Island Range Hoods

Welcome to Island Range Hoods where we will give you reviews for Fabyka Range Hoods, Cavaliere Range Hoods, Kitchen Aid Range Hoods and Electrolux Range Hoods.

If you’re choosing an  Island Range for  your new kitchen it is the Island Range Hood that creates the focal point. These highly stylish yet functional centrepieces command your attention immediately you enter the room. Like any Kitchen Range Hood these are critically important appliances, so it’s worth spending the time to choose the right one for your needs. Here is a list of factors that you’ll want to consider before making your choice.

How Efficient is the Hood. You don’t want to be able to smell that dinner cooking in every room of your house so it’s important to choose a range hood that’s going to really do the job. Although the effectiveness of island range hoods is going to vary with each individual house and just how airtight it might be you can look at the models Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) rating to get a good idea of how well they’re going to perform. The CFM is the amount of air that the unit can suck out in a minute. It can be found in the manufacturers specifications. When you start to look at the different models available it’ll become obvious that on this factor alone you really do get what you pay for. The most basic models may only cost you $50 but the CFM at this price range is likely to be only around the 150CFM mark. As you go up through the price brackets you’ll see models that command a price ranging between $350-$550 will probably have a CFM of 350-450. The top of the line models that cost around $1000 will give you up to 900CFM.

How Quiet is the unit. This is so important. A rattly, noisy unit can ruin your dream Kitchen! It’s worth checking this in a showroom to be absolutely sure you know what your getting even if you end up buying online. The noise will increase with the speed at which the unit is operating. At low speeds the unit should be producing 30 Dba or less and at it’s highest speed less than 60Dba.

Lighting . Good lighting an essential part of your island range hood. How many lights? What kind of bulb does it use? Can you dim and brighten the lights? The top end models may even come with an infrared food warmer.

How easy is it to clean? In my experience the best hoods have removable filters that can be put in your dish washer. Check that it’s easy to open  so you can clean the housing.Soap and water should be enough to remove any  grime if done regularly. If there’s a lot of build up it may be because the CFM is too low.

Size. It is vitally important that the size of the island range hood is larger than the area of your range. If it isn’t then smoke and steam will more than likely escape round the sides.

Ceiling Height and Access to the exterior. Most models will fit a standard 9′ ceiling. If you’re ceiling is higher check that the system you’re purchasing will work. It’s essential to have a good ceiling cavity and relatively close access to the exterior of the house. Ducting can be expensive and a long lead out will drive up the price of installation.

Copper Range Hoods – Custom Made by Rutland

Reviewing Ductless Range Hoods by Air King, Frigidaire and Kenmore. Find essential information on these range hoods before you buy.

Possibly the worst aspect of our love of open plan living is the way kitchen odors can permeate through the whole house leaving it always smelling of the last meal you cooked. Installing a good range hood is essential if you want to avoid this problem.

There are two main types of Range Hoods available to you. Vented range hoods take the air directly from the stove top sucking away grease, smoke and odors and expelling them outside the house using ducting. Ductless range hoods simply extract the same fumes and filter them before returning them to the kitchen. If you have the option then a vented range hood is the ideal choice. Depending on the model and its extraction capacity this type of range hood can leave no trace of odor in your kitchen or in the rest of your house for that matter.

But what if your living situation leaves you with absolutely no choice in the matter? Will some houses simply not allow you to vent outside ? It is worth checking with a qualified builder first to make absolutely sure of this. Even with houses that have two courses of bricks it is still possible to cut a hole for ducting. Make sure the builder does just that. Holes in brickwork need to be cut using saws and not created with a sledge hammer. It may well be that you live in an apartment block where ducting just isn’t possible. If this is the case then a ductless range hood is the only option.

Ductless range hoods will remove steam, grease and smoke from directly above your range hood. Their effectiveness is largely dependent on the quality of the filtering system they employ and the power of the extraction motor used. Some models will offer the option of a carbon filter. These come highly recommended as they are quite effective in removing odors from your kitchen.

The real advantage ductless range hoods have over vented is in the price. It is possible to get models from Air King for as little as $32. That said if you want the most effective performance you can get from a ductless range hood then it makes sense to go for the best model you can find. Typically the easiest way to identify the better ductless range hoods is by comparing their power. The actual effectiveness of each model should be given in CFM or cubic feet per minute which tells you just how much smoke they can remove from your stove top each minute. The higher the number the better they perform the task you need them for. A range hood with a 180 CFM rating will usually cost from around $70.

If a particular model does not list the CFM in its specifications then beware! This is usually an indication of a poorly performing machine that simply won’t do the job its supposed to.

The other main advantage of a ductless range hood is the space you save. In a cramped apartment where you might need to place a microwave above the stove then this can be quite a draw card. Ductless range hoods are really slimline and compact and will allow you to stack vertically.