
Downdraft ventilation is a type of ventilation in cooktops and kitchen ranges that uses a fan to pull cooking fumes and smoke downward. A downdraft ventilation feature is a substitute for a traditional range hood that sucks smoke and steam upward.
How does a gas cooktop with downdraft venting work?
- Frigidaire RC36DG60PS 36″ Built-In Downdraft Gas Cooktop – The Most Powerful Cooktop.
- DCS CDV304N 30″ Stainless Steel Gas Sealed Burner Cooktop – Downdraft – Best Ergonomic Dials.
- Bosch NGM5655UC500 36″ Stainless Steel Gas Sealed Burner Cooktop – Best Constructed Cooktop.
Is a downdraft required on a cooktop?
Island cooktops do not need to vented and exhausted unless required by local building codes. The location and design of kitchens in high rise residential buildings often make it impossible to vent and exhaust kitchen cook tops. Downdraft cooktops and inside grills must be vented and exhausted to the outside in order to avoid buildup of ...
Is downdraft ventilation a worthy upgrade?
The launch of the latest downdraft ventilation technology has brought a considerable amount of upgrade to induction cooking. Previously, the most common problem experienced by the majority of induction cooking users was cooking steam and smoke resulting in thick grease.
Do I need to vent cooktops?
Vents are generally required for cooktops that use gas, as well as any room that doesn’t have a window. However, the topic of ventilation is one that has a lot of legal grey area. Each state has its own minimum ventilation requirements when it comes to cooktops.

Does downdraft cooktop ventilation work?
1:014:49All about Downdraft ventilation - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThey're not as effective or efficient as a good old-fashioned hood. Because obviously heat rises.MoreThey're not as effective or efficient as a good old-fashioned hood. Because obviously heat rises.
Where does a downdraft range vent to?
The important and characteristic difference, however, is that downdraft vents are located behind the cooktop, rather than above it. They pull the air horizontally away from the cooktop, and the vents send the collected contaminated air to be filtered down below the countertop.
Do I need a downdraft on my electric cooktop?
Often, people wonder if an electric stove needs a vent since it's much less powerful than a gas cooktop. We sometimes have customers call in asking if they need a vent hood for their electric stove. The truth is that you should consider a vent for your electric stove.
Is a downdraft range worth it?
The first obvious benefit of having a downdraft range or cooktop is that you no longer need to install a hood above the stove. This not only frees up space for more cabinetry and storage, but allows you freedom of placement—especially with a cooktop.
What is a downdraft and who would need it?
A downdraft range or cooktop integrates the ventilation system directly into the cooking surface, eliminating the need for an overhead vent. These systems help capture smoke, steam, grease particles and odors at the cooking surface, pulling them down and out of the kitchen before they can escape into the air.
How does the downdraft vent work?
Downdraft vents work by pulling the air across the cooking surface and drawing smoke, steam and grease down through a filter and into a duct that carries it beneath the floor or along the cabinet kick space and outside your home.
How do I vent my stove without a hood?
Here's what you can do to help mitigate the effects of your range-less kitchen, with specific advice culled from our readers:Use 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.More items...•
Do you need downdraft?
Although it is a desirable option, a regular kitchen cooktop does not need to be vented and exhausted to the outside. A downdraft cooktop and grill must be vented from the kitchen to the outside, following manufacturer's specifications.
How do you vent a cooktop?
If your stove is near an exterior wall, the fastest way is to go through the wall. Other vents have to go up through the roof. If your home has a chimney, you can often connect the vent pipe to the chimney instead of creating another hole in an exterior wall.
Do they still make downdraft cooktops?
Jenn-Air and Kitchen Aid are the only brand that makes a downdraft range in electric, gas or dual fuel and only a few brands make a center downdraft cooktop.
Can you use a downdraft with a gas cooktop?
Some stoves come with built-in downdraft vents that rise up from the back or center of the cooktop when a burner is lit. Like updraft hoods, downdraft units must be vented to the outdoors or they are ineffective. On a gas stove, a malfunctioning downdraft vent can allow dangerous carbon monoxide to remain in the air.
How do you clean a downdraft stove vent?
Turn off the downdraft ventilation system before removing the filter. Remove vent grate then lift the filter out of the vent chamber. Clean the filter in the sink with warm water and detergent or in the dishwasher.
What is downdraft vent?
While downdraft vents aren’t the ideal ventilation system for all kitchens, they can be an effective solution for certain situations. For example, downdraft ventilation is often used when an overhead hood isn’t possible, such as in kitchens with cathedral ceilings, where the ductwork would be so long it wouldn’t be able to vent effectively. They’re also useful in an island cooktop for homeowners who want to keep the kitchen open and not obstructed by a hood hanging from the ceiling. Downdraft vents are effective when used for grilling, frying, and other cooking applications where you use shallow pots and pans.
How does a downdraft vent work?
Downdraft vents work by pulling the air across the cooking surface and drawing smoke, steam and grease down through a filter and into a duct that carries it beneath the floor or along the cabinet kick space and outside your home. Downdraft vents are typically integrated into the surface of your cooktop, ...
How high do downdraft vents go?
