Downdraft question

12 years ago

Question?

Current set up is a downdraft Jennair electric range. Goal is to run gas to island and get a dual fuel range. 3 questions.

1. Suggestions on downdraft dual fuel ranges.

2. Is it possible to fit a separate telescoping downdraft behind a "normal" duel fuel range?

3. Am I better off sticking with downdraft all electric range?

Thanks!

Featured Answer

jwvideo

12 years ago

# 1: Well, JennAir makes a DF replacement for your current range, but I'm guessing that you actually were hoping somebody would have a "recommendation" rather than a "suggestion." If so, there probably isn't going to be a recommendation here. Have you seen the prior discussions of this topic here? If not, check out these two threads:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/appl/msg061409422289.html?11

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/appl/msg0911471514298.html

#2: maybe. It will be costly, and there are logistical issues. Depends on how much room you have in that island, and how willing you are to tear into the floor and the island and maybe you will need a remote blower to make this work for you. (See the above threads.) A telescoping vent -- if you spend enough money -- at least gets the intake up where it can gather at least some vapors, spatters, and etc.

#3: Well, no. The basic problem with JennAir's downdraft design is that steam, smoke, spatters, and etc. all rise from the tops of pans and the JenAir design is best adapted to sucking hear from the burners and the bottoms of the pans, and that's true whether you have an electric or gas version.

If you have a situation where you cannot go up and out with a standard vent and therefore have to re-use the down-draft ducting (maybe you are in a condo building?), there have been a couple of threads here within the last year about adapting hoods to connect to down-draft ducting. It's a kludge but maybe worth the search to get an idea of whether it is something you want to investigate further.

This post was edited by JWVideo on Sun, Mar 9, 14 at 4:57

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Comments (6)

User
12 years ago
1. None
2. No
3. No, you're better off ditching the downdraft entirely and going with a hood.
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weedmeister
12 years ago
#2: If you're willing to enlarge the island cabinet(s) enough to fit a downdraft unit behind the range.
MFatt16
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you so much for the commentary. This is actually my Brother in Law's kitchen and he is really at a crossroads deciding whether he needs to tear up the kitchen ceiling and island all together to get a higher functioning set up going. He cooks a lot and his current Jenn-air is only a few years old and the oven is terrible and the cooktop is limiting too (all electric.) They have a gas line a few feet away.

They have put the plans on hold for now while they get some bids on adding a hood up above. If the floor joists run the right way it might be rather easy.

Thanks again. I will read those other threads. I really appreciate the input.
weissman
12 years ago
Dacor is the only brand that makes a pop-up downdraft that works with their ranges. Other pop-ups only work with cooktops.
coatseast
11 years ago
Any other solutions to replace a broken jenn air down draft in a pennisula? I don't want to move the range and a chimney vent would really obstruct views.

. Is there a down draft unit avail where one could mount the motor behind the unit instead of on the range side? I could do this though the knee wall.

This months consumer digest recommends the Faber Scirocco Plus unit as well as the frigidaire downdraft unit. Anyone used these with a slide in range?