Kitchen exhaust fans are a great way to keep the air in your kitchen nice and clean. Many new kitchens have built in systems, this is actually quite necessary because it would take a lot of work to install a kitchen exhaust fan system in older kitchens. Ductless systems can however be installed in kitchens that don’t have enough space for ducts or because of location. There are also other options but there is no system available to date that cleans the air in the kitchen like a kitchen exhaust fan with ducts. This means homeowners are always seeking the next possible option or alternative. Some older kitchens that have enough space would have no problem whatsoever with installation of exhaust fans that require a ducts.
What Are Kitchen Exhaust Fans?
Exhaust fans for the kitchen are designed to clean the air that becomes polluted because of cooking. When you cook inside a kitchen with poor ventilation the residue of cooking fumes make its way all over the kitchen and often leaving behind a smell. Much of this indoor kitchen pollution is caused by grease, smoke and moisture. Exhaust fans not only keep the smell from remaining inside the kitchen but and also from spreading into other rooms of the house. Exhaust fans are usually placed under the stove but smaller ones are placed on a window. Some exhaust fans are also placed on the ceiling and these are connected to a duct that releases the dirty air outside of the home.
The most productive models are the ones that actually suck the polluted air and release it. Devices that merely filter the air are only half as good. These exhaust fans will collect most of the grease and smoke from the air but not all of it. The smell from the pollution also usually remains when the air is only filtered. The main problem is that heavy duty kitchen exhaust fans or ones that are versions of commercial products require installation that might not be possible in many homes. A duct system would be necessary so that space for that must be taken into consideration. A major consideration is also the cost that will be involved for buying and installing a brand new kitchen exhaust fan that operates using ducts, ventilator and a motor.
We can guess that such an elaborate technical exhaust system is ideal for a brand new home. Most of these systems are built in and are part of the home’s entire blueprint plan. Existing kitchens do not have this luxury and as such must find alternatives to more extensive exhaust systems.
What Kind Of Kitchen Exhaust Fan Do I Need?
Recirculating range hoods are ductless and are suitable for kitchens that are technically prohibited from having a exhaust system with ducts. Recirculating range hoods simply recirculate the air and the process includes sucking the polluted air, filtering it and then releasing cleaner air. You can say this is better than nothing and they actually look great atop of stoves. Newer models run much quieter than older models, so the noise is not much of a factor as it once was.
Island Range Hoods are placed over kitchen islands that have a stove built in. Island range hoods operate using ducts and motor. This exhaust system usually comes with a custom kitchen.
Wall Mounted Range Hoods are installed with the duct mounted on the wall. They come in various sizes and the power you’ll need will be determined by the size of your kitchen.
Under The Cabinet Range Hoods are installed over the stove but unlike wall mounted hoods this type of kitchen exhaust fan system conceals the duct because it is hidden by the cabinets.
Utility Exhaust Fans are a great alternative to many of the more expensive models mentioned above. These are usually mounted on a wall and work by removing the air from inside the kitchen usually through an opening in the wall.
The type of kitchen exhaust fan that will be appropriate for your kitchen will depend on several factors. The size of the kitchen, budget, space for ducts and also the area of the kitchen that you want to place the exhaust fans. Some models are part of an entire home exhaust system. If you have a central system then you should have no problem finding a new system in which you can add to your existing duct system.