Are Ductless Range Hoods Any Good
Are you one of those people who are wonderingโฆ
โฆare ductless range hoods any good?
When cooking food with a strong odor, the subjectโฆ
โฆof kitchen ventilation frequently comes up.
Most modern kitchens include some form of range hood.
If your kitchen is without a range hood, continue readingโฆ
โฆto see whether it is cost effective to install a ductless range hood.ย
Range hoods are classified as ducted or ductless.
A ductless range hood provides significantly moreโฆ
โฆventilation than no ventilation at all. A ductless range hoodโฆ
โฆpumps air through two filters: activated carbon and fat.
The former captures some smells and fumes, while the latter captures airborne fat.
So, are ductless range hoods any good ?
In theory, ductless range hoods should operate flawlessly.
Consider gas masks. Additionally, they employ carbon filtersโฆ
โฆto render poisonous air breathable. However, there are a few reasonsโฆ
โฆwhy range hoods do not filter air as effectively as they should.
I shall clarify why in subsequent paragraphs.
In this blog, we also have best range hoods that you might want to see.
Before we continue talking about are ductless range hoods any goodโฆ
This is what Erland saidโฆ
Hereโs what I have to say about it.
When installing a new cooking rangeโฆ
one of the most crucial factors to consider is the sort of exhaust hood youโll require.
There are many various types of exhaust hoods availableโฆ
โฆincluding both ducted and ductless variants.
In the end, the decision will be yours to make based on your range and kitchen layout.
However, it is critical that you make an informed decision.
Aย kitchen hood,ย exhaust hood, orย range hoodย is a device containing aย mechanical fanย that hangs above theย stoveย orย cooktopย in theย kitchen. It removes airborne grease, combustion products, fumes, smoke, heat, and steam from the air by evacuation of the air and filtration
Range hood according to Wikipedia
So, are ductless range hoods any good?
Letโs talk deeper about itโฆ
Here you go!
Are Recirculating Range Hoods Effective?

Ductless range hoods, often known as recirculating range hoods, do work.
They are highly effective at removing trace levels of smoke and cooking aromas.
Due to the impossibility of filtering out steam, ductless range hoodsโฆ
โฆdo not filter out steam. Steam must either be evacuatedโฆ
โฆfrom the building or concentrated and then collected.
This is the mechanism by which a dehumidifier operates.
No filter is capable of removing moisture/steam.
Recirculating range hoods are not recommendedโฆ
โฆfor cooking methods that generate a great deal of smoke, such as stir-frying.
If you rarely stir fry, they may still work for you, as you can openโฆ
โฆa window whenever you cook something that produces a lot of smoke.
However, ductless hoods efficiently reduce general cooking odorsโฆ
โฆsuch as when boiling or pan-frying food at a low temperatureโฆ
โฆthat produces a little amount of smoke. As can be seenโฆ
โฆductless range hoods have limitations. Particularly the convertibles.
When it is impractical to build a duct for a traditional range hood.
For instance, it would be extremely difficult and costly to constructโฆ
โฆa duct in a finished kitchen located on the first level in the center of the space.
A ductless range hood is an excellent option to having nothing at all in this instance.
The efficiency of a ductless range hood is highly dependent on the model.
Certain manufacturers employ absurdly small filters withโฆ
โฆa very little surface area to catch pollutants.
For the carbon filter to be functional, the air must pass through it.
This is referred to as dwell time. The longer air passes through the filterโฆ
โฆthe more contaminants are contained. This is why purchasingโฆ
โฆan ultra-high CFM range hood is a complete waste of money.
It makes no difference whether the air is passed throughโฆ
โฆthe filter at a rate of 600 or 300 cubic feet per second.
What counts is the filterโs size and quality. Doubling the amountโฆ
โฆof air filtered by the filter has no effect on the dwell time.
This is why CFM is meaningless in the context of ductless range hoods.
When selecting a ductless range hood, it is far more crucialโฆ
โฆto consider the filter size and replacement filter cost.
This is ultimately what accounts for 80% of the difference.
This is what we recommendโฆ

- HIGH-QUALITY DUCTLESS RANGE HOOD INSERT: Stainless steel hood insert improves ventilation and lighting over your stove with the non-ducted filtration system that effectively removes smoke and odors
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Now we already know the answer for are ductless range hoods any good..
Here are what you need to knowโฆ
Keep going!
The Operation Of A Ductless Range Hood
A ductless range hood circulates air through an activatedโฆ
โฆcarbon filter to remove odors.
The carbon filter will absorb the volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- In comparison, particle filters such as HEPA act similarly to a sponge, absorbing the particles. This is in stark contrast to what an activated carbon filter accomplishes.
- Adsorption is the process by which molecules are distributed onto the surface of the carbon. As the molecule passes through the filter, it will collide with the filterโs wall and become trapped.
- As you presumably already know, raising CFM has no effect on adsorption. Increased airflow significantly increases the rate at which air molecules pass through the filter, but does not improve filter efficiency. The efficiency of the filter is limited by its ability to disperse molecules, not by the airflow.
- As air is cycled through the filter, organic gas molecules are trapped on the carbon, in this example, food odors and gases. As the filter becomes clogged with molecules, its effectiveness decreases. Because the molecule can only adhere to an empty space.
- Because a carbon filter has a large surface area, there is plenty of place for gases to settle. Activated carbon has a surface area of up to 20,000 square feet per gram.
- After approximately half of the surface area of the filter is saturated, it should be replaced.
This is why I advised you to purchase a range hood with a large filter.
This increases the range hoodโs efficiency and filter life.
Have you ever heard about baffle filter? If you wonderingโฆ
โฆwhat is baffle filter on range hood, we have the answer in this blog.
And donโt forget to cleaning it too!
In this blog, we also have a guide for how to clean range hoods correctly.
Sum Up
Ductless range hoods provide significantly more ventilation than no venting at all.
These units pump out clean air by using two filtersโฆ
โฆactivated carbon filter and fat filter. The activated carbon filterโฆ
โฆtraps odors and fumes, while the fat filter collects airborne fats.
Ductless range hoods should be installed properly.
Carbon filters should be used to remove harmful gases.
Gas masks are effective against poisonous gases.
Range hoods should be installed correctly.
Conclusion
Does this answer your question for are ductless range hoods any good?
Personally, I would never live in a house without a range hood ever.
Maybe it doesnโt matter if you donโt cookโฆ
โฆand opening a window isnโt a good idea.
Keeping a window open all the time diminishes a homeโs energy efficiency.
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