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But after talking to experts and looking closely at 84 range hoods, we narrowed our search to models with features that should make most people pretty happy without costing too much. Hoods in this price range generally have enough fan power to clear your kitchen well, and have lower volume and adjustable fan speeds and lighting. They can look pretty good, too. You can get a hood for around half that price, but the trade-off is usually a louder fan.
You can probably just take their advice. But if you want to be more prepared for a discussion with your pro, here are the seven different hoods you can choose from. Wall-mounted chimney: These are the dominant style of range hood, mounted against a wall over your range or cooktop. The downside is that they take up space where you might otherwise have cabinets installed. They come in all kinds of shapes, though the most popular are pyramid-style and convex-glass.
Under cabinet: Over-the-range microwave: Yep, some microwaves double as exhaust fans for your kitchen. Microwave hoods often move fewer CFM than standalone range hoods, and do not extend fully over the cooktop, so they may not be as effective at removing pollution in some cases. Microwave hoods tend to work best when the ducting has a short run, directly behind the intake. These hoods mount to your ceiling, hanging down over a kitchen island. These are usually installed in kitchen islands, hiding out of sight when they're not in use.
People generally find that downdraft hoods are ineffective, though, as they can struggle to suck up particles before they float up and away from the intake. Recirculating hoods: Whatever moist, smoky air that they suck up just gets blown right back into your kitchen, probably right into your face.
Hood insert: These are high-powered hoods, sometimes with more than 1, CFM. They come in a variety of blower setups, and are supposed to be the best hood to choose for a true professional range. But, unless your house is also a restaurant, this will probably be overkill for most people. Like most range hoods, the GE JVW has all of the important features to keep your kitchen comfortable: The JVW can move enough air to keep up with most kinds of home cooking. At its highest speed, it moves CFM. This is more than enough power to offset the pollution created by a typical inch stove, even if you accidentally burn your bacon.
It has two more fan speeds in the middle as well, for a total of four. This hood is also relatively quiet compared with others at its price. One of the main reasons we recommend the GE JVW over dozens of other options with similar specs is that it has some of the most user reviews of any range hood, so we know that it has worked well for a good number of people.
Most hoods have a handful of reviews at most, many have none at all. The average rating is 4. Owners say that they like how quiet it is, and how effective it is for removing smoke and odors while they cook. We also picked this particular model because of its pyramid-style design and the functional buttons. Instead of an eye-catching logo, the GE features a clean, attractive control panel.
It has backlit push buttons for powering the hood on and off, individual buttons for the various fan speeds and one for the lights including a low-light setting. The JVW should fit easily into a inch cutout, and it comes with ducting for ceilings up to 9 feet high assuming a standard installation height over your cooking surface. If you need it, the hood also comes with extension ducting part number JX10DC53 for ceilings up to 10 feet. This hood is HVI-certified and has a one-year warranty, typical for most hoods. You can also get an optional remote that controls the lighting and fan speed from anywhere in your kitchen it is sold separately.
The filter is removable and can be washed in the dishwasher. This hood is not Energy Star-certified, though hoods use very little energy anyway. This is also available in a inch option as the JVW , with all of the same specs as our main pick, apart from the extra width. Most of the negative reviews for the JVW complain about difficult installation or poor instructions. This is a common complaint we noticed about most hoods. Installing any range hood is going to be at least a little difficult, so bear that in mind before you take on this project.
Some reviewers also noted that the lights in this hood can get hot. The main draw here is the bolder design, with the curved-glass canopy.
Helpfully, the EWSS comes with automatic heat detection, turning the blower on to high speed when excess heat is detected, and it has an automatic timer that will shut the hood off after 10 minutes. Although the CFM on this hood is rather high, Broan actually sells an automatic make-up air damper that works with this hood to equalize indoor and outdoor air pressure.
Talk to a pro about whether you need one, and how to install it. Because of the higher CFM, the Broan is much louder than our main pick, emitting Like the GE, this hood is convertible to a non-vented, recirculating configuration. The Broan accommodates ceilings 8 to 9 feet high, and Broan sells an optional extension for 9- to foot ceilings that you can purchase separately. It is only available in a stainless-steel finish, which is the most common finish for wall-mounted range hoods. This Euro-Style range hood from Golden Vantage offers a high-end look that complements any kitchen island.