Downdraft systems are a venting option that allows you to keep the vent out of view. They pop up only when in use, rising about 8 to 10 inches above the top of the cooking surface, although some models may rise slightly higher than this. In some cooktop models, the vent is integrated into the surface of the cooktop near ...
Why are downdraft vents so ineffective?
Because of their design, downdraft vents work harder than updraft systems to remove air, and are usually ineffective at drawing steam, odors and smoke from burners that are farthest away, and from tall stockpots. Steam and hot air produced by cooking typically rises, and a downdraft system essentially fights the natural laws of physics.
What are the pollutants that are produced by cooking?
Cooking produces pollutants such as smoke and grease and if these aren’t vented out of your kitchen, they accumulate on surfaces and leave odors, says Mr. Appliance.
Does cooking remove pollutants?
Steam and hot air produced by cooking typically rises, and a downdraft system essentially fights the natural laws of physics. It can effectively remove pollutants, but only those nearest to the vent.
How high does a telescopic downdraft hood rise?
Telescopic downdraft hood rises 14 in. from behind the cooktop and retracts when not in use, offering a seamless design for your kitchen
What is a pop up vent?
A downdraft ventilation system, or pop-up vent, sucks fumes within and then pushes them downward, out through a duct. These vents are commonly called “pop-up downdraft vents” or “telescopic downdraft vents” because they are hidden behind and below the cooktop, until needed.
What is a Broan RMDD 30 in.?
This Broan RMDD 30 in. 500 CFM Telescopic Downdraft System was specifically designed to be compatible with most conventional and commercial style cooktops. It features a seamless design by retracting behind the cooktop when not in use. Made of stainless steel, it provides durability and a sophisticated style.
What does a 500 CFM blower do?
500 CFM blower eliminates smoke and odors from the kitchen
What is a cafe 30 in hood?
GE’s Cafe 30 in. Range Hood Telescopic Downdraft System is perfect for keeping the kitchen smell free. With it’s powerful 4-speed fan control you are able to adjust the vents to match your cooking. Easily cleanable because of its removable grease filter which eliminates hand scrubbing.
What is a 590 CFM vent?
590 CFM venting system make sure everyone is focused only on your food; with a 590 CFM venting system that removes smoke, grease, odors and moisture from the air
How big is a duct for a blower?
Blower will connect directly to 3 in. x 10 in. rectangular duct
What is downdraft on a gas stove?
A downdraft system pulls air downward or to the back to the cooktop through built-in vents. Unlike hoods, downdraft designs are often integrated into the cooking appliance. These systems are also not recommended for gas stoves due to a release of carbon monoxide. Ducted range hoods operate on fans, or blowers.
What is downdraft vent?
A downdraft vent is a sleek way to expel fumes from your kitchen without the need of a range hood. Downdraft ventilation is often found with kitchen island cooktops, where a range hood might not look as attractive, but it can also be used against a wall if one desires.
How does a downdraft vent work?
Downdraft vents work by pulling the air across the cooking surface and drawing smoke, steam and grease down through a filter and into a duct that carries it beneath the floor or along the cabinet kick space and outside your home .
What is downdraft cooktop?
A downdraft cooktop or range features a ventilation system integrated right into the cooking surface of the appliance. This style of integrated ventilation for a range or cooktop is always ready to use and always out of the way.
What is a downdraft range?
A downdraft range or cooktop integrates the ventilation system directly into the cooking surface, eliminating the need for an overhead vent. A retractable unit—sometimes called a downdraft range hood—is another form of downdraft ventilation that rises from near the cooking surface when in use. These systems help capture smoke, steam, grease ...
What setting to use for downdraft range?
When using a downdraft range or cooktop with gas burners, you may wish to make adjustments to your cooking style so you continue to get the best results. When cooking with gas, it’s important to use a lower fan setting or a higher burner setting for optimal performance.
What to do if your kitchen is not equipped with a range hood?
If your kitchen is not equipped with a range hood or other ventilation system, downdraft ranges, cooktops, and retractable hoods offer an elegant solution to help clear the air while you experiment with your latest recipes.
Can you vent smoke outside?
Smoke and odors can be vented outside through duct work, or air can be filtered and recirculated inside with a duct-free vent accessory. Ductless vent accessories can be installed with a cooktop to filter the air before it re-enters your home. KitchenAid offers a ductless downdraft vent kit that fits several brands of cooktops and can help you avoid costly renovations in kitchens without outdoor ventilation.
Do you turn on the vent fan on an electric range?
For best results, the downdraft ventilation fan for an electric range or cooktop should be turned on before any of the heating elements. Tall pots should be located on burners closest to the vent. In some models, this may be to the rear; in other models, this may be the center. During cooking, a higher heat setting may be needed to compensate for airflow along the cooktop surface. Higher fan speeds may remove heat from cookware. Our electric configurations come in 2-burner or 5-burner options.
Can you vent a kitchen island without a range hood?
Since downdraft ventilation systems eliminate the need for an overhead vent, they are a great option for open floor plans, kitchen island cooktops and kitchens that lack range hood capacity. Whatever system you choose, downdraft ventilation can help you fearlessly flambé seafood or sauté garlic along with other pungent ingredients without the lingering smells.
