Those hoods have mesh filters. As I mentioned in your other thread asking about inexpensive hoods, baffle filters are a better choice. You did not respond to the other thread, but posted this new one. I am curious as to why you are looking at these Broans which have mesh filters and lower cfms compared to the Kobe and Proline hoods recommended on your other thread.

Whether you care about the filters depends on what, and how often, you cook.

I think I've cleaned my filters 3 time max in 22 years, and they are not dirty/sticky. I absolutely never fry anything, sometime saute in a bit of butter/oil, but usually have water involved. I don't cook bacon, burgers, meat, etc. My only need for a hood at all is to remove steam, and the occasional smoke from a boil-over, cook-dry, or other mistake.

Attofarad - what kind of filters do you have in your hood? I've lived with a hood with mesh filters, and they clogged with grease after one meal of hamburgers. After that, they aren't filtering. But 3 cleanings in 22 years?? That's kinda gross, and also a fire hazard.

"I think I've cleaned my filters 3 time max in 22 years, and they are not dirty/sticky"

And they are not working either. A fan in motion attracts dust. The motion creates static or something similar. Look at any other fan in your house. A working hood/fan's filters would be covered in dust in a couple years, let alone 7. This is sitting directly over the food your cooking. Not kinda gross. Disgusting

I had a Broan Allure in stainless, it was not hooked up vented. It did a pretty good job filtering the smoke in the kitchen as it had the charcoal filters in it, I imagine it would have been better vented. I had to replace it as I switched to a pro range and needed more cfm. Where do you live I still have it just took it out last week and it looks like new, filters could use cleaning though. Still have the origional instructions and the venting damper too.

"Attofarad - what kind of filters do you have in your hood? I've lived with a hood with mesh filters, and they clogged with grease after one meal of hamburgers."

Mesh. I rