Why Consult a Pro Before Purchasing Your Kitchen Hood

More and more homeowners are installing range hoods in their kitchens to exhaust smoke, steam, and odors from their home. However, these systems can be very powerful and require some planning before purchasing and installing to avoid issues with your home’s air quality.

Why CFM Matters

1.) The power of range hoods is measured in cubic feet per minute or CFM. Some of the fans on the market move at rates equal to or greater than 1,000 CFM and as a result, pull air from the cracks and gaps in your home’s exterior to balance out the air pressure that’s being exhausted. This allows dirty air to be circulated into your home from places like the attic, the bathroom exhaust fans, and any gaps surrounding your windows – which of course is not the goal if you are investing in a range hood.

2.) If your home uses fuel burning equipment, such as a natural gas furnace, water heater or dryer, then removing too much air with a hood may “starve” those appliances. This starvation of combustion air can result in something called backdrafting, which is when an exhaust duct allows air to enter the home when under normal conditions it should only allow combusted flue gases to exit the home. The backdraft effect can lead to the buildup of carbon monoxide inside your home, which is extremely dangerous!

The Fixes

Due to these pressure imbalances, mechanical residential code states that “Exhaust hood systems capable of exhausting in excess of 400 cubic feet per minute, shall be provided with makeup air at a rate approximately equal to the exhaust air rate… Such makeup air systems shall be equipped with a means of closure and shall be automatically controlled to start and operate simultaneously with the exhaust system.” This means that if your range hood moves at a rate of 400 CFM or more, then an additional system needs to be in place with automatic controls to ensure fresh air is replacing the air being exhausted. Luckily, there are 2 really good options to help bring fresh air back into your home!

The first option is a Universal Automatic Make-Up Air Damper with Pressure Sensor Kit by Broane Nutone. This is designed to equalize pressure between indoors and outdoors, while providing effective ventilation for cleaner and healthier air. Click here to read more about this damper.

The second one is a Residential Makeup Air Unit (MUAs) by Air Scape, which uses advanced ECM controls to make up plenty of air throughout your home. Click here to learn more.

Other Considerations

So now you know when shopping for a range hood, the CFM rate is an important consideration. You should also identify the type of stove you have and decide what type of cooking you will be doing. Unless you are doing a lot of frying and grilling of strong smelling foods on your stovetop, a less powerful range should do the job. You will also want to think about size/ height, mounting capabilities, filter types, and noise level.

How Bolton Can Help

Are you considering installing a range hood for your kitchen? Not only can Bolton provide you with our guidance and expertise throughout the process, but if decide to purchase a range hood through us – we provide full installation and a 1 year warranty on the equipment.  Call us today or click here to find out more!