duct that is used to process and expel any smoke that is …
Filters
Filters remove most odors and particulates, including grease, from the vented air. There are three main types of filter:
• Mesh or cassette filters are made from aluminium mesh strips placed one over the other. They are highly effective in the capture and removal of oil and grease from smoke of both ducted and ductless chimneys. They must be cleaned regularly.
Hood overhang
Greater hood overhangs are suggested to help contain cooking fires in the hood area protected by the fire suppression system.
Noise levels
Loud kitchen hoods can affect well-being, and may even contribute to hearing loss. Variable speed fans are generally noisier at higher speeds and different models may have different noise levels. Vented hoods are generally noisier but more effective than recirculating hoods.
Noise levels are measured on dB(A) scale or in sones (in the U.S.). Most kitchen hoods produce 60-70 dB(A), while "quiet" models can go as low as 40 dB(A).
Flow
Hood air flow is measured in liters per second (L/s), cubic meters per second (m /s), or cubic feet per minute (cfm).
See also
• Fume hood
• Kitchen ventilation
• Smoke canopy