I'm 6'2" tall. I've had range hoods at various heights and depths above the cooktop in various homes. In my previous home, the commercial range hood was 39" above range top, so I never bumped into it because was above my head. It worked well, but it was a very expensive setup.

In my current home (where I down-sized considerably), the range hood is 27" above the cooktop and extends all the way to the leading edge of the cooktop. It's a readily available Vent-A-Hood and has proven to be very effective and entirely satisfactory.

Because I was concerned about bumping my head, I chose a model with a rolled lower front edge called Nouveau Pro. As it turns out, I very seldom have any problem with head-bumps, but on the one or two occasions where I have come into contact with the range hood (usually when cleaning it), the rolled edge has made it a painless event. The rolled edge also seems to promote smoother air flow, enhancing the performance of the hood. I recommend it.

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Here is a link that might be useful: Vent-A-Hood Range Hoods

I am 6'2" and have a 24" deep VAH at 30" above the range. I considered the 27" deep model, which I am sure is indeed more effective, but decided that the extra 3 inches would put the hood right in my face while cooking. I am the primary cook, so that was a deciding factor. If your husband is only an occasional cook, it might be less important to you.

To compensate for the loss of effectiveness you could consider a model with more CFMs (900 or 1200). In any case I would definitely go with the 42" model for a 36" range.

The only times I have ever bumped my head were while cleaning, not while cooking. I did it a few times when the range was new but it hasn't happened for a while now -- I think I learned my lesson. In any case I think a rounded edge is very important if there is a risk of head bumping -- it could make the difference between a mere painful bump and a trip to the ER.

Thank you for the information. My husband doesn't cook frequently, but I can imagine that he will be quite annoyed if cooking on the new range is uncomfortable for him after spending a fortune remodeling the kitchen.

Does anyone know if the hood needs to be a maximum of 30" above the range? Would 32" also be effective? Is there a building code issue?

Jamesk- your Vent-a-Hood recommendation looks great- do you have the 24" deep or or the 27" deep? I think the rounded edges are definitely a necessity.

Actually, my range hood is 21" deep (it's a 9" tall under-cabinet model), but because I have extra deep 15" upper cabinets over a 30" deep countertop, the hood is built out from the back wall by 3" so that it aligns properly with the cabinet fronts. There is a 3" stainless steel spacer between the back of the hood and the wall, sealing off the gap. With this setup, the rangehood extends out from the back wall by 24".

The 36" Gaggenau gas cooktop is positioned in the countertop to be centered under the 48" long range hood. The front edge of the cooktop is about 4-1/2" back from the front of the countertop, with about the same amount of space between the back of the cooktop and the wall. It's been a very satisfactory setup.

You might want to experiment with rangehood height. Sometimes a lower range height is better because it's below the danger area. (your forehead). Obviously, 34 or 36 inches would clear for most folks, but then it's also less effective.

If the hood is at chin height or lower, he probably won't hit his head, but he may have to stand back an inch to better view the cooktop. So it's both the depth and the height you have to consider.

Mine is a 42" wide, 24" deep, 1200 cfm external blower Best by Broan mounted at 36" above the cooktop -- which is sitting on cabinets with a 38" countertop. I don't bump my head, but my sons might as they continue to grow. It has been very effective and it was actually less expensive than many ofthe others we looked at. Best by Broan has a few hoods that they say can be mounted up to 36" and they also tell you how much to increase the cfms for the legnth and turn of your duct run and the height of your hood.

Thank you for the picture, jamesk. I like the way under cabinet hoods look, and mounting it a few inches from the wall will help put the ventilation towards the front where it is needed most. BTW, your kitchen is beautiful. I love the way your white framed cabinets and granite counters look together!

Alexr, I hadn't thought of the option of lower- I guess that at least it would be visible. Have you cooked on a range with a low hood before? Did you like it? I am afraid standing back would render the rear burners useless.

Lascatx, thanks for telling me about the Best by Broan- I will take a look at it. 1200 cfm seems SO powerful... do you find it to be too loud?

Thanks!

No. I think it's pretty quiet for all that power. We run it on a much lower speed most of the time. I run it on high if we are cooking bacon, fish or the time I popped enough popcorn to fill 90 bags for school. My house didn't smell like popcorn when it was done, and neither did I! At the highest speed, it is still much quieter than the downdraft we had before -- and that was no where near as effective.

No I haven't tried it, but I have gone to sample kitchen set-ups to try to figure it out- just like you.

I wouldn't like a lower hood -- I want a clear view of and ability to reach the back burners. Make sure you can reach into a large boiling pot onthe back burner with a long handled spoon and remove it without a problem -- and see the pot.

Thanks, latscatx- I think mounting the hood high is the only way to go. My husband will fit under it pretty well, although my sons will also probably be too tall in a few years, too! If I can ever get my oldest son in the kitchen it would be a miracle, though, so I won't worry about that.

My front burners are the high-BTU burners (22K)- do you find that 24" deep is adequate or do you ever wish you had a 27" one?

