vent confusion--please help

18 years ago

Hello--I have checked the vent FAQ but am still a little confused. I will have a separate decorative hood and therefore need only a vent liner--or is it an insert? It will vent to the outside, but out a kitchen wall, not through the roof. I think this means I need an external blower, but not a remote blower--is this correct? and usually the blowers are sold separately?

Finally, I am looking for a QUIET hood liner/insert (is there a difference?) with 600 cfm or higher and baffle filters. (According to the btu count of my cooktop I need 600 cfm, but I would like to do indoor grilling, so maybe I need more.) Does anyone have any brands to recommend that are not $$$? Zephyr was recommended or on Kitchens but I have not been able to find an insert that fills the above specs. I would like to spend less than $1000 for the whole package.

Thank you and happy Independence Day!!

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Comments (5)

weissman
18 years ago
Yes you need a liner or an insert - they're the same thing. No, you don't want an external blower or remote blower - again the same thing. Typically, you put a remote blower on the roof - you probably don't want it on the outside wall of your house. You want a liner with the blower built in. Does your cooktop have a built-in grill? If so you may want more than 600 CFM but if so you may need makeup air which can get expensive. Sorry, I'm not familiar enoug with inserts to be able to recommend a brand - but I'm sure others will.
edlakin
18 years ago
we have a liner (insert--same thing) that's 600CFM that vents out the wall. but it's a vent-a-hood, so no baffles. but it was less than $1000, all necessary elements included in one package, and it works quite well.

if i had a grill i'd want more venting power.
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hollylh
Original Author
18 years ago
Hi weissman--thank you for the clarifications. No, my cooktop doesn't have a built-in grill--but I have a cast iron grill I'd like to use. Every time I have used it so far my wimpy current vent has been ineffective and the smoke alarms have gone off.

Do the higher CFM vents typically have the blowers separate? hope not. it seems like that is what I have been running into but I should do more research.

We have a leaky old house and I also have a window right near the cooktop which I can open for makeup air, so hopefully that will be sufficient.

thanks again--now--recommendations, anyone?
malhgold
18 years ago
I've been confused as well, so thanks for asking the question. My venting needs seem to be similar to yours. Range on an outside wall, so we will be venting directly out.

What exactly is make up air and how do you know if you are buying a hood that allows make up air? Hope I'm asking this correctly?
weissman
18 years ago
The makeup air is independent of the particular hood. If your hood is very powerful and your house is very tight, the hood can suck out all the air in the house, create a vacuum, and cause the furnace to backdraft. Makeup air is a system that brings in fresh air to make up for the air being sucked out by the hood. An open window is the simplest form of makeup air. Generally, with 600 CFMs or less you won't have a problem but places like Minnesota require makeup air with anything over 300 CFMs. A makeup air system is usually installed by an HVAC person and can be quite expensive.