Remodeling a kitchen isn't just about making your space more beautiful; it's about creating a better functioning space for your family to live, eat and cook in. Vent hoods help protect you, your family and your furnishings from unwanted gases, oils and heat and are just as important to research as the appliances you cook on. Here are some things you should know about kitchen ventilation....
1. Professional Vent Hoods - While these babies are the cream of the crop, the biggest complaint is the noise. Some vent hoods are so loud that the conversational party kitchen becomes a screaming match. One thing to note while selecting your vent hood is to know where you're going to place it. As a designer, the cook space, visual sights into the kitchen and cook's forehead are on top of my priority list. However, raising the vent hood can reduce its effectiveness; to check with manufacturers recommendations and add some power to it if you have to.
2. Recirculation - Recirculation machines are technically considered ventilation systems but they are often used in small footprints such as apartments. They don't remove unwanted air and replace it with new fresh air; in reality they filter and circulate the air already in your kitchen. If you're an avid cook on your stovetop, these are not an option for your kitchen.
3. Downdraft - There are mixed feelings when it comes to downdrafts. Although they suck in oily air- they aren't very adequate at trapping steam because of their location. Because the tops of the downdrafts are at 14" high (and only that high on new models) and because steam rises, these vent systems are a little lacking. Newer models are constantly improving and these systems are great for space saving and freeing up much needed cabinetry space.
4. Microwave/Vent Combos - Ahhh, the classic apartment combo! A thing to note about the micro/vent combo is that a good chunk of the energy of the fan is being used to cool down the entire machine. Not exactly energy efficient. While some ventilation is better than none, these vents work well for catching smoke.
Posted on
Mon, September 19, 2011
by Cindy Aplanalp
filed under