I don't think I've heard that, but I will limit my response to my equipment. In my main cooktop, an Electrolux clone sold by Kenmore and purchased in December 2007, there are internal fans that are extremely quiet. They only turn on when one has used a hob sufficiently to warm up the internal electronics. The vent hole area is modest so the amount of air moved is small. The air is probably not cold, if one could notice it. There wouldn't be a point in moving air through electronics if the electronics don't transfer heat to it.

I also have a Cooktek wok induction hob that is more commercial like, and the fan is actually noticeable. I wouldn't call it annoying. It is probably quieter than the air noise through the baffles of my hood when on full power to deal with the wok cooking. All this air is pulled from and returned to the cabinet the unit is in, so it wouldn't put cold air on one even if it were cold air.

kas

One doubts is any one person can respond as to ALL induction ranges. We have owned two different brands of induction cooktops (not ranges), the first a hybrid with two induction cooking zones (plus two ribbon radiant cooking zones) and the current all-induction cooktop with five cooking zones (of which one is a bridge unit between two of the other zones). Both had/have fans, but the fans work very differently from each other. Their function is to keep the electronics from overheating and therefore the air that has passed over the electronics and picked up the heat therefrom generally is warm, not cool. And remember, the air, before it passes over the electronics, unless other extraordinary ducting has been installed, has been drawn from the room itself, so the exhaust will not be cooler than the ambient room air.

In our former Jenn-Air, the air, after passing over the electronics, exhausted into the cavity under the cooktop, exchanging air with the room only through leakage, of which one assumes there was ample. In our current LG induction cooktop, the cooling air exhausts through narrow above-counter slots at the rear of the cooktop, directly into the room. One might think, given the thinness of the exhaust slots, that there would be a reverse vacuum cleaner effect, but there is not. If one holds a lit match or candle at counter level, there is no doubt that there is a breeze blowing, but if it is detectable by feel, holding one's hand in front of the slots, it is just barely so.

That said, where and how the air exhausts should enter into your kitchen planning. You might want to reserve more below-counter space (not placing an oven there, for instance) for a below-counter venting induction unit, and avoid placing an above-counter venting unit flush up against a backsplash or in an area where major spills of liquid are likely to be a common ocurrence.

Don't worry about it, probably.

I have the Electrolux induction slide-in range. It does gently blow air -- perhaps slightly warmish air -- out the front when its used (whether for induction cooking or the upper oven). On my model, the air slots are immediately above the upper oven door, maybe 5" - 6" below counter top level. Air blows until the upper oven or hobs are cool enough to no longer threaten the electronics between. Its very quiet, and not annoying -- you might not hear this even with your hood off.

When I heat a cast iron grill pan using one hob, then move the pan to cool over a different hob (one that's turned off), the range recognizes heat at the second hob. My point is that the fan happens even if heat wasn't generated by those hobs. I suspect it may do this even if a hot roasting pan from a separate oven were placed on the range top, but not certain.

But: different models may behave and sound differently.

my husband loves our induction cooktop - he is a good one to whine about noise and stuff, but he says this cooktop could have bells and flashing lights and he'd still prefer it over a regular smooth top glass stove. Ok- so he is exaggerating, but he also said that any small noise from the fan in immaterial compared to the improvement in cooking utility.

We can hear our fan (it's not annoying though), but the air it blows out is not noticeable unless I put my hand up to feel it. My ovens push out more cooling air than the cooktop does. Neither push out "cold" air though. It's room temp or maybe just a bit warmer (not hot either).

Perhaps you are confusing free standing or slide in induction ranges with some other appliances? The words "many models" do not apply when it comes to induction ranges.

The link provides excellent background information on induction cooktops and ranges.

Here is a link that might be useful: Great information from inductionsite.com

Thanks for your responses so far, It sounds like the Electrolux ranges have very quiet unobtrusive fans. The link below refers to a Frigidaire, and the reviewer suggests the fan is annoying.
Any word on this from owners of GE, Samsung or Kenmore ranges?
Thanks

Here is a link that might be useful: Review that mentions blowers

Pulford writes: "It sounds like the Electrolux ranges have very quiet unobtrusive fans. The link below refers to a Frigidaire, and the reviewer suggests the fan is annoying."

Frigidaire is an Electrolux brand.

The fan on my E'lux is audible from across the room, but not annoying. However, it blows HOT air, especially when the oven is being used, and continues until the range is cold to protect the electronics. It heats up my kitchen substantially more than my conventional old electric range which did not have a fan.

We have a Samsung, and, yes, there are blowers. If we are using the cooktop only, they stay on for maybe 10 min post. If we use the oven, they will cycle on and off for maybe about 2 hours. Some people find this incredibly annoying while others do not.

Overall, I am thrilled with the Samsung, which replaced a coiltop electric range.

Here is a link that might be useful: Samsung Induction Reviews

Bought induction range 6 months ago,first 1.5 months large burner works when it wants too,cannot remove oven racks,now other burners sometimes do not go to the high settings,samsung is going to replace the range,now only will have 5 months warranty remaining,i would not recomend this range to anyone

I'm another Electrolux owner although I have the freestanding version versus the slide-in the other 2 mention. I haven't had it long but the only place I've seen/air venting is above the left rear burner, nothing is venting from the front (although it makes sense the slide-in would have to vent from somewhere else since it doesn't have the back panel). It's quiet and I've only noticed it once or twice when nothing else in the house was running (no kids, no dishwasher, no range hood and no heat running). In other words either it doesn't run often or it is easy covered by other sounds (but I have 5 young kids so my house tends to be noisy). I can't say I've noticed the temp of the air but since it's coming out the back and I mostly use the large front burners I haven't really had a reason to even stick my hand back there.

So I would say no it doesn't apply to all induction models.

Mine blows a cool air right at my belly level and it’s very annoying. It is also a very noisy fan when cooktop or stove is on. I would not recommend it

We have had our Bosch induction cooktop and love it! The only noise I hear is when you turn it to super fast you do hear whatever it is that makes it work. Not annoying in any way since I rarely have it up that high and only just to get water boiling quickly.