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Rangehoods are not only a functional appliance but in many kitchens are a focal point. The functional aspect of the range hood involves removing cooking fumes to the outside but the size and prominence of some range hoods means that they must satisfy style considerations too.
Extractors can be hidden in cabinets but these do tend to be the smaller types.
Rangehoods can be used two ways: to vent to the outside or to re-circulate air within the kitchen. Re-circulating rangehoods usually have a grease filter, which must be replaced regularly if it is the paper type or be cleaned regularly if it is a screen. Re-circulating rangehoods tend not to be very satisfactory in use. Venting range hoods are more effective at removing grease and cooking fumes, they usually have screens that can be cleaned in the dishwasher. The better ones also have grease traps.
The most efficient way to vent a range hood is straight up through the roof. A straight pipe works best; bends in the vent pipe add back pressure that requires a stronger motor to overcome. Venting capacity is usually given in cubic meters per hour; that is the number of cubic meters of air that can be moved under ideal conditions. Conditions are rarely ideal of course, which means that you should usually go for the highest capacity you can, especially if you have a long run or bends or both.
Generally speaking 600 cubic meters per hour is the minimum you should look for. Anything less is unlikely to be satisfactory in use.
Noise is the next consideration. The more powerful the motor or the greater the number of motors, the greater the potential noise. Noise levels are expressed in decibels and you will tend to want a range hood with a lower decibel rating.
For long and difficult exhaust runs it can be necessary to provide an extra fan at the outside wall. This will increase the efficiency of your rangehood without causing extra noise in the kitchen.
Remember too that flexible hosing, which is corrugated, cause greater air resistance and therefore the need for a more powerful motor. Use smooth ducting wherever possible.
Don’t get caught out with dodgy brands
The last couple of years has seen an flood of cheap canopy rangehoods. It seems that anybody can just Email a factory in China and order a containerful of cheap products and sell them on to an unsuspecting New Zealand public. Not quite so simple to last though, there have been a number of prosecutions for selling goods that have not been tested to AUS/NZ standards. However, most of thes fly-by night kiddies are not going to hang around long enough to get caught. They cash in and move on, leaving their customers to wonder where their guarantee went.
If it seems too cheap to be true, it probably is. If the 'brand' is unfamiliar and seems a bit dodgy, it probably is. You can do some research though - Google the 'brand' name and see what comes up. No results means the name was probably dreamed up over a beer (or rice wine). It will last as long as the dodgy enterprise it serves.
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