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annekreel

Help me figure out this range hood CFM stuff...

26 days ago

Ok, so we need to install a range hood over our 36" induction cooktop. Here are some questions I have. Some are about aesthetics and some are about the mechanics:

  1. I know the recommendation is to add 3" to each side of the cooktop and install a 42" hood over a 36" cooktop. However, we don't cook that much and when we do, we don't cook many greasy foods (except for the occasional pound of bacon). Aesthetically, would a 36" insert range hood with a box built to maybe 39" work? Will it make that much of a difference in its ability to remove smoke? We have been cooking without a range hood for about five years. I'd say we set off the smoke alarm a max on ten times (because apparently my son doesn't know how to open a window).
  2. Makeup air: I know we need a makeup air system if the CFM is over 400. It ain't too easy to find a 42" range hood with 400 or less CFM. Due to issues behind our wall, we are limited to units with a 7" round vent max or a rectangular one if the answer to question #3 is yes.
  3. Can a range hood that utilizes a 3.25"x10" rectangular duct be turned 90" to exit the house vertically rather than horizontally?
  4. Can range hoods with higher than 400 CFMs be reprogrammed before installation to not go over the 400 CFM limit?

Here are a couple of photos of where the hood will be installed. I am looking at insert units with a box surround. The first photo if when the kitchen installer "finished" before we had to take all the drywall down and replace it for a variery of reasons.


Five years of use and that is all the grease that was absorbed. I don't think it is too bad considering the length of time.



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