Noise level of range hoods

14 years ago

I know this is subjective, but can I get some opinions on what level of sones I should be heading for, in order to have a range hood I'll actually use?? My current one is so noisy, it's never on. I will have an induction cooktop, so no need to have the power to vent a gas stove. My kitchen will be open to my family room, so I don't want it to drown out the tv,and people trying to chat.

I've tried going to stores that have hoods set up, but the numbers just seem to contradict each other - I'm not sure how to figure this out, and I need to!

Featured Answer

Buehl

14 years ago

To address your question in general, several GWers have found that if you get a range hood with more cfms than you need, you can then run the hood on a lower setting to get the cfms you need. B/c you're running on a lower setting, the hood is quieter than it would be if you were running it on high in a less-powerful hood.

So, if you need 600 cfms, get one that has 900 or 1000 cfms and run it on Low. It'll be quieter than getting one that's rated for 600 cfms and running it on High.

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Comments (9)

alabamanicole
14 years ago
My local big box store has a display in the bathroom fans that has the different sone levels, and you can push a button to see how loud it is.

I found this extraordinarily helpful.
Buehl
14 years ago
One note when testing for loudness in stores...vent hoods are not installed properly and the acoustics in a store are very different than in a home.
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chris45ny
14 years ago
What I learned is the lower the sone rating the quieter the hood is supposed to be. Ours on lowest setting is .4 and you can hardly tell it's on but at the highest it's 3.5 and you can certainly hear it. The way we cook usually #1 or #2 level suits us fine. If what you're cooking needs more power the hood has a boost feature that goes on automatically. This hood is fine for us-we are 2 seniors, not a lot of heavy duty frying, etc. So, I would think if quietness is a main priority, the lowest sone level is what you want. HTH.
ccoombs1
14 years ago
If you are concerned about noise, consider one that has a remote blower motor. I have a 900 cfm Broan and my blower is mounted on the roof (you can also mount them on an outside wall or in-line). My floor plan is very open. If it's running on high (never necessary) and I am standing next to it, I can't hear the TV in the living room. But anyone in the living room watching the TV can hear it just fine. The noise I hear is not the motor, but the air moving through the mesh screens and the pipe. Most of that noise will be reduced or eliminated when I insulate and box in my pipe with a chase and replace the mesh panels with baffles. Since the motor is adjustable, I usually run it very low and can hear the TV just fine over it.
bobb_2010
14 years ago
Remote blower: NOW that's living! :D

Anybody seen a fridge with a remote motor/radiator? :)
willis13
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks everyone.

We will be building ours into our cabinetry, and my cabinet designer has access to a couple... (but of course I can get whatever I want) I'm tempted to take your advice buehl and get the better one, then just run it on low.

I have thought about the outside motor option, but I don't think it's that important to us. I guess it doesn't hurt to ask....
formerlyflorantha
14 years ago
It's great that the manufacturers now include sone ratings for noise on their product specs. Is it a federal law?

I was very glad to have this info when I went shopping.
scottdim
14 years ago
Do a search for Kobe range hoods on this forum, they have received many positive reviews. On the quietest setting you can barely hear that it is on.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kobe Range Hoods

Noise level of range hoods

Buehl

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