The range hood is one of the essential appliances for our kitchen. It helps to remove the smoke, greases, or odors from your kitchen. There are different types of range hoods available in the market.
Generally, if we talk or discuss range hood, then we think is it ducted range hood suitable for my kitchen or the ductless one?
In this article, we will discuss what is a ductless range hood, and we will provide you with some information about ductless range hoods so that you can choose the best range hood for your kitchen.
Let’s talk about more what is a ductless range hood
The ductless or recirculating range hood is one type of range hood, which also has a fan like a ducted but not vented duct. Ductless range hoods do not come equipped with pipes or ducts to funnel airborne particles away from the kitchen. Instead, they’re designed with powerful exhaust fan units to remove smoke and dirty air and then blow it out to the space. They employ a recirculation method to improve interior air quality. It has various types of filters for cleaning the air from the kitchen and provides the air. Sometimes we also recognize it as a recirculating range hood.
The ductless range hood is more flexible than any other range hood. It can be placed anywhere. It is also easier to adjust the size of your cooking canopy while you are doing an overhaul of your kitchen. But, you might have to change your charcoal filter that is activated at least every two or three times each year to boost the effectiveness of the hood of your range.
The primary difference with a ducted range hood is that instead of the air becoming exhausted and escaping to the outdoors, it goes through a filter and then recirculated back to the kitchen. As we told you before, recirculating range hoods or ductless range hoods work precisely the same way as a ducted range hood. A lot of people don’t know that the majority of ductless range hoods are able to be transformed to be used as ductless. All you need to do is buy the filter that has charcoal layers.
Vents for exhaust are typically located near the upper part of the hood or to the side of the hood. When you use your range hood, you’ll feel the air escaping back into your room.
How do ductless range hoods work?
A range hood’s primary goal is to remove smoke, odors, and steam. When you cook, that creates lots of gases. It also removes grease/oil (heat) and dangerous gases from your kitchen. The steam and the oil/grease that is released when you cook are stuck on the grease filters and then taken away.
The process typically involves heated air repeatedly scurrying by passing through the mesh or the baffle filter. This causes the grease and steam to condense and then separate.
The actual process will depend on the type of grease filter in the first place: baffle or mesh. The charcoal filters serve to catch odors. In contrast to grease filters, charcoal filters can’t be cleaned and must be replaced.
For most people, the principal reason for installing a ductless range hood in their home is to get rid of cooking smells and stop them from spreading throughout the home. To avoid these, most people prefer to keep an open window. It’s therefore essential to note charcoal filters are essential to remove the smell, and depending on their usage. These types of filters need to be replaced every three months. If you don’t cook frequently or you cook often, you might need to replace it only one time every year or less.
How to install a ductless range hood?
Range hoods offer a reliable way to cut down on smoke, steam, vapors, and other gases caused by cooking. A ductless range hood operates by pushing air that is contaminated by a carbon filter in order to remove it. Before starting any electrical work, ensure that you turn off the power supply to the proper circuit by switching off the breaker in the service panel at your home.
Before installing the ductless range hood, you should measure the distance from the fans assembly and cooktop. The distance may differ between 24 to 36 inches for an average installation.
Installation process
Range hoods are attached to the cabinet using screws to mount them. The screws are typically about 1/2-inch long, meaning they are not able to enter the interior or the inside of the cabinet. The knockout plug, which is removed from the rear of the range hood, comes with an electrical connector before installation. The appliance is secured in position while the wire is passed through the connector, and then followed by mounting screws, are installed. When the range hood is secured to the bottom of the cabinet, then you can connect the wires from the hood to the neutral. For the final step, replace any covers and then install the filters.
Some considerations before installing a range hood
- The range hood is an electrically wired appliance that requires a 110-volt power source to run the appliance. While it’s not essential to add a dedicated circuit for the appliance, you don’t need to overburden existing circuits as well. If you intend to tap onto an existing circuit, you must calculate the load that will be placed on the circuit to ensure that the added load of the range hood doesn’t overburden the safe capacity of the circuit. If a suitable power source isn’t readily available, you should hire an electrician to build an electrical circuit.
- Range hoods can be mounted on the top of the kitchen cabinet that is located above the stove’s surface. Modern homes have cabinets that have dimensions that allow accommodating a range hood’s installation, but older homes might not. It is necessary to determine how thick the hood is before including the minimum height requirement to determine if you have enough space. If not enough clearance is available, you’ll have to modify the cabinet. This may mean taking down the cabinet to make room for a modification or to raise it up to allow for the height required.
Benefits of ductless range hood
There are several obvious advantages to using a ductless range hood. For instance, the cost is low and the ease of installation. But in terms of the safety, health, and hygiene of your home, the majority of homeowners prefer venting their kitchen hoods out to the outside.
Drawbacks of ductless range hood
Ductless range hoods can also have drawbacks. Ductless hoods simply circulate air inside your home instead of pulling out the grease, cooking exhaust out, and venting it outside. This is not the best option.
Ductless range hoods may be louder than ducted ones. They usually require greater power to the fan. It is essential to be aware that the filter should be replaced or cleaned regularly to ensure that the hood functions effectively, as it is a regular expense for homeowners.
