Have you ever got a proper look at the range hood sitting in your kitchen? Probably, No! Most people don’t even know how a ductless range hood works. However, today we’re here to educate you about the nuts & bolts of range hoods.
First of all, these are available in two types- Ductless & Ducted. In this article, we’ll mainly talk about how a ductless range hood works, the filters you should use, and some other facts. So, let’s get into it!
What is a Ductless Range Hood?
A ductless range hood is also called a ventless range hood. It sits over the range top and filters the air inside the kitchen. A ductless range hood uses the charcoal or carbon filter inside it to purify the air inside the kitchen when you’re cooking.
It recycles the air inside your kitchen, runs multiple scents through the filters, and brings back the refreshing air in your kitchen. There Are several types of ductless range hoods available in the market.
Such as under cabinet range hoods which is the most common type, island range hood, convertible range hoods, or downdraft ventilation hoods.
How Does a Ductless Range Hood Work?
The ductless range hood is also known as recirculating hood. The main function of these range hoods is to purify the air inside the kitchen with multiple filters.
Then, recirculating it, unlike a ducted hood, exhausts the air outside. Ductless hoods work effectively to get rid of the smokey and greasy smell of the kitchen.
Now, let’s see how a ductless range hood works in a step-by-step process-
1. Position
Ductless range hoods basically sit over a grill, oven, or stove. Most kitchens have a place for only one hood, but big kitchens or restaurants need more than one ductless range hood.
2. Keeping It On While Cooking
When you cook, you produce smoke, steam, and a greasy smell. Not only these smells, but you can also create harmful chemicals and debris while cooking. So, always keep your range hood on while cooking.
3. Fan
There’s a powerful fan inside of the range hood. It creates a strong suction power to suck the air into the hood to purify it. The noise level of the fan differs from product to product, but it’s not very annoying.
4. Pick Your Filter
There are two types of filters, either charcoal or carbon. The smoke and steams get sucked into the range hood and then get absorbed into the filters.
The filters recycle the odors, smoke, debris, and other particles and then release fresh air into the kitchen. There is no air getting outside or coming inside from outside. It’s all the recycling process.
5. Final Result
Lastly, after the filtration process inside the hood, the fresh air gets inside the kitchen through the filters.
The Best Ductless Range Hood
Now, if you want some product recommendations for the best ductless range hood, we’ve got some for you. We’ve collected the top 3 items you can consider the best ductless range hood. Those are-
1. Cosmo 5MU30
From the look to the price tag, Cosmo 5MU30 is the best quality ductless range hood you’ll find. It has a fantastic design with gorgeous features. It matches very well with the stylish kitchen decor as it has sleek stainless finishing.
Made with hand-free technology, this hood takes away every stance from your kitchen and gives a lot of filtration. It has multiple layers of filtration systems made from the Aluminum mesh structure. Plus, the filters are reusable.
2. Boran-Nu Tone 413004
If you want a more affordable option yet the best quality product, then Boran-Nu Tone 413004 is for you. This outstanding hood comes with a charcoal filter and is suitable for ductless installation.
Combining with Aluminum mesh and charcoal filter, it captures the smoke and air inside your kitchen. The installation process is a bit tricky, but the manual will be a great help.
3. Cosmo 63175S
One of the best ductless wall-mounted range hoods you’ll find is Cosmo 63175S. This hood is stainless steel and has a buttonhole control panel. It works with a carbon filter that already comes in the package.
It’s a bit expensive but the performance is worth every penny of yours. It has an adjustable chimney system with strong suction power.
Filters of Ductless Range Hoods
The filters are the main responsible parts to catch the smoke and contaminants in the air. There Are basically two sets of filters.
One is the mesh filter, which catches the larger sizes of particles and the other one is the activated charcoal or carbon filter.
Mesh filters trap the grease materials on the filter and the charcoal filter neutralizes the contaminated air inside the kitchen.
How Does A Ductless Range Hood Work?
FAQs
Do ductless range hoods work effectively?
Now, the final question and comparison. If you want a fair answer, then compared to ducted range hoods, ductless doesn’t work that well.
As, instead of getting the odors outside, ductless range hoods recirculate it after purifying. So, it’s not as effective as ducted. Ducted hoods completely remove the kitchen air outside.
How to maintain a ductless range hood properly?
Maintenance of ductless range hood is super important. The dirtier the filters get, the less effective the hood will become. So, proper care is a must. Such as-
- Wipe the surface of your range with a glass cleaner.
- Wipe the stainless steel mesh filters.
- Remove the filters and you can wipe the fans too.
- Change the filters in 6 months to 1 year instead of cleaning those.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Ductless Range Hoods.
Advantages
- The eco-friendly way to recycle air.
- Effective and affordable way.
- Comes in versatile designs and styles.
Disadvantages
- You might not find it equally effective as ducted range hoods.
Final Words
So at last you can see that ductless range hoods are effective and get the job done. But not as effectively as ducted ones.
But, they are reliable enough to keep your kitchen fresh and odorless. Ductless range hoods have extraordinary filters that can purify the air and properly maintain the balance.