The LC in your model number seems to indicate that you've gotten a quote for a custom-made liner. Standard widths are 36", 42" and 48". Ordering a liner in a non-standard size would entail up-charges for the custom work.

Also, the remote blower is not a standard feature on Vent-A-Hood, so there's likely a hefty up-charge for that too.

You might get a quote more in line with your expectations if you priced a unit in a standard size and with Vent-A-Hood's more typical Magic Lung internal blowers. Something else you might like to consider; with a 40" range, you'll probably get more effective capture with a 48" hood.

Otherwise, you might want to check out liners from other manufacturers. Fantech makes a liner that utilizes either a remote blower (mounted in the attic), or an external blower that can be mounted on an exterior wall. They can also be fitted with special mufflers which render them nearly silent in operation.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fantech Kitchen Ventilation

My VAH has been on backorder. When I spoke w/the rep a few weeks ago, I was told the company is very busy. Supply and demand are not working in our favor right now.

Jamesk, thank you so much for your suggestion. Have you used Fantech and do you think it is a preferable alternative to either Viking or Wolf with external blowers? Also, do you know if an external blower really lessens the noise to make this custom approach worth while? I am unaware how signifant the look is of an external blower on a roof. We have a steeply pitched cottage roof and I am not excited by the thought of a large object being placed on it. I am hoping to use the fan on a regular basis so the noise is critical to my decision. I also do not have room for a 48" liner because the wall holding my range is relatively small.

gabeah, I have just heard the same thing. Are your electricians saying they need the blower now? Mine are.

Janie

Janie,

If you're concerned about the obtrusiveness of a blower assembly on the roof, an externally-mounted remote blower might not be the best choice for you. If the blower would be mounted on the back side of a gable roof instead of the front, it might not be so much of a worry, but it would be prominently visible mounted on the front, especially on a cottage.

If you have attic space for installation of a Fantech system, this could be a very good solution. I have a friend who just installed a Fantech ventilation system (with the muffler option) and is very pleased. It is highly effective and extremely quiet. This type of system, however, is priced at the higher end of the cost spectrum, and requires a somewhat more complicated wiring set-up, but in my estimation is worth the extra cost for its quietness. Fantech is top-quality and very reliable. I've used their bathroom ventilation systems in my houses for years.

That being said, while remote blower systems are in my experience somewhat quieter then most internal blower systems (my previous home had a Captive-Aire remote system), properly installed Vent-A-Hood internal blower systems are also among the quietest kitchen ventilation systems around.

My present house has a Vent-A-Hood internal blower. I use it day-in and day-out. I don't have any problem with normal conversation, watching TV, or listening to music while it's on. It is audible, but it's not obtrusive.

The key to quiet operation is properly-sized ducting going straight up (or as straight as possible) through the roof with the proper type and size roofjack. The best type of roofjack would look something like the one pictured below:

For your purposes, you can probably save a lot of money (and lead-time) by going with a standard 36" Vent-A-Hood insert. Your custom range hood can be larger on the outside. The underside simply needs to be designed with an opening sized to accept the 36" insert. A 36" insert in a 40" hood isn't at all unusual.

Hope this helps.

James

janieo,

I'm a residential builder/developer, and I know the Vent-a-Hood folks well (and I've toured their plant in Texas). I agree with all of the comments above. VAH's interior blowers are VERY quiet. The non-standard sizing and exterior fan is what's driving up the price. Also, is your liner in stainless steel or painted steel? The painted steel will be much less expensive. Also, steel prices have jumped a lot in the last couple of years due to one primary thing - the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. This is true of most of the appliance manufacturers out there.

Good luck!

jamesk and vonzie, in response to your helpful suggestions I called my appliance dealer and told him to order the VAH 40 x27 liner with internal blower and variable speed. He told me the interior blowers only come with a high/low switch. I couldn't believe it. So, once again I asked him to wait on placing the order and I did more research. Now I am going to inquire about the Best by Broan with an external blower. If I find that presents problems in any way I am going to accept the high/low switch VAH. I can't understand why the recommendations on this blog sound so reasonable and when I go to apply them I find that they are often considered "unusual". I think the responders on this forum should become consultants to appliance manufactureres. What a wonderful wish...
thanks so much for your help. I'll let you know what I finally order.
Janie

By variable speed, do you mean you want one that is infinitely variable? No VAH internal blower has that to my understanding. I just ordered a VAH with 600CFM, which means it has two 300 CFM blowers, each with its own switch. One blower has off/low/high, and the other has off/on. That means it effectively has four speeds, depending on how you use the two blowers together, or just one of them at a time. I wanted infinitely variable speeds as well, but found from the forums that the VAH speeds would be just fine. I posted a question about all of this earlier and here is the link to my post, with some very helpful answers.

Here is a link that might be useful: Vent-a-Hood Speeds

Also, here is a link to the VAH site that refers to the switches for the blowers. Scroll down a bit until you get to the "blower unit" section. I believe all of the blowers on all VAH units have their own switch.

Here is a link that might be useful: VAH blower switches

Could someone please post the cost one should be prepared to pay for a GOOD, QUIET exhaust fan insert over a 36" cooktop. I need to replace mine; it vents outside to the front of our house. I'd prefer something with dishwasher-safe baffles.

I got a Fantech remote blower a year ago (400CFM) and have been incredibly happy with it. It replaced a much older rooftop unit so my wiring was already in place, as was the hood itself. Including labor, new 8 inch ducting up to the roof, I only paid about $750...I really wouldn't say that's at the high end of the price spectrum. That also included the $125 muffler, which I highly recommend. It's nearly silent...just a soft whoosh of air. Sometimes I accidentally leave it on because I don't hear it.

Appearance wise, it's a 10 inch wide blue button shaped unit...would look like a little blue button on a steep roof. I don't have one of those aluminum umbrella looking things in the picture above. Fantech didn't mention it when I spec'd my order.

Also they make an inline blower that goes up in the attic between your hood and the roof, and you can include the muffler on that too. I can't imagine if a non remote blower could be as quiet. This muffler is the size of a kitchen garbage can...could really only fit in the attic.

Oh and I have a little infinite control dial mounted on the cabinet. It's infinite between high and low..not all the way to zero though. I just couldn't be happier with it, but sometimes my husband says he misses smelling the food so much.

Hope that helps!

jamesk, I didn't realize that the roofjack was an important factor in sound reduction; can you please explain how? and why?

Thanks! Kate.