Any serious kitchen needs a range hood. Cooking smells are sucked in and filtered out, and the air is then either returned to the room or released via a vent. The main difference for the user is that returning the air to the kitchen means you’re still stuck with the heat and moisture, albeit with less grease and smell. This may still be preferable in some kitchens, as installing a proper vent can be a messy and expensive job.
The filters present in a range hood are typically made of activated charcoal, a porous form of carbon with an exceptionally high surface area for adsorption (which differs slightly from absorption). Although very efficient at collecting grease and particulate matter, these filters still require regular changing to avoid the hood losing suction power. Check the price of replacement filters before you buy.
Once you’ve decided whether you want to install a vent or not, you can begin to look at the specifics of a few models. For a start, large cooktops will need a large hood with strong suction. The latter is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM).
Many models come with built-in lighting and attractive casings, while some are simply meant to be mounted under kitchen units and have a simple, slim design. These decisions will be affected by the overall look of your kitchen and how much you want to spend.
One thing people find irritating about range hoods is the noise they make. Larger models in particular can be very loud, so keep an eye out for hoods with low-power settings for when you’re not using the whole cooktop at once. Some units have an automatic shut-off function that switches the hood off after a certain length of time.
Energy efficiency should always be factored into buying decisions, and hoods are no exception. Look for models carrying the Energy Star label, which indicates that an appliance uses 15-percent less energy than the maximum specified by the U.S. Department of Energy.