Throw everything you've heard about hoods away and listen up, for the Guru is about to speak: Think Vent-a-Hood. There's not another hood out there that even stands close to it in comparison. The Vent-a-Hood uses 1, 2, 3, or 4 300 CFM internal blowers. The neat thing about this concept is you get 300, 600, 900, or 1200 CFMs and practically one noise level (there's a difference of 1.2 sones between the 300 and 1200 going from 5.4 to 6.6 sones). An external blower is going to create close to the same noise or more and you'll have a big 12" x 12" box sitting on your roof or mounted on the side of your house and wire that has to run to that box. Now let's throw a scenario in - it's 4 - 5 years down the road and you have to work on that blower on the roof. Who knows, maybe it's snowing outside - good luck getting it down (and even if there is no snow, most appliance service techs will not go on the roof, you'll have to find a way to get it down yourself). On top of that, Vent-a-Hood is the only fire safe hood on the market (they've never had 1 fire claim in 76 years - which is when they started). Vent-a-Hood can come up with any color that you're wanting, it's just a matter of asking.

Take the advice, you'll be happy you did.

The Guru has Spoken

Here is a link that might be useful: The Appliance Guru Reviews and Commentary

And now let's turn the mike over to clinresga. LOL!

dridr - It does seem to me you could save a few bucks. To compare apples to apples, hopefully, on AJ Madison's site Viking's 1200 CFM inline blower VIL1200 is $1009.00. Versus Ventingdirect selling (clinresga's) inline 1200 CFM Fantech FKD10XL for $519.00. Other Viking options in that CFM range would be remote blower VEV1200 at $919, internal VIV1200 at $759.

I promised ya think I wouldn't get baited back into this debate. but....

If it weren't for the fact that he actually blogs this stuff, I'd think guru was either just joking around, or a paid shill for VAH. Man, he makes me look balanced!

He's clueless.

My fantech inline blower is.....gasp!!!....NOT ON MY ROOF!!! Or, for that matter, on an external wall. It's in my warm, dry, accessible via stairs, ATTIC. The fact that guru is apparently unaware of the most popular type of remote blower setup gives you a hint of his expertise.

As to "close to the same noise or more"... more nonsense. See the thread below for the real scoop.

And, as for "the only fire safe hood"....Gee, let me think. What type of baffling system does, oh, every legitimate restaurant I've ever been in use? Gosh, does that Morton's steakhouse use a VAH hood with what, 55 little squirrel cage blowers spinning away? Ummm, no. They use baffles. There's a reason they are consensus choice for restaurants, where hood fires are a huge concern.

But, I'm signing off the flame war now, to salvage what little reputation I have with ya think.

To the OP: do your own research. Look carefully at what's been posted by others and make a decision that works for you. As a general rule, folks who slavishly follow the teachings of someone who calls him/herself "the guru" end up drinking the Kool Aid.

Here is a link that might be useful: Vent hoods and noise: the real scoop on VAH

Thanks to everyone for their responses.
The main purpose of my post was to ascertain whether the motors used by the hood manufacturers were unique and exclusive to those hoods, or whether the hood controls could be hooked up to a generic motor.
Our hood will be located against an outside wall. That wall is at the inside corner of the building exterior and I could place an external blower there. It would be readily accessible for repairs yet not readily seen from the street or backyard. I would imagine that the duct run from hood to blower would be less than 2 ft.
THe kitchen started a couple of years ago when I still had steady employment. Things have now changed and I am looking to finish this in an economical fashion. The hood is the only really necessary appliance that I have still not purchased (the others are languishing in my garage awaiting placement). As I will have a 36" Bluestar next to a 24" DCS wok, my hood choices are limited to those 60" or so. There will also be a Bluestar salamander mounted over the wok. I am also limited in needing a style to go along with a Victorian kitchen.
I had been looking at Broan, but am a little concerned about the vast expanse of stainless, black, or white. I know that the Viking comes in a sea green that is similar to the cabinetry. I haven't looked into any other hood manufacturers yet.
Any other thoughts or info provided would be appreciated.
THanks again to everyone for the info to date.

>> And, as for "the only fire safe hood"....Gee, let me think. What type of baffling system does, oh, every legitimate restaurant I've ever been in use? Gosh, does that Morton's steakhouse use a VAH hood with what, 55 little squirrel cage blowers spinning away? Ummm, no. They use baffles. There's a reason they are consensus choice for restaurants, where hood fires are a huge concern.

Don't the restaurant systems have some active type of fire suppression system?

