Do you really need a downdraft?

Although it is a desirable option, a regular kitchen cooktop does not need to be vented and exhausted to the outside. A downdraft cooktop and grill must be vented from the kitchen to the outside, following manufacturer's specifications.

Why do you need a downdraft range?

A downdraft range or cooktop integrates the ventilation system directly into the cooking surface, eliminating the need for an overhead vent. These systems help capture smoke, steam, grease particles and odors at the cooking surface, pulling them down and out of the kitchen before they can escape into the air.

Do I need a downdraft on my gas range?

U.S. Requirements for Gas Range Venting

Generally, in the U.S., you don't have to vent a residential gas range to the outside. But, we recommend that you buy a range hood to vent contaminants from your gas range to outside your home.

Is a downdraft range worth it?

The first obvious benefit of having a downdraft range or cooktop is that you no longer need to install a hood above the stove. This not only frees up space for more cabinetry and storage, but allows you freedom of placement—especially with a cooktop.

Is a range hood really necessary?

Yes. A range hood keeps cooking exhaust, chemicals, and smoke out of your kitchen. It improves your indoor air quality and streamlines your cooking experience.

Is downdraft ventilation a worthy upgrade?

Do I need a vent hood over my stove?

Without question. It's far preferable to vent the air outdoors than to recirculate it into the room. A vented hood that removes steam, smoke, heat, and cooking odors is the best way to keep your kitchen clean, since it gets rid of grease particles that would otherwise accumulate on your walls and cabinets.

How do I vent my stove without a hood?

Are downdraft vents effective?

Limited Effectiveness

Because of their design, downdraft vents work harder than updraft systems to remove air, and are usually ineffective at drawing steam, odors and smoke from burners that are farthest away, and from tall stockpots.

Does a downdraft stove need to be vented to the outside?

Downdraft ranges have built-in vents between the burners, and suck smoke and steam through an exhaust pipe or filtration system. That means they don't need an external vent hood—a trait that makes them popular in open kitchens, and kitchens with cathedral ceilings.

How effective are downdraft extractors?

Downdraft hoods need to work harder to make steam go in the other direction, so extraction rates do tend to be a bit lower. They tend to have 80-90% of the same extraction power, but do check to see.

Why does a gas stove not need to be vented?

These pollutants include carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and formaldehyde. The study found that gas burners are often used without the support of a vented range hood and this greatly increases the risk of deadly gas buildup.

Do island cooktops have to be vented?

With a kitchen island, you do not have the usual option of installing an exhaust hood against the wall, with the odors and smoke drawn straight out of a vent in the wall and safely away. Instead, you must either vent up or down.

Are vents required for gas cooktops?

In the United States, venting most residential gas ranges and cooktops to the outside is not required. However, when converting to commercial type ranges, venting may be needed.

Do they still make downdraft cooktops?

Jenn-Air and Kitchen Aid are the only brand that makes a downdraft range in electric, gas or dual fuel and only a few brands make a center downdraft cooktop.

How much does it cost to install a downdraft vent?

Downdraft range hoods pop up vertically behind your stove and usually cost $1,500 to $3,000 for materials and labor.

Does an electric stove need a vent?

Electric stoves are low-powered and should need a ventilation output between 150 and 300 CFM. (Electric deep fryers should be treated as a gas stovetop.

Do you have to have a downdraft with an electric cooktop?

Often, people wonder if an electric stove needs a vent since it's much less powerful than a gas cooktop. We sometimes have customers call in asking if they need a vent hood for their electric stove. The truth is that you should consider a vent for your electric stove.

Can you use a downdraft with a gas cooktop?

Some stoves come with built-in downdraft vents that rise up from the back or center of the cooktop when a burner is lit. Like updraft hoods, downdraft units must be vented to the outdoors or they are ineffective. On a gas stove, a malfunctioning downdraft vent can allow dangerous carbon monoxide to remain in the air.

How do you clean a downdraft vent?

Soap, water, and a soft cloth or sponge are suggested first unless otherwise noted. Wipe clean or wash in the sink: Use nonabrasive scrubbing pad and mildly abrasive cleanser. Rinse with clean water and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. Dishwasher: Use mild detergent.

Do slide in ranges have vents?

It does not require external venting. It just vents up and into the kitchen without an external vent.

Are recirculating hoods any good?

Recirculation/self-circulating cooker hoods are often much cheaper than extraction hoods because they don't include ducting. However, they are less effective at dealing with smells, grease, and smoke because they have to process the air, and inevitably they don't do that 100% perfectly.

Do kitchen hoods have to vent outside?

Do range hoods have to be vented outside? No; range hoods without a duct, or ductless range hoods, can recirculate air back into your kitchen. However, to clean your kitchen air most efficiently, purchase a ducted range hood.

Do ductless range hoods remove smoke?

A ductless (or ventless) range hood does not vent out of the home, instead, it carries the debris and smoke form the air and filters it through a charcoal or carbon filter before releasing it back into the room. While many times this method is not as functional as a vented hood, it does work.