Is there a site that reviews a large number of range hoods?

12 years ago

We are new to remodeling and new to this site. We are starting our kitchen remodel and need to select the range hood. We like the stainless steel look with a curved glass canopy such as:

Broan Elite EW5636SS

Cavaliere-Euro AP238-PSD-36

XOM36G

and the Futuro Moon Crystal Wall (although too expensive for our budget).

I cannot find any website that compares the CFMs with Sones (even the manufacturers websites do not always have this information!). My biggest concern is noise so would appreciate any feedback on hoods with lower noise production (although I realize this depends on the blower power). Does anyone here have experience with any of these brands/models that they could share. I don't even know which of these brands are considered better buys.

Thanks so much!

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Comments (4)

colin3
12 years ago
Consumer Reports does hood ratings and they probably say something about noise, but I'm afraid I let my web sub expire so I can't check.

If noise is a concern the best solution is an external blower: that gets the motor noise out of the hood and farther downstream.

If you search this forum you will find more on hoods and noise, but most of these brands have so many models and churn them so fast that it's always hard to find the comparisons you want.

If you look around here you'll also find that there's more to effectiveness than cfm numbers: a good overhanging canopy is essential if you want your hood to specialize in extracting the effluent from cooking, rather than vaguely pulling air out of the room. The prettier hoods are often the worst at this.
dalajosa
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the info - I may have been getting a bit hung up on sones!! Unfortunately CR does not have any of the styles (and only one of the brands) we are interested in. I would really love to hear from anyone who has experience with the specific styles listed above.
Thanks
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You can research them on the Appliances Forum. Figure out what you need and do some searching. I would also check on AJ Madison - my "go to" site when I need information about appliances. (They usually have pretty reasonable prices as well.) If you cannot find information on your choices, then post a question asking about them. For example, if you have a 30" range/cooktop along the perimeter, look for one that's 36" wide x 24" deep with 650 to 900 cfms. The reason for the 6" extra width of the hood is that when smoke/grease/steam/fumes/odors rise, they spread out. You need to be able to capture them into the hood. Since they spread, you need to have extra width to accommodate the spread. If you have upper cabinets flanking your hood, you can sometimes get away with a hood the same width - but it's not recommended. The upper cabinets help guide and corral the smoke/grease/steam/fumes/odors into the hood. A hood against a wall should generally be: 6" wider than the cooking appliance (i.e., 30" range or cooktop / 36" hood; 36" cooktop or range / 42" hood). 24" deep 650 to 900 cfms Externally vented with a duct diameter at least 8" (10" is better and quieter) If it's a hood over an island or perimeter (or any open space not against a wall): At least 6" wider than the cooking appliance 27" deep 900 or more cfms (you need more power when the smoke/grease/steam/fumes/odors are in the open where air currents are generally stronger than along the wall and will spread them out faster - so more width to increase the capture area and more power to "pull" them up.) Externally vented with a duct diameter at least 8" (10" is better and quieter) In all cases, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for installing - especially the height above the cooking surface. If you want to mount it higher, then you will need to oversize it - stronger cfms and wider hood. Oh, and a remote blower will be quieter. Be aware that hoods range greatly in cost, so consider your budget as well.
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yankca
12 years ago
Anyone know or heard about Tatsumaki brand of hoods?
jackals
12 years ago
Sounds like noise is a big driver for you in your range hood selection. A few factors contribute to a noisy range hood:
1. Quality of blower used - most half decent range hoods today use pretty good blowers
2. Probably the most important factor contributing to range hood noise is duct issues - to small, to many bends or just badly installed.
3 Another issue is peoples desire to have the biggest cfm blower system they can find - for example 1200cfm through a 36" hood will be unbelievably loud on max settings even with ideal ducting (we have tested it so we know) - why - because the blower is pulling 1200 blocks of air 1'x1'x1' every single minute through the filters - if the filter capture area is small (36" hood) its gonna be a real noisy airflow experience. So its crictical to match the blower to the ducting, to the btu output of the range and to the range hood size.
4. The other critcial element is a well designed range hood structure where the air is getting pulled through after the filters - if the inside of the hood behind the filters has a lot of projections and things hanging out the air is going to bang against them - noise
5. Filters - baffle filters - well designed and fabricated baffle filters are a must

Here is a link that might be useful: More on Range Hood Noise

Is there a site that reviews a large number of range hoods?

Comments (4)

colin3

dalajosa
Original Author

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Is there a site that reviews a large number of range hoods?

Comments (4)

colin3

dalajosaOriginal Author

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jackals

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dalajosa
Original Author