Choosing a kitchen vent hood

BY POCYLINE KARANI

Modern buildings pay little or no attention to natural home ventilation. Indeed homes are getting more stuffy and mustier and water condenses on windows and pipes, showing signs of high humidity levels.

Showering, running a hot bath or cooking increase the moisture level of the house, which affects walls and, if in the kitchen, electric appliances accumulate a sticky grease film that may cause rusting.

Kitchen ventilation hoods offer a solution to this problem. Here are some of the guidelines to help you shop for the right yet stylish vent hood.

Shape and function

• Style options: These nclude square and cylindrical chimneys. They either can rest on angular or rounded bodies with stainless steel or glass hoods.

• Cooking needs: Everyday cooking for the whole family will require one of the more robust kitchen exhaust hoods that extends over the whole cooking range to get rid of the cooking fumes, steam, grease and carbon monoxide.

• Material: You may chose from the popular stainless steel or brushed steel finishes. New designs come with a stainless steel chimney or a brightly coloured hood.

• Price: Hoods vary in style, shape and functionality and this determines their price. It is important to decide on a reasonable budget for the hood before you see the incredible choice available at vastly different price ranges. The more functions and controls you have, the more you will have to pay.

• Duct: Include the installation of a duct in your budget — the steamy greasy vented air needs to go somewhere and the duct connects kitchen vent hoods to the exterior of your home.

• Vented Fans: These will suck the cooking fumes out of the kitchen and through the duct, literally throwing it outside.

• Width: Should be of a convenient size for your range without the overall size overpowering your kitchen.

• Filter: The priority here is how easy they are to remove and clean.

• Integrated lighting: lighting is so important over your cooking work area. Some provide 2 - 4 halogen lights as down lighters, and they look good too.