This is NOT direct rear venting if that is what you wanted. Direct rear venting does not interfere with the cabinet above the hood but vents through the rear of the hood fan directly rather than through the top. I am also interested in the answer to your question about noise though. I have the same question! Here's hoping someone will know!

Thanks 'mgood, and I will post here & let you know. I started with VaH, who directed me to the Regional whatever, who (I think) sells to the Distributor. I sent them this pic, and have asked 1.) Is this Direct Vent out the back?, and 2.) which venting option is quieter?

If DV is quieter, the builder will not be happy, because I WILL make him fix the hole which currently is through to the outside of his wall, through the spray-foam insulation, woods, wraps, and Hardieplank. Then he & the distributor can install it correctly.

And I do have the email trail - which backs up the phone conversation - which specifies & clarifies which option is supposed to be, and an email back from the Supplier, which states "they're working on it".
There has been so much of this so far though, that I am numb. Were this the only thing, I would be furious.

Thanks & let's see what happens......

Oh...one more thing, I know that not all VAHs will do rear venting, it is the K series that this is possible for. Check that yours can be vented directly horizontal. You'll see in the link below, it's the ones that 'back venting' column has 'A' written (see diagram A on pg 2).
I'm doing direct rear venting in my reno upcoming and the K series didn't give me enough cfms so I went with Zephyr. Still interested in the answer to your other question ...

Here is a link that might be useful: Venting diagrams

THanks for the link. That is the same link I sent to the builder, and instructed him & the appliance people to TALK about this. I presumed I was Diagram B, since mine falls under "18" wall mount". But I do not know what all those shapes in their diagram are. What is the piece which says "8" round" next to it in Diagram B?

Bottom line is, I figure that I should not have to figure this out - it should be Appliance guys to figure this out and TALK to me. I work in a differnt field. I should not have to become an Appliance Installation Specialist just to buy one.

We'll keep you posted!

~mgood, I spent some time on the phone this morning. The food chain I pursued was Vent-a-Hood > Regional distribution people (who sells to the Builder's contact, who sells to the builder).

So I spoke with Regional folks.

He said two things:
1.) The pic above is NOT a "Direct Vent" option, and;
2.) That between the Above, and the Direct Vent, that the above depicted option is the quieter of the two.

HOWEVER, if you are able to vent straight up & through the roof, THAT is the quietest option of all. Curves make wind noise as we all know. I was unable to take advantage of that straight-up option because we have a room there, and the joists run such that piping between the floor was not feasible.

Regional guy said ""We checked the serial number and that his hood is top vent. As we discussed top vent is quieter due to the fact that the 8" round duct off the top is 10.5" tall and air likes to move in a round pattern.
The VentAHood Back Vent Requires a VP561 Back Vent Elbow that is 7" Tall and is through a rectangle which will cause the air flow to be louder.""

Hope that helps!!

MY CHIEF COMPLAIN IS WITH THE BUILDER'S REPRESENTATIVE COMPANY which is a Northern Virginia company called ABW - Appliance Builder's Warehouse. Their rep left the company last week, and as far as I am concerned, communicating with him was like tossing coins into an abyss. He was horrendous, never Replied, never answered questions, never offered ANY information, never followed up, and basically was merely a comission vortex. And my Ovens are now the wrong color when he had 8 MONTHS to figure that one out, and when asked DIRECTLY about this Vent situation, he dodged, said he was working on the direct vent option, then I never heard another thing until it was installed.

I am SO GLAD to know that he went back to some Electrical sales job, but I hear that his replacement is worse. Matt Kiser - you were horrible!! I certainly hope you are better in your new job.

Soon as we get closed, I fully expect to communicate with Management of that company, or key stakeholders, and let them know that they have a massive deficit on their front lines (with one exception - there was a gal there completely on her game. have no idea why she's not able to interface).

Seriously......

Crazy saga. Hopefully you can get some satisfaction. At least you know you have the quietest possible since the vertical venting isn't an option in your house.
Good to know the rear venting will be a bit louder. Hopefully it won't be too bad in our house once it all gets done.
Cheers!

Might I suggest stuffing the center of that cabinet with insulation and perhaps putting thin piece of wood over it (to match the cabinet internals).

EXCELLENT suggestion weedmeister, thank you !

It is SO VERY NICE to hear helpful suggestions on this forum - y'all are awesome!