Your rangehood's primary purpose is to whisk away cooking by-products to keep your environment clean, fresh and hygienic. Of course, if you’ve ever dealt with a loud and inefficient rangehood, you’ll know that not every rangehood is created equal when it comes to performing this basic function. Investing in a quality rangehood can be the difference between a truly exceptional cooking experience - or struggling with lingering odours, smoke, and sticky grease infiltrating your home.
In this guide, we’ll explore the variety of different rangehood options on offer and provide insight into what you should consider before you go shopping.
Types of Rangehoods
Integrated/Undermount Rangehoods
Integrated rangehoods are specially crafted to seamlessly blend into your kitchen, maintaining a low profile while effectively removing smoke, odours, and grease from your cooking area. Despite their concealed nature and compact size, they pack a performance punch. They come in many design styles, including built-in and undermount.
Downdraft
Downdrafts are the latest trend in modern kitchen design, merging functionality and style with the art of entertaining. Ideal for island bench configurations, these hoods are ingeniously crafted to be discreetly concealed within your benchtop. Specific models are positioned behind your cooktop and elevate above the bench top. Other downdraft models are integrated directly into your cooktop, efficiently drawing away fumes and expelling them from your kitchen. This seamless integration offers an ideal solution for maximising your bench space and elevating the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. Beyond their visual appeal, they also promote an interactive cooking experience by allowing you to socialise with your guests while you prepare delicious meals.
Custom designed
When a standard rangehood doesn’t meet the demands of your kitchen or alfresco space, then a custom-designed solution is the answer. Australian-made Qasair, offers the flexibility to create rangehoods of virtually any size, shape, colour, or power level.
Classic or island canopy
Classic and Island canopy rangehoods remain a popular choice in modern kitchens. The classic canopy, an economical option, is specifically designed to be mounted against a wall, while the island canopy is tailored for kitchens with an island bench.
Ceiling cassette
Ceiling cassettes are crafted to seamlessly blend with the ceiling or bulkhead, ensuring an unobstructed view over your kitchen island. They can be installed up to 2.4 metres above your bench.
Design Considerations
Ventilation
Before selecting a range hood, it's crucial to assess the number of appliances in your kitchen and determine the exit point for the extracted air. Kitchens with limited natural ventilation, indoor grilling, or wok-style cooking appliances may require a more powerful rangehood to ensure effective and thorough ventilation.
Noise level
Range hood noise levels can differ significantly. We recommend checking the decibel rating of your selected rangehood before making your purchase. If possible, consider positioning the motor outside for maximum noise reduction.
Installation and ducting
Proper installation of rangehoods with the right ducting is crucial to ensure efficient removal of cooking by-products from your home. Ideally, your rangehood should extend beyond your cooktop to maximise its extraction performance.
