Ductless Range Hoods

Simply put, ductless range hoods use filters. This makes all the difference between this and the other type of range hood. Whereas the other ventilation and exhaust system needs to have some ductwork installed, a ductless one does not need it. The air from such a range hood is merely filtered and cleaned, then recycled back into the room. The other system vents the air right out of a house through the ductwork. The type of range hoods can be classified into just three:

1. ductless
2. vented
3. convertible

Where ductless are the ones requiring filters, vented are the ducted ones that need a complex system of ventilation and exhaust, and convertible simply means that the range hood can be used either with a ductless or a vented system.

There are two types of filtration methods for ductless range hoods. These are:

1. permanent filters
2. disposable filters

Where permanent filters are the ones made out of materials such as aluminum, and disposable filters are made out of charcoal filter material. A permanent filter is the kind that does not have to be changed from time to time. All it requires is regular cleaning. Disposable filters, on the other hand, can be discarded after a while and changed with a new clean disposable filter.

Homeowners, architects, and interior designers sometimes choose a ductless range hood over a vented one. One instance is when the design of a particular kitchen requires a range or a stove to be situated in a compromising spot where the installation of ductwork is a physical impossibility. A range or stove that is positioned by an inner wall, a kitchen which is inside a condominium unit, any of these kitchen situations cancel out the possibility of installing ductwork for a vented range hood. In this situation, ductless range hoods are a good option.

After having decided whether a ductless or vented range hood is appropriate for your kitchen and after deciding over a permanent or a disposable filter, but before going out to shop for one, the proper sort of equipment must first be determined. We will now set our concerns into matters of dimension, speed, and design. This time we will have to check on the measurement of the kitchen per square foot. The size of the range or stove that we have such as its height and width is also important. Another concern is how often we are going to cook, as well as what kind of food we will be cooking. All these additional factors will help us determine the type of range hood that we need.

When going shopping for a range hood, you might come across the term “cfm rating.” This pertains to an exhaust fan’s ability to pull in air from the kitchen. The term “cfm” simply means cubic feet per minute. This is where the kitchen’s measurement comes in handy. A suitable exhaust fan for a kitchen range hood is determined by calculating if the cfm rating of a fan is double that of the square foot of a kitchen. A range hood must also have an allowance in size at least 4 inches wider than the stove. For fan speed and the ability to suck in greasy and smoky air, most experts suggest the commercial type model rather than the household model. Ductless types will have two speed control fans, and sometimes variable speed. The filters that you use for a ductless type will also determine its effectiveness.

When installing the range hood that you have chosen, there are a few more things to consider. As vented systems need to install ductwork, it requires more planning. Ductless hoods just need to be mounted properly. The options regarding where to mount are somewhat the same as with any range hood. These are wall mounting, island kitchen mounting, and under cabinet mounting.                 

Although the natural ventilation method of keeping a window fully opened once every three hours can work just as well for air circulation, this method can only work on summer months. Winter weather can make this hard for the residents as well as the house itself. The areas that need exhaust and ventilation systems the most are the bathroom and the kitchen. These are the areas where moist air and odor will most likely collect. These are the areas more prone to mold and mildew. For the kitchen, it is the range hoods that function as air cleaners. All that cooking smoke, the grease, the odors, and the steam have to go somewhere or get cleaned. Home technology gives us the solution in range hoods.

The various technologies that were developed in the pursuit of a comfortable home atmosphere are the exhaust ventilation systems, the heat recovery ventilation systems, the supply ventilation systems, the balanced ventilation systems, as well as the natural ventilation method.