Buying a New Kitchen Range Hood? Follow These Tips for a Great Purchase

Posted by Copper Kitchen Specialists on February 13th, 2016

When buying new or replacing a range copper kitchen hood vent be sure to record the shape, size, and mounting style desired before going shopping. A good guide to follow is to make sure the hood is the same width as the cooktop or range and a few inches longer on the sides. They usually come with instructions for mounting as far as the height.

Type, strength and ventilation should all be taken into consideration as well as the type of ventilation required. There are three main types of copper kitchen hood vents.

Ducted or Vented

When it comes to the exhaust there are a few options, this may be the most important decision a homeowner makes when it comes to a copper kitchen hood vent. There are three basic options.

Ducting the hood outdoors is the suggested method as it gets rid of elements produced by the range completely. The most efficient ducts are those mounted to the wall as they are shorter. The farther the ducting is, the more force there will have to be; so there will have to be a more powerful unit. Installation plays a key role in efficiency. It isn’t advisable to duct to the basement or attic.

Non-vented or Duct-free

This type of vent recirculates. Air is pulled through a filter that traps any irritants and then the clean air flows back into the kitchen. It’s very important to keep filters clean and change them often in order to get the best operation from this type of kitchen hood vent. There is no ducting needed which makes this a popular option for many.

Convertible

A convertible copper kitchen hood vent allows the homeowner to use either option; non-ducted or ducted. They work best when ducted to the outside.

Copper Kitchen Hood Vent Styles

There are many variations of range hoods from which to choose.

Under-the-cabinet Hoods

Under cabinet copper kitchen hood vents attach to the bottom of the cabinet and above the range or cooktop. There are various strengths and styles including both ducted and non-ducted. They tend to blend in with the cabinets, but with copper one can still make an impression with them.

Wall-Mounted Hoods

Wall-mounted copper kitchen hood vents look a lot like under-the-cabinet hoods only they are mounted to the wall instead of the cabinets above them.

Island Hoods

Island hoods in copper are very popular in 2016. They hang from the ceiling above a range or cooktop that is located on an island, and are the best way to ventilate with this set up. Though copper is the most sought after, they also come in glass, metal and various other materials.

Hood Vent Strength

Aside from being an attractive centerpiece for the kitchen, copper kitchen hood vents should be strong enough to perform satisfactorily. Power or air movement is measured in CFM or cubic feet per minute. If one wants to make sure that the steam and odors from cooking are removed they should seek out a range hood that’s 350 DFM or more.

The formula to use is 1 CFM per 100 BTU should one want to figure the perfect strength. After all, even though beautiful, copper kitchen hood vents should still be functional.

Sound Levels for Hood Vents

The sound that a copper kitchen hood vents make is measured in sones. A normal voice measures at about four sones, and a refrigerator runs at around one sone. The higher the CFM the louder the vent. This should give the buyer an idea of which hood vents are a less loud than others.

Filters, lighting and an automatic shut off option are other elements of a hood vent that are taken into consideration when shopping.

For over 10 years a team of highly skilled craftsman including designers, fabricators and artisans have been creating customized copper hoods and sinks for anyone who wants to have a piece of functional art in their kitchen that they’re proud to show off. With a total commitment to customer satisfaction, the team at Copper Kitchen Specialists will walk you through the entire process, thus ensuring you’ve chosen the best product for your needs. Owners, builders, designers and industry professionals all turn to this husband and wife team for the most detailed and well-made copper kitchen accents on the market today.