DIY range hood/microwave combo

Picking a range hood

Everyone loves a good meal. But not many of us enjoy smelling that same meal hours later because the cooking odours are lingering in the kitchen. Improve your indoor air quality by properly exhausting fumes.

When shopping for a new range hood, you need to keep a few factors in mind. The first is noise. This element doesn’t effect how efficiently the unit exhausts air, but if it’s loud, you are less likely to use it. The second factor is how well the unit does what it is supposed to do: move air. To test a range hood, hold a tissue up to the grill. If the running fan holds the tissue, it is venting air well. If the tissue falls, there isn’t enough power to grab those stinky fumes. The Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) has created standards for noise and efficiency, so look for their labels on the package. Also, look for Energy-Star logos on the box to be sure the units are energy-efficient.

It’s important to note that your house needs to both inhale and exhale, so to speak. If you buy an industrial or oversize exhaust hood, it can cause backdrafting. This dangerous situation occurs when combustion exhaust gases from your furnace are drawn back down the chimney and into your home. If you choose to install an industrial range hood, be sure you have sealed combustion heaters or an air-supply fan to match the exhaust.

Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) recommends looking for a unit that moves air at rate of 50 to 140 l/s for the average home.

Project by Dave Paul