Do you need a kitchen exhaust fan?
The Do's and Don'ts of Kitchen Exhaust Fan Installation If you love to cook, you need a kitchen exhaust fan. Also known as a hood fan or a range hood, a kitchen exhaust fan is necessary to remove grease, smoke, and fumes that are present in the air when cooking in your oven or on your stovetop.
What is an exhaust fan on a stove?
Remember, an exhaust fan is meant to remove cooking odors from the kitchen, not to remove the byproducts of combustion. Beside above, how do you vent a stove?
Do you need a vent for an electric stove?
Though vents are used to carry out smoke, grease, and (if you have a gas cooktop) gas out of your kitchen, ventilation isn’t just a safety issue. It also makes your kitchen easier to clean and reduces the odor in your home. Including a vent for your electric stove also cuts down on grease buildup in your home.
Why do you need an exhaust hood for a stove?
An exhaust hood also helps to regulate the temperature in the kitchen. Anytime you cook, the stoves produce a lot of heat. Without proper ventilation, the high temperature leads to an increase in moisture in the kitchen.
Do I need a vent over my gas stove?
Most gas range cook tops do not require outside venting. Gas ranges offer immediate and adjustable heating for cooking needs at a low cost. Ranges manufactured today burn natural gas very efficiently, but toxic fumes can still be a problem that affects the health of the home's inhabitants.
What can I use if I don't have a range hood?
10 Things to Do If You Don't Have a Range Hood or VentUse a window fan. ... Use a portable HEPA air filter. ... Use a fan in another room, like the bathroom. ... Get a grease splatter guard. ... Wipe down your kitchen cabinets frequently. ... If you paint your kitchen, use a satin or semi-gloss finish, or choose scrubbable paint.More items...•
How important is a range hood?
Range hoods add elegance and charm to kitchens around the world but they are also very important in regards to your air quality. Hoods of all styles are designed to remove odors, irritants and grease that are expelled into the air.
Do I need an exhaust fan in my kitchen?
Kitchens do not need exhaust fans since there is no code that requires you to install them. However, kitchen exhaust fans play a role in maintaining indoor air quality and, to some degree, protect the health of the occupants of the house. They get rid of the moist air and odors that arise when cooking.
Why do you need an exhaust fan in a commercial kitchen?
An exhaust fan is significant for improving the air quality in your kitchen. While it is crucial to have an exhaust fan in a commercial kitchen, the rules apply very differently in a residential kitchen.
How high should a fan be above the stove?
However, it should not be too low, or it may get in the way of your cooking. It is highly advisable to install it 24 inches (60.96 cm) above the stovetop.
What happens when you cook on a stove?
When you cook, the stove releases toxic gases and ultra-fine particles into the air, which circulates the building, exposing everyone around. Moreover, it releases oils, fats, and grease into the air, which then settle on surfaces such as cabinets and walls. With time, the oils create a layer of grunge.
Why install a kitchen exhaust?
The primary purpose of installing a kitchen exhaust is to get rid of the lingering cooking odors from the stovetop and the excess hot air from the kitchen when cooking. However, you can choose to either install a vented/ducted or an unvented/ductless range hood depending on your needs and preference.
What is a range hood?
Ducted Range Hoods. They are the most common types of exhaust fans. However, some kitchens may limit their installation since they need to transport the air out of the kitchen. Due to this reason, you have to install them only in specific areas in the kitchen. The range hood requires pipes that connect to a duct to transport ...
Why do range hoods have ducts?
The range hood requires pipes that connect to a duct to transport the dirty air and foul odor away from the kitchen to outside. The exhaust fan effectively gets rid of the moisture in the kitchen that arises due to an increase in moisture and vapor from food preparation, a feat that the ductless fans cannot.
What happens if you don't have exhaust in your kitchen?
Without a kitchen exhaust, you may have to endure a persistent odor and even expose yourself to health problems such as asthma. You may also have to continually change curtains and wipe your furniture and surface to remove the stink of food that collects every time you cook.
How long does a kitchen exhaust fan last?
Unlike an electric fan, your range hood is mounted above the range for maximum efficiency. It will last you at least a decade.
Why vent a stove with a range hood?
A range hood, ducted or ductless, improves your indoor air quality. It vents strong smells and chemicals from your indoor air to the outside of your home. It keeps your kitchen cabinets, walls, and ceiling from accumulating heavy grease and dirt.
How far away from the cooktop should a vent hood be?