My old hood is almost four feet above the burners because it had to be retrofitted over a poorly placed window. It's not big but it works fine for almost everything. Going high might change the specs but it should work fine :)

Plllog- I guess if your's can work 4' over the range, 3' should be adequate. Thanks for the info.

Thinking of you, I did a little experiment tonight. I've been testing a little countertop induction unit which sits next to the stovetop. It's by, but not under, the hood. Tonight was pan broiled lamb chops. Lots of steam and probably a little smoke too. I had the exhaust fan on full speed.

I have no idea about the cfm of my hood. It was made to fit the awkward space and matched to the inadequate gas stovetop that came with the house with no ventilation. I doubt it's anything like as strong as what you'd get for a Blue Star.

Right after cleaning up and turning off the hood (but without emptying the covered trash), I went outside and smelled the roses. On coming back in, I couldn't smell the meat, though right in the middle of the kitchen, within a few feet of the stove, I could sort of smell that something had been cooked. That's not too bad, I think, especially considering the pan was the better part of a couple feet off center :)

Thank you, pllog! I am feeling better about biting the bullet and installing our hood nice and high. I can handle a little food smell...

Been busy and missed the question. I don't think I need the 27", although there could be times it might be a little more efficient. I wrote here about the 90 bags of popcorn I did one afternoon, and if I can do that without the whole house smelling and my clothes not smelling of popcorn, then I think I've got a pretty good capture with the 24". I was hesitant to go deeper -- more likely to bump heads. My son is already 6'2" nd growing with a younger one coming up behind him -- and they do get in the kitchen. We'll have to see how tall they get and how it works for them over time, but so we're good.

Whewn you know you are about to start cooking something that might linger int he air, try to remember to start the vent before the food starts cooking. I did that with the popcorn and try to with bacon. Once the steam and odors have passed away from the vent and into the room, at least some of that is going to linger. Just common sense.

Good luck!

Thanks, lascatx. I am now quite convinced that we should get a 42" wide 24" deep hood for my 36" blue star rangetop. I think I will also mount it high- closer to 36". I will get extra cfms to compensate.

I really appreciate everyone who helped my out here. I don't know what I would do without all the advice that I have read on this website.

We've selected our hood (a 42" wide Best by Broan WP29 with an 1100 cfm in-line blower) and are trying to determine the best depth (24" vs. 27") and mounting height. It will be installed over a 36" Wolf rangetop with charbroiler.

Our GC is recommending mounting 30" above the countertops for best exhaust efficiency, but at that height I think the 27" deep hood and my head would become too well acquainted (I'm 6'0", or at least I used to be before gravity started catching up with me).

One of the reasons we chose that particular hood is that the most likely "contact area" is angled in such a way that striking it would distribute the impact over the largest possible area. That assumes, of course, that the hood's "crease" is above the danger zone.

The height decision is also influenced by the 6" and 12" soffit chimneys available from Broan. Our GC would prefer that we use the 12", as doing so would make the transition to the duct to the outside world easier for them (and less expensive for us).

Comments and suggestions?

Here is a link that might be useful: Best by Broan WP29 Hood

I am 6'2" and too often bump into ours. If I hit it hard enough on the corner I'll crack my dome open one of these days. Not sure what you do, they have guidelines re. how high above the cooktop you can place them.

I didn't envision this problem and therefore did not consider a model with a rolled edge. No severe harm yet so maybe I'll be fine in the long run ...

Chipshot:
I'm not completely clear about the different hood height options you have above 30", but here's what we did: I'm 5'10" (albeit also before gravity and age effects) and our 27"X42" VH is mounted 30" above wolf range with charboiler, and range is raised about an inch above normal due to floor and cabinett issues. We arrived at the height by having crew hold the hood in place at different heights starting at 30" to see if I'd bump my head, and surprisingly 30" was fine--have never bumped it. I do lean forward while cooking which reduces my height in aspect to the hood front lip.

Within the last two years going on commercial home tours of new developments (price range of houses 1-5 million) I've been astonished to see the configurations of vent hoods in these upscale kitchens. So many of them have their edges at head-height and also sharp/pointed corners, they are clear hazards to anyone of normal height working at the stove. I don't know if "code" specifications apply in some way but, if they do, this is one area in which I would ignore them.

I like large capture areas high-up enough to avoid injury.

This is all extremely helpful! I was fretting terribly about the height as everything I’ve read says not to mount it any more than about 31” over the cooktop. I will now have it mounted comfortably higher— although now I’m concerned that the built-in lights will glare into my eyes as I cook. Any feedback on that?

Lights should be aimed inward if on the front lower surface. You may need to cook with a hat unless you have or convert to LEDs.

Higher calls for larger entry aperture. Hoods that "want" to be mounted low are hoods with insufficient air flow and/or insufficient aperture area.

These lights are at the back and are LEDs. They’re quite bright and white, but don’t seem to bother me, and I’m usually quite light sensitive. nevertheless, as they’re built in as a unit and don’t seem to be replaceable with warmer lights, I offer this as a caution to those buying a new cooker hood: try to find out what type of lights are included and if they can be substituted if needed!