The extraction efficiency will be much better if installing the hood just 30" above the cooking surface as opposed to 36". If you're "only" 6' tall, don't worry, you won't bang your head against the hood. The 6" difference between the hood bottom and top of the head (6' - 36" - 30") will be lost when you bend over the range, especially since the hood is only 24" deep while the range is probably at least 26" deep. I installed mine at 29" above the cooktop and I'm 6'2"; I can barely touch the hood with my forehead if I lean over the pots. Moreover, in time one develops a subconscious feeling on how to move around the hood without hitting it. IOW, install the hood as low as possible and it will be much more efficient at removing grease, smoke and odors.

Hi, I need at least 600 CFM. The contractor indicated that I needed and 8" because that is what we currently have (I am not clear whether it can be modified or whether having 8 is a good thing that I should be happy about--but I am specifically looking for an 8") In reading here, it seems baffles are better than mesh so I will definitely look for that--it also looks like LED lights are preferable to halogen--I'll keep you all posted. I also found a Zephyr that might work SVE-E36BS (715 CFM, 24 deep but says it has an alumninum mesh filter.)It looks like the Electrolux and the Proline are the only two that say stainless steel filter and from the Proline video--if I understand that baffles are SS grates that can be pulled out and put in the DW--that is what they have... What is the difference/benefits between baffle and mesh? Would love to hear if anyone has any input on my original findings.

Appliance price is important, but thereÂs one factor a lot of people overlook  installation cost. It's OK to save a few bucks if your appliances, such as refrigerator, microwave, toaster, do not require professional installation. Unfortunately, with appliances that DO require professional installation (built-in cooktops, wall ovens, and range hoods), in some cases, the installation will cost almost as much as the appliance itself. And itÂs important to do it once and for all. I know this for a fact, because I do kitchen cabinet installations, as well as appliances. Today, thereÂs a lot of junk appliances, especially range hoods, that come from China. You can find a lot of them on eBay  theyÂre very cheap. One thing they have in common is, completely false specifications, even though the pictures are beautiful. These products are made to sell, not to last. ThereÂs no difference whether itÂs Cavaliere, Spagna, Eurokitchen, Veneto (look, all are Italian names  why?). The result is the same. IÂm grateful for these companies for keeping me busy, but if you can afford European quality products (not to be confused with "European style"), and you donÂt want to be busy changing it every year or so, thatÂs the way to go.

Make the wall cabinets 3" smaller and it should be fine. As to BTU, you can still get a sear on steaks, but you will probably need to do them one at a time using something like a cast iron pan that has a lot of thermal mass to keep the heat drop from being so precipitous. As to what is "enough", it depends. Many people find themselves cooking more in their new kitchens. It's always easier to turn a burner down than to wish you had more power that isn't there. You should take a trip to a local appliance showroom that has a few ranges set up to be able to test drive. See what you think you need, based on what you cook now. Then, go one step up in power if you can afford it. The BTU power game costs money to play. So, if you rarely do stir frys or sear a steak on top of the stove, you can probably adapt to doing it in smaller batches. If either of those things is a frequent activity, you should really put some testers through their paces before making a decision. But, also remember that more BTU's means more CFM's needed for venting. And that can trigger makeup air needs. A lot of people do a lot of their high heat cooking on an exterior grill because it's easier to get the results that they want without having to deal with the smoke and grease in their kitchens. If you go "good enough" for inside the house, you might want a good grill for the patio next to the kitchen so you can have the best of both worlds accessible to you.