The term cubic feet per minute, or “CFM”, refers to how much air the fan inside your kitchen hood can move. You can use a kitchen hood’s CFM to determine how much power that hood can produce. If you cook foods that are on the greasier or spicier side that tend to generate more heat and odor, you’ll want to invest in a hood with a higher CFM. This is because you’ll need more power to clean the air effectively.
Most homes should be fine with a kitchen hood with a lower CFM, but if you’re in the food service industry, it’s more likely that you’ll need a higher CFM. If you’re not quite sure how to find the CFM that meets your needs, don’t worry. Our experts at Ambient Edge can help! You can reach us for a free consultation. We can help you with every step of the process, from shopping to installation.
Calculating CFM
To calculate how much CFM you need in a kitchen hood, you first must be able to add up the BTUs of your range. Add together your burners’ BTUs, then divide that number by 100. That’s your CFM. So, if you have a range that produces 50,000 BTUs, you’ll need a kitchen hood with 500 CFM, at a minimum. This calculation works for most kitchens, but not all.
The general rule is, the hotter the range, the more CFM you’ll need to cool things off properly.
However, it’s not always that simple. There are several factors that can complicate matters when it comes to picking the right CFM. The size of your kitchen, the length of your ductwork, and the number of elbows in your ductwork can also impact your decision, among other things.
For instance, if your ductwork is exceptionally long with multiple elbows, you’ll need a higher CFM than if you had shorter ductwork with no elbows at all.
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Sone Levels
Speaking of power, you also want to get the right noise level for your kitchen, otherwise referred to as the “sone level.” You may need a noisier kitchen hood if it needs to clear out a lot of smoke or odors in a short amount of time. While it may not be ideal, if it’s what your kitchen needs for proper ventilation, then it’s what you need to purchase.
Keep in mind, though, that your hood will not always run at its maximum sone level. So even if you do need a hood with the highest possible sone level, it will not be that loud all the time.
Knowing Which Sone to Buy
With so many different sone levels out there, it may be difficult to find the right one. So how do you know if a 4 or a 5 is better for your kitchen? Maybe you could get away with a hood with a sone level as low as a 1. Or maybe you need to opt for the highest possible sone because you have a very busy, very hot kitchen.
It’s tricky because you don’t want to get a hood that’s so noisy that it turns you off using it, because using a kitchen hood is incredibly important. But if you need a hood with maximum power, then a little noise is worth not having to worry about a grease fire or a stinky kitchen.
As you might expect, as the sone level goes up, so too does the amount of noise the kitchen hood will make. For instance, a 1- or 2-sone rating means a fairly quiet kitchen hood. A 1-sone rating is equivalent to the sound of your refrigerator running – not very powerful. An 8-sone rating, on the other hand, is like having a busy highway running through your kitchen.
Our experts at Ambient Edge can help you select the right sone level for your kitchen. We can work with you on striking that happy balance between getting the hood you need and finding a sone level that, if appropriate, is on the quieter end.
Still Confused About CFM? Call Ambient Edge for Help!
The right range hood can make a significant difference in your kitchen. With the proper CFM, you can clear out a kitchen full of smoke, odors, and grease in no time. The sone level might be a bit louder than you might like, but if it prevents mess and fire hazards, then it’s worth it.
Shopping for a range hood can be a confusing process. Ambient Edge can help you shop for the right range hood and, if you prefer, we can also help you install it. We measure your kitchen and compare it to your cooking habits to best determine the right range hood for your cooking space.
We’re here for you every step of the way, and we offer a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee in case you are unsatisfied for any reason. You don’t need to stress over which kitchen hood is the right one to buy. Call Ambient Edge today or message us online, and we’ll be happy to help!
