Choosing the right cooker hood is essential for maintaining a clean, fresh kitchen. Two common types of cooker hoods—vented (ducted) and recirculating (ductless)—offer different methods of removing cooking odours, smoke, and steam from your kitchen. Understanding the difference between these two systems can help you select the best one for your needs. In this article, we’ll explore the key differences between vented and recirculating cooker hoods, including their pros, cons, and ideal use cases.
1. Vented Cooker Hoods (Ducted)
Vented cooker hoods, also known as ducted hoods, expel air directly outside your home through a system of ducts. This system pulls in air from your kitchen, passes it through grease filters, and then vents the cleaned air outdoors, removing odours, heat, and moisture.
Pros of Vented Cooker Hoods:
- Superior Air Quality: Vented hoods are highly efficient at removing cooking fumes, smoke, steam, and odours, ensuring your kitchen remains fresh and free of lingering smells.
- Moisture Removal: By venting air outside, ducted hoods effectively eliminate moisture and humidity, helping prevent condensation and Mold buildup in your kitchen.
- Effective for High-Heat Cooking: Vented hoods are ideal for kitchens where a lot of high-heat cooking, frying, or grilling is done, as they quickly remove excess smoke and steam.
Cons of Vented Cooker Hoods:
- Complex Installation: Installing a ducted hood requires a duct system that leads to the outside of your home, which may involve additional construction work and costs. This can be challenging if your kitchen is not close to an external wall.
- Limited Placement Options: Because vented hoods need an external outlet, you may be limited in where you can place your cooking area or the hood itself.
- Higher Installation Cost: The need for external ducting often increases the overall installation cost compared to recirculating models.
2. Recirculating Cooker Hoods (Ductless)
Recirculating cooker hoods, or ductless hoods, filter the air and then release it back into the kitchen after cleaning. Instead of venting air outside, recirculating hoods pass it through grease filters to trap particles, and charcoal filters to neutralize odours, before recirculating the cleaned air into the room.
Pros of Recirculating Cooker Hoods:
- Easy Installation: Recirculating hoods are easier to install since they do not require any external ductwork. They are ideal for apartments or kitchens without easy access to an outside wall.
- Flexible Placement: Because they don’t need to vent outside, recirculating hoods can be installed anywhere in the kitchen, giving you more design flexibility.
- Cost-Effective: With simpler installation and no need for ducting, recirculating hoods are usually more affordable to install than vented models.
Cons of Recirculating Cooker Hoods:
- Less Efficient Odor Removal: While they can filter out odours, recirculating hoods are less efficient than vented hoods at removing strong cooking smells and moisture.
- Filter Maintenance: Charcoal filters need to be replaced regularly (usually every 3-6 months, depending on use), adding to the long-term maintenance cost.
- Doesn’t Remove Humidity: Unlike vented hoods, recirculating models do not remove steam and moisture from the air, which can lead to condensation buildup in the kitchen.
3. How to Choose Between Vented and Recirculating Cooker Hoods
Choosing the right type of cooker hood depends on your kitchen layout, cooking style, and personal preferences.
Choose a Vented Cooker Hood If:
- You frequently cook with high heat, generating a lot of steam, smoke, and strong odours.
- Your kitchen is close to an external wall, allowing for easy duct installation.
- You want the most efficient air removal and the ability to maintain better air quality by venting outside.
Choose a Recirculating Cooker Hood If:
- Your kitchen does not have access to an external wall, or you live in an apartment where ductwork installation is not possible.
- You want a simpler, more affordable installation process.
- You don’t do much heavy or greasy cooking and need a basic system for light to moderate use.
4. Maintenance and Cost Considerations
Both vented and recirculating cooker hoods require regular maintenance to ensure they function optimally:
- Vented Hoods: You will need to clean the grease filters regularly, but there’s no need to replace them. The ductwork should also be inspected periodically to ensure it remains free of blockages.
- Recirculating Hoods: In addition to cleaning the grease filters, you’ll need to replace the charcoal filters regularly to maintain their effectiveness at trapping odours.
Conclusion
Both vented and recirculating cooker hoods have their own advantages, and the best choice depends on your kitchen’s layout and your cooking habits. If you want superior air quality and have the means to install external ducting, a vented cooker hood is ideal. However, if you need a more flexible, easy-to-install solution, a recirculating hood may be the best option for your kitchen.