The range hood is capable of up to CFM, which is suitable for many everyday cooking tasks. The noise level is capped at 65 decibels, which is slightly noisier than some range hoods on our list. However, users find the noise level to be acceptable and not overly disturbing. Some users note that the hood is subject to receiving dents during shipping, but also expressed that the company was quick to replace or compensate.
Overall, the value and affordable price point for a sleek, high-end looking island range hood earns this model a spot on our list. The TA from Tatsumaki boasts a quick and efficient second auto clean program that removes hidden grease and keeps the internal fan blades clean. The water reservoir is well-hidden and a quart of water is all that is needed to clear dust, grease, and other debris from the inner chamber. The water is flushed into the removable grease traps for disposal. Since a build-up of grease can affect the efficient operation of a range hood over time, this model makes a great choice for the home cook that wants peak efficiency from a vent fan — without the hassle of regular in-depth manual cleaning.
This is very robust operation and will suit the needs of many households. The unit offers a variety of installation options and efficient operation that will meet basic kitchen needs. The F offers convertible installation option — meaning it can be installed to vent horizontally or vertically, or can be installed to operate without ductwork. It offers a straightforward toggle switch to operate the fan at low or high speeds. It produces max CFM of or depending on installation option.
While this is a lower end CFM capability, this range hood is a great budget buy and many users like that it does not require specialized or expensive light bulbs. Instead, the light operates using standard 75 watt bulbs. For a convertible range hood with more power than a budget model, choose the Broan Under-Cabinet Range Hood. Available in three color options and four different sizes, this unit is versatile and will meet the needs of many kitchen configurations.
This model has two fan speeds, and two different levels of lighting. Both are controlled by a rocker switch for straight-forward operation. Installing the Allure to be ventless, or horizontally or vertically vented is possible thanks to its four-way convertibility. Airflow Manufacturers tout the cubic feet per minute CFM of exhausted air. More airflow means faster ventilation, but it doesn't guarantee better smoke capture and removal in your kitchen.
This hood is HVI-certified and has a one-year warranty, typical for most hoods. Only 13 left in stock - order soon. Amazon Warehouse. Become a Member. Best Sellers in Range Hoods. We also picked this particular model because of its pyramid-style design and the functional buttons.
Many hoods that we tested that claimed to have modest airflow vented as well as those with twice the airflow. Number of Fan Speeds Most of the hoods we tested offered from three to six fan speeds. We recommend a minimum of two speeds: Any more than three set speeds are too many. If the manufacturer wants to provide more than three speeds, it should just use a variable speed switch that the user can easily set to any speed desired.
Thermostat Control A built-in temperature sensor in some models automatically turns on the fan if the temperature below the hood gets too high. This feature is available mainly on over-the-range microwaves.
The real purpose of the thermostat is to protect the microwave electronics from being damaged by high temperatures. If the temperature under the microwave is too high, the exhaust fan comes on to draw away the hot air and pull in cooler air from the rest of the kitchen. But we do not recommend this feature on range hoods because if you are cooking with oil and your pan catches fire, the exhaust fan will come on, drawing more air to the fire, fanning it, and perhaps making matters worse.
Range hoods come in four basic configurations, each designed for a specific application: They range from to inch widths. Use these profiles to compare range hoods by brand. Become a Member. Sign In. Remember Me. Not a member? Need further assistance? Please call Member Services at Join Consumer Reports. Already a member?
Results 1 - 60 of CFM Wall Mount Range Hood (KB) Winflo O-WC30 30" Convertible Stainless Steel Wall Mount Range Hood. AKDY RH 30" Stainless Steel Wall Mount Range Hood Touch Screen Display Ductless Vent. Read reviews and buy the best range hoods from top manufacturers including Cavaliere, XtremeAir, Broan and more.
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Get Started. Range hoods. Sign in or Become a Member. Range Hood Buying Guide. Sharing is Nice Yes, send me a copy of this email. Send We respect your privacy. Oops, we messed up. Try again later. May Shop Undercabinet Range Hoods on Amazon Wall-Chimney Hoods Wall-chimney hoods work where there are no cabinets over the range and mount with exposed vent stacks on the wall to vent to the outside. Shop Island Range Hoods on Amazon Downdraft Hood These try to reverse the direction of rising smoke and fumes and exhaust them through ducts running beneath the floor.
Range Hood Features Select a model at least as wide as the cooking surface underneath. Exhaust Timer This convenient feature turns off the fan after a set period of time. Brands That Matter Range hoods come in four basic configurations, each designed for a specific application: