The extraction rate of a range hood, in layman’s terms, means how powerful that particular range hood is. We measure this power in CFM, or cubic feet per minute. You may be thinking a range hood is essentially a giant fan. What kind of power can it have? When talking range hoods, power refers to how fast the fan can move the air. The higher the CFM, the more powerful the fan.
When searching for a “good” extraction rate for a range hood, you must consider how much cooking you do, and the type of cooking you do. For example, if you tend to cook more than an average household and/or you cook a lot of foods that produce a lot of steam and strong odors (think spicy or fish dishes), then you should look for a range hood with a higher extraction rate. For you, a “good” extraction rate is a range hood with at least 350 CFM.
BUT, before you purchase the range hood, you must also make sure it’s a good match for your range. How do you do this? By calculating how many BTUs your range puts out from all of its burners together, then using that number to estimate how many CFMs you need.
We know, this can all sound like Greek if you’re not familiar with measuring the power output of range hoods or your stove. That’s why our team at Ambient Edge is here and happy to help. We can advise you whether you need a range hood installed or you simply need help knowing which one to buy. Give us a call today for a free consultation.
Measuring BTUs
To measure the BTUs of your range, you first need to know that 1 CFM equals 100 BTUs. Therefore, if the total output from the range is 40,000 BTUs, you’ll need to buy a range hood with at least 400 CFM. If you need assistance with knowing how many BTUs each of your individual burners puts out, you can either consult your owner’s manual or find the information for your particular make and model of stovetop online.
Why does all of this matter? Because the better you can match your range hood to your stovetop, the better ventilation you will have. You certainly don’t want to buy a range hood that’s too weak to do the job, and one that’s too strong is just a waste of power and energy.
Something you need to know, though, is the higher the CFM, the noisier the range hood. Let’s look into that a little more below.
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Sone Levels
When shopping for a range hood for your kitchen, you’ll probably notice something on the package called a “sone level”. What is that? Well, a sone level tells you how noisy that range hood will be when you run it at full power.
Before we go any further, you must remember that you may not always need to run your range hood at full power. So, while it may be quite noisy when you crank it up to 11, you may not need to crank it up to 11 all the time. Some people feel thrown off by noisier range hoods and, as a result, do not use them as much. This is bad. You should always use your range hood to clear out smoke, grease, and other harmful or unpleasant fumes. You should not let a little noise stand in the way of cleanliness and safety.
That said you’re probably wondering how you can possibly know how loud a 4-sone range hood is when compared to, say, a 6-sone range hood. Think of it this way: a 1-sone range hood has a sound similar to your refrigerator running in the background of your kitchen. Every sone you add on to that is like adding another refrigerator to your kitchen.
This is not to say that an 8-sone rating will feel like a jet engine is landing in the middle of your kitchen. But it is good to know what to expect before you buy. If you participate in the kind of cooking that requires an 8-sone range hood, and your stovetop puts out the amount of BTUs that requires this kind of power in a range hood, then that’s what you need to buy – noise or no noise.
Need Help Shopping for a Range Hood with the Extraction Rate You Need? Ambient Edge Knows Just What to Look For!
In this business, we have installed countless range hoods in countless kitchens, so we understand just how important it is to find and install the right range hood with the right extraction rate for your kitchen. Cleaner air protects you from breathing in pollution, and it reduces the chances you’ll suffer an equipment breakdown or a fire in your kitchen.
At Ambient Edge, we can easily sort through all the makes and sones of range hoods to find the exact extraction rate that will work perfectly in your kitchen. When you schedule your free consultation, we’ll analyze your kitchen and discuss your cooking habits with you to determine which extraction rate is right for your needs.
We can help you find the right range hood, and then we can help you install it. So, don’t hesitate – call us today, and let’s get to work!