It must use stainless steel ductwork. It must be mounted at least 24” away from the cooktop (We recommend 28” for maximum efficiency). These requirements vary by state.
How many BTUs does an electric stove produce?
For example, if your electric stove has six burners that produce 8,000 BTUs each, your stove produces 48,000 BTUs total. Divide that by 100 to get 480 CFM. In general, we recommend adding 100-200 CFM to this amount depending on your cooking style.
How many BTUs does a gas stove have?
Gas cooktops can reach up to 300,000 BTUs for residential homes. When stoves get that powerful, it is always recommended to buy a vent hood for your kitchen. You want effective ventilation since your stove produces a lot of heat and cooking exhaust. But, not everyone has a gas cooktop. Electric stoves are popular, ...
How to calculate CFM on electric stove?
To calculate the CFM of your electric cooktop, take the total British thermal units (BTUs) of your cooktop and divide that number by 100. This represents the least amount of CFM that you need for your range hood.
Can you use a ductless hood on an electric stove?
We also recommend ducted range hoods with electric stoves. They are incredibly efficient. Vented range hoods are more powerful than non vented range hoods. But, with an electric cooktop, you don’t need tremendous power out of your hood. So, a ductless hood could be a great option for you.
Can a kitchen be in the same room as a dining room?
Some allow a ceiling fan - go figure. Just saying it isn't required in most places.
Do you need a fan to blow air?
Yes, and not only do you need a fan but it must exhaust outside and not just recirculate the air through a carbon filter. You are burning fossil fuels which produces carbon monoxide (among other things). This can kill you if not properly vented.
Why do you need a kitchen exhaust fan?
Also known as a hood fan or a range hood, a kitchen exhaust fan is necessary to remove grease, smoke, and fumes that are present in the air when cooking in your oven or on your stovetop.
How does a ducted exhaust fan work?
A ducted kitchen exhaust fan draws air from your kitchen through a duct and releases it outside. Because this type of exhaust fan requires ductwork and piping running from your kitchen to the outside of your home, it can have limited location options.
What is a ductless exhaust fan?
Instead of filtering air outside the home, a ductless exhaust fan draws kitchen air through a carbon or charcoal filter that cleans the air of odors and smoke particles and cycles it back out into your kitchen. Ductless fans are a little bit more versatile since they can be installed just about anywhere.
Do ductless fans remove moisture?
Ductless exhaust fan filters need to be cleaned or replaced annually. The drawback to the ductless fan is that it does not remove moisture, so your kitchen can still become quite humid.
How much air do you need to ventilate an electric cooktop?
To fully ventilate a typical electric cooktop, you will need to be able to get around 400 cubic feet per minute of air movement. This sounds like a lot, but in reality, it’s really not that bad. This level of ventilation can be achieved with a very rudimentary system.
Do high rise buildings need ventilation?
However, high rise buildings absolutely need to have ventilation systems simply because of the concern of fire and fumes. So, there will be a need for a ventilation system, but it won’t be the usual ceiling exhaust you see in smaller homes and apartments.
Do you need a hood vent over a kitchen island?
In most parts of the country, a hood vent over a kitchen island cooktop is not deemed to be a necessary addition. Even in stricter states like California, having a large vent over a kitchen island is considered to be extra, especially if you already have a vent elsewhere in the room. With that said, it still boils down to local requirements.
Do you need vents in a kitchen?
Adding a vent will add value to your kitchen. This is just a good rule of thumb to follow. No one will turn down a kitchen that has extra ventilation. Every city has its own ventilation codes. Some cities will require vents for electric cooktops, others won’t. Still more may say that a window will qualify as ventilation if you have an electric ...
Do you need a vent for an electric cooktop?
Electric cooktops can catch fire and produce smoke, so it is useful to install a vent in case of an emergency. Vents aren’t required for electric cooktops because they produce less heat than gas cooktops. If you’re worried about your ventilation ...
Can you use a bathroom vent extension as a kitchen vent?
No! Bathroom vent ducts are not built to handle the rigors of grease, smoke, and CO. Trying to use a bathroom vent extension as a path for your kitchen vent can harm your duct system, turn your home into an unsanitary mess, and at times, even contaminate your food. You do not want a bathroom vent as your kitchen vent!
Does venting an electric stove help?
It also makes your kitchen easier to clean and reduces the odor in your home. Including a vent for your electric stove also cuts down on grease buildup in your home.
