How does a downdraft extractor work?

Downdraft extractors work by drawing back steam and smells horizontally across the top of the pots and pans on your hob. Unlike overhead cooker hoods, downdraft extractors suck in the air (steam, grease and smells) directly from the source as you cook and don't allow the air to rise into the room.

Where does the air go on a downdraft extractor?

Normally, extractors with downdraft or hob extractors are equipped with a recirculating air system. Here, the extracted air is blown through the filter into the kitchen cabinet. This has several disadvantages: The extraction performance is worse because the filter obstructs the air flow.

What is a downdraft extractor?

A downdraft extractor is a very clever way of removing cooking smells and steam from your hob, without the need to have an overhead extractor, as seen in many homes. The downdraft extractor sits behind your hob and rises out of your worktop when in use, as shown in the video below.

What is the difference between extraction and recirculation cooker hoods?

Extraction is when the stale air is extracted out of the room through ducting in an outside wall to the air outside. Recirculation is used when it is not possible to duct out through an outside wall. The air is sucked into the hood, filtered, purified and pumped back into the room.

Are downdraft extractors any good?

A ceiling extractor hood works great on low ceilings. A downdraft hood sits closer to your hob than any other type of extractor. If you have limited ceiling height, installing a downdraft is a perfect choice. Odour and smoke will be instantly sucked into the extractor as soon as it escapes from the pan.

MyAppliances Downdraft Extractor Hood Installation

Are recirculating extractors 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 downdraft vents need to be vented?

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 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.

Can I use a downdraft extractor with a gas hob?

Can downdraft extractor be used with a gas hob? Yes, downdraft extractors can be used with gas hobs.

How does a extractor fan in the hob work?

With a cooktop with extraction, the hood slides out of the countertop. You can control the downdraft automatically and set the height yourself via a button on the display. After cooking, the downdraft automatically disappears into the kitchen counter via a button.

Do you need an extractor fan with an induction hob?

Cooking vapours spread differently depending on the hob style. With induction hobs, they travel sideways as well as up, so you'll need a hood that's wider than your hob. For example, if you have a 60cm induction hob, choose a 90cm extractor. With gas, the steam has a candle effect that rises out then up.

Are kitchen extractor fans a legal requirement?

Do I really need an extractor hood? In short – yes, you do need an extractor hood. Since April 2006, building regulations state that extract ventilation must be fitted in a kitchen which has been built from that date onwards. A kitchen will meet these regulations if the unclean air is extracted externally.

Where should a kitchen extractor fan be placed?

Kitchens. A fan should always be sited in the furthest window or wall from the main source of air replacement to avoid short-circuiting the airflow. It should be located as high as possible in the window or wall nearest to smells or steam, but not directly above eye-level grills or cooker hoods.

What is downdraft ventilation?

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.

How well do downdraft vents work?

In general, downdraft ranges get a lot of complaints because it's impossible for a downdraft's airflow to be as effective as traditional ventilation. For one thing, they can't move much air without extinguishing gas burners. As it stands, customers often complain of flickering flames when the fan is on.

Do recirculating kitchen hoods work?

Yes. A recirculating range hood works beautifully, the same way as a ducted range hood. The main difference is that rather than the air getting exhausted to the outside, it passes through a filter, and then recirculated back into the house.

How do recirculating extractor hoods work?

A recirculating cooker hood works by sucking up all of the air from your cooker and passing it through filters. As the air is passed through these filters, the oil and the grime in the air is captured, and fresh air is released back into the kitchen.

Do cooker hoods have to vent outside?

Cooker hoods or a venting hob are not any legal requirements. But, your kitchen should always be ventilated by any window or venting duct. To remove the grease particles in a limited space, a ducting kitchen fitter is essential.

Do hobs with built in extractor work?

An extractor hob is incredibly efficient. This is because it takes care of any odours at source. The extraction unit is positioned in the centre of the hob. It draws the steam and cooking smells directly from your saucepan by pulling the air down.

Do cooktop extractors work?

Exhaust air hoods and cooktop extractors guide the moisture generated during cooking out of the room along with the exhaust air. In the case of extractors with recirculating air this is not the case. The latter does remove grease and odours just as the exhaust air system does, but it does not remove steam.

What can I use instead of an extractor fan?