Ventless Range Hoods
Ventless Range Hoods are modeled within the kitchen above your oven, stove or range top and use a combination of a filtration system and rapid air circulation in order to help diminish and remove cooking odors, vapors and smells.
Due to the fact that a ventless range hood has no vent will incorporate a filter that it circulates air through and then returns cleaner air back into the kitchen. It is because of this fact that ventless or ductless range hoods require a window with natural ventilation to in turn remove this impure air from your kitchen whilst cooking.
Due to the premium being placed on space nowadays and the design of many modern kitchens demanding wide open spaces and sleek lines, it often isnt always practical to install a ducted range hood. For economy of space purposes more often than not a ventless range hood is the perfect option for a kitchen design or redesign if you are looking to replace an existing ducted range hood.
What Exactly are Ventless Range Hoods?
A range hood or extractor hood as it is sometimes otherwise referred to is a mechanical unit that hangs over the top of your stove, cook top or oven that contains a fan and circulation unit to extract moisture, grease and other cooking pollutants from the air in your kitchen. The importance of a ventless range hood is in the fact that it will help to keep your kitchen free from grease, moisture and odors which has the potential to save you loads of cleaning pain as well as maintaining the capital value of your kitchen.
There are two main types of range hoods – the duct range hood or the ventless or ductless range hood. The difference between the two is the final location for contaminants. With the ducted hood variety pollutants are expunged through the duct and out into the open air, whereas with a ventless range hood the pollutants are captured within the ductless filter with the cleansed air recirculated back into your kitchen.
There are a couple of main styles of ventless range hoods including the following:
- Wall Mounted
- Under-Cabinet Mount
- Chimney Style
- Island Mounted
How do Ventless Range Hoods Work?
Because of the fact that a ventless range hood has no ductwork installed that is generally used to transport pollutants from your kitchen to the outside world, a ductless range hood relies on its filtration system to keep those same pollutants out of your kitchen and filter the air. As youve already learnt ventless hoods are made up of a filter and a circulation fan, generally these fans have two or three speeds low, medium and high.
When you turn on the fan of your ductless hood, it will begin to suck in the surrounding air into the filtration system contained within the ventless hood. What happens is that the pollutants will flow through the filtration unit trapping the pollutants and odors within the filter, whilst simultaneously returning the freshly cleansed air back into the kitchen. Depending upon the quality and age of your ventless range hood filter it is generally a good idea to have an open window nearby to reduce the likelihood of escaped pollutants becoming trapped within your kitchen.
Should I Consider a Ventless Range Hood? (Pros and Cons)
Ventless range hoods are specifically designed to help reduce the amount of odor, grease and other pollutants that are created during the cooking process from entering your house. They help reduce heat, minimise smoke and odor as well as protecting the environment in the process. Generally the most important point to consider before buying a ventless or ductless range hood is the amount of space which is available, how the new ductless hood will fit into the existing kitchen design as well as how much you are willing to spend on a ventless hood.
Some of the pros and cons of owning a ventless range hood are as follows:
Pros of ventless range hoods:
- Remove odor from your kitchen
- Trap grease and other pollutants from entering your kitchen
- Reduce the amount of heat produced in the cooking process
- Very stylish and elegant
- Economical in there use of space
Cons of ventless range hoods:
- If your filter isnt working properly pollutants can be recycled directly back into your kitchen
- May not fit in with the pre existing design of your kitchen layout