How do you clean a ductless Range Hood?
- Use Acetone or glass cleaner to a dry towel.
- Wipe off the exterior of your vent’s hood.
- If the stain doesn’t come away, use a tiny amount of no-grit soft Scrub on a towel, then clean the hood.
- Clean all stainless steel filters.
- Take the blower off the vent the hood.
- Unscrew the blower’s side to get rid of charcoal filters.
- Replace charcoal filters.
- Clean the exhaust fan.
What factors should I think about when buying a range hood?
There are many aspects to consider, based on the layout, size of your stovetop and kitchen, and the kind of cooking you prepare.
Consider those key factors below when you will buy one.
Size
Size comes first in your mind when you choose a range hood. The hood needs to cover the entire surface of the stovetop to absorb the exhaust from all burners. Therefore, you must determine the size of your range before purchase.
CFM
It refers to the power of the fan of a range hood. It’s a term used to describe cubic feet for every minute. It is a measurement of the time it takes for air inside the room to flow through the range’s hood.
When you’ve got a big kitchen or a professional range, you’ll need more power from your fan. So, before choosing a ductless range hood, please check the CMF of the range hood.
Level of noise
If you want to know the truth about the noise level of a range hood, then there is no noise-free range hood. However, some range hoods are louder than others. Most of the time, it is based on how strong fans are.
Type of filter
If you’re trying to build or buy a ductless range hood, they all come with replaceable charcoal filters that rid the air of the smells and smoke. They also come with multi-layered baffles filters or mesh filters. These filters capture grease particles. You can easily clean these types of filters in the dishwasher by yourself.
Style
A range hood, particularly an island hood that is lowered to the ceiling, can be a striking design for your kitchen. There are a variety of designers producing high-end European-style range hoods which look more like sculptures than kitchen appliances. Since a range hood is likely to be noticeable, it is important to select one that is in line with your style. It is also worth considering options like fan speeds and light levels (usually LED or halogen) or perhaps an automated shutoff.
Is there any price difference between ductless and ducted range hoods?
The cost of range hoods varies between $80 and over $2,000, depending on the dimensions, manufacturer, and design.
A lot of range hoods available on the market are ducted or ductless, which means you’ll pay the same, except for the filter that is added and the necessary kits.
Benefits of Ductless over Ducted Range Hoods
We’ve seen the advantages and disadvantages of ductless range hoods. However, there are certain aspects where Ductless range hoods do better than ducted ones:
- Ductless range hoods are less expensive and simpler to set up.
- There’s no reason to vent or the installation of the makeup air system.
- No heat loss during winters.
- If you are renting a property but are not permitted to make vents, these range hoods are a perfect choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are ductless range hoods safe?
Yes, the ductless range hoods are suitable for use in the kitchen. But, if you cook frequently or enjoy the smell of greasy or Asian cooking and cooking, a ductless range hood might not be powerful enough to allow your hood to vent to the outside.
This can result in low air quality inside your home, which could be hazardous for your health over the long term and particularly hazardous to people with existing breathing or lung conditions.
Do you think ductless range hoods are worth the price?
It is dependent on various things. In general ductless range, the hood is superior to a ducted range hood. Ductless range hoods are able to be mounted on the wall, on top of an island in your kitchen, or in the custom-designed range hood.
They’re also an affordable alternative for kitchens because you don’t need to hire a contractor for the installation of ductwork. Ductless hoods may not be the same as ducted hoods, as they transfer kitchen air via ductwork and out to the outside.
What is the main difference between a Ductless range hood and a convertible range hood?
A ductless range hood circulates air inside your kitchen. However, it is not equipped with ductwork. On the other side, a convertible range Hood is initially dumped. After purchasing a recirculating kit and charcoal filter, you can switch the hood from ducted to ductless.
Overview
Ductless Range hoods: The Good & Bad
A ductless hood comes with the advantages of being somewhat more adaptable and is able to be put in almost anywhere you want. Since a ductless range hood is a simple filter that circulates air throughout your kitchen, you don’t need to think about placing it in close proximity to pipes or ducts reaching outside.
In this manner, the ductless hood could be more efficient than a ducted system, at the very least, in the installation procedure. Specific models operate on timers and may be set to turn on or off on a schedule.
The range hoods that are ductless aren’t without disadvantages, unfortunately. In this kind of hood, because of its fact that it circulates air rather than bringing in fresh air or venting out old and polluted fresh air. Your kitchen could get quite humid. The decibels of a ductless hood could be more than ductless exhaust systems because they generally require more power for the fan. It is subject to a myriad of aspects, such as the brand and size as well as the model you pick.
It is also crucial to keep in mind it is important to remember that your filter should get cleaned or replaced on a regular basis to ensure the best performance. This could result in an ongoing expense for homeowners.
Conclusion
We hope after reading our article about What is a ductless range hood you are able to understand every aspect of the ductless range hood. It will help you to choose the best ductless range hood for your kitchen.
Lastly, if you want to share your thoughts then drop a comment below. Thank you for reading.