This is the best thread ever. It contains so much content and style, in only a few words. No need to scroll down.

For blowers you can buy all by your lonesome:

1. See fantech.net for blowers and variable speed controls.

2. See the PDF documents showing installation of the Broan-Nutone products. In there you'll find an expanded view of parts. The blower's part number is there. You can then call their 1-800- technical support line and order the blower and the controls, as parts. E.g. search on P5, HLB3, ILB3, HLB6, or ILB6 to get started.

Then, yes, you can have any air canopy shape you choose to build or buy.

I've often wondered why nobody has yet built their own canopy out of large size porcelain tile: it wouldn't vibrate or reverberate much, not like steel does.

HTH
-david

john: they all contain fire suppression systems, which act like giant fire extinguishers, but the first line of defense is an effective baffling system that traps grease and prevents buildup in the ducts.

david: I wonder if heat-induced thermal stress leading to cracking of grout and/or tiles might be a limiting factor.

I'd bet thermal stress will lead to grout failure. I'd really not want grout there anyway.

Large format tiles like 48" wide ones would negate almost all joints anyway. Might get by with fireplace mortar instead of grout or fire caulk, but colors are VERY limited.

Agree that the Guru sounds like a can-o-Spam.

And..................five and a half Sones on low is way way way way loud.

And......................I wish I had a blog so I could be an expert.

And............................my experience has lead me to the conclusion that people who have to tell you they are pretty or an expert or smart or a good athlete usually aren't.

And.................I almost forgot to answer the OP's question.

Yes , it's possible to use one brand of hood and another brand of blower motor. It's sometimes not as easy as hooking up 3 wires though. There are different types of motors and speed controlers and the hood's has to match the blower's. It's really not super complicated, but not plug and play either. Of course there will be warranty issues to consider. I'd be willing to bet it's not more economical unless your providers have already gone this route and can readily spec and install exactly what you need and want. Even then it' still likely to be a wash.

guru??? you out there?

I wanted to thank everyone once again for their advice and information. It was all quite helpful. My hood will mount directly onto an exterior wall so I will probably use an outside blower. I am actually in the process of getting more info from MA and will post what I find out.
Now I have to decide the more difficult question: what style hood will go best with the Victorian kitchen cabinets?

dridr: don't know if it's in the cabinet budget but custom hood surrounds allow you to do just about anything with the look of your hood.

Clinresga - I think Guru has left the building (sigh of relief). He was kinda self-important and intrusive, wasn't he?

Dridr - I don't have much to add to this thread other than to say that Modern-aire's PS26 hood would look beautiful with your Victorian cabinets, especially if you get the rivets on the bands. There are a few posters here who have that model in their Victorian kitchens. You can get the Modern-aire painted in any RAL color you want too. There was a poster here who had her Modern-aire painted a specific RAL cream to match her cream Lacanche range perfectly.

shannon: he's still lurking. We'll see.

I bought a Monogram hood with internal blowers because I liked the style.
I removed the fans and motors and motor switch (left the light and light switch) . Installed a fantech variable speed switch in the hood, and ran a wire to a fantech remote blower. This took about an hour extra over what a "standard" install would take. Did not take any extraordinary skill or tools.

Works great. I don't have a meter but it seems quiet to me.

On a separate note, I removed a 30_ year old builders model hood with a small mesh filter. I also removed all the 7" ductwork which had not been touched for 30 years. The ductwork had a light coating of dirt/dust? on the inside. They did not look or feel greasy.

My new hood has mesh filters. (much larger than the old hood but esentialy the same)

To answer the original question and ignore the VAH conversation, yes you can use other blowers in other hoods.

Viking being the best example because all of their blowers are directly interchangeable with broan blowers on their pro hood lines (VWHxx48 & VWHxx78)

examples are:
VIV1200 = rm326h
VIV600 = rm325H
VEV1200 = 335(requires 332kr)
vev1500 = 336(requires 332kr)

the inline units are pretty much the same as well but also need the 332kr rough in kit. Just be careful because the transitions may not be included in all circumstances.

Ultimately most hoods can use most blowers granted the wiring harnesses aren't vastly different and your willing to potentially give up warranty coverage on both units(not that hoods break often anyway)

I have a 60" Viking hood with a 12" Fantec inline blower & muffler mounted in the attic. Slightly more than 2000 CFM and it will almost suck the dog off the floor, yet much quieter than the mediocre squirrel cage blowers it replaced. Fabulous equipment.