Choosing a kitchen range hood
The function of a range hood is to extract all the odours and fumes from the kitchen which are produced during the cooking process. Proper function of the range hood depends on a series of factors which influence the performance and lifespan of the range hood.
In order to choose the best range hood for your kitchen, it is best to carefully evaluate the size of the environment in which it will be installed, and therefore choose a hood which has a suitable ventilation capacity with respect to the volume of the room.
This first step will guide you in the choice of the motor power; it is recommended that the range hood be capable of achieving at least 8 complete air changes in an hour. It is important to note that the aspiration efficiency is also influenced by the duct which transports the exhaust air, from the range hood towards the outside. The length or run and the diameter of the duct, the number of elbows along the duct route are all elements to be considered before installation.
The size of the kitchen and the power of the motor
In order to choose the right range hood for your kitchen, choose a power which guarantees you a suitable aspiration capacity with respects to the volume of the room and at least 8 complete air changes in an hour.
Consider that the aspiration capacity is proportional to the speed selected. For example: in a typical kitchen measuring 12' X 12' and a ceiling height of 8' the total volume would be approximately 1,200 cubic feet (WxDxH).
A standard 600 cfm range hood, at speed 2 has an average aspiration capacity of 300 cfm. This means that you will have a total of 15 air changes in an hour. At speed 1 you will have 10 air changes in an hour, at speed 3 you will have over 30 air changes in an hour. Therefore, the 600 cfm solution is more than adequate for perfect air change according to the requirements of the volume of the environment.
