Range Hood: How It Works

Short: Range hoods remove steam, grease, and odors produced while cooking, either through exhaust air to the outside or recirculated air with filtering. The right choice and use affect both indoor air quality and energy consumption.

In more detail: For energy reasons, many new buildings require a recirculation solution with an activated carbon filter instead of an exhaust duct to the outside.

In detail

• Exhaust air operation: The extracted air is routed directly outside through a duct system, which effectively removes odors and moisture.
• Recirculation operation: The air is filtered and returned to the room, requiring no outside opening but needing regular filter changes.
• Grease filter: A metal filter catches grease droplets and should be cleaned regularly to maintain suction power.
• Activated carbon filter: Binds odors in recirculation mode and must be replaced every few months depending on usage.
• Suction power: Given in cubic meters per hour, it should match the room size and stove output for effective venting.
• Noise level: Quieter models use larger motors at lower speeds, making operation more pleasant.
• Interaction with other appliances: When operating simultaneously with gas heating, strong exhaust extraction can create dangerous negative pressure, requiring a window contact safety device (backofen-funktionsweise, induktionsherd-funktionsweise).