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Range Hood Exhaust Type: Ducted or Recirculating (Ductless)?

Range hoods are increasingly present in modern kitchens. Made to remove steam and smell from the environment, these appliances are essential to make your kitchen clean and pleasant.

If you cook a lot or have a kitchen open to the living room, a range hood is even more important.

Whether to buy a ducted or a recirculating cooking hood is an important decision to make before choosing a model. The exhaust type will make all the difference in the appliance efficiency and in the complexity of installation.

Recirculating (ductless) range hoods

Ducted range hoods

How do you install a ducted range hood?

It will be simple if you are planning a construction. Just provide for a duct between the range and the exterior.

If renovating a house, access how you could pass a duct through the existing ceiling and walls without crossing any structural element.

Whatever the case, if you have a false ceiling, the duct can be a cheap, flexible type, hidden over it. If you have apparent fixtures instead, the duct will also be apparent, but it will a more expensive, nice, rigid one.

In case of apartments, you probably won’t be allowed to change the facade, so you should check if there is a duct or an outlet for one to reach the exterior.

In case there is not an existing duct, try talking to the building manager. If there is a less visible side of the building, they may allow you to install a chimney. If not, your only option is a ductless model.

Once you decide if it’s going to be a ducted or a recirculating range hood, there are a couple other details to figure out before you find the perfect model for your kitchen:

• Range hood mount types: island, wall-mounted, under cabinet, insert & downdraft
• How to determine the ideal size and air flow for your range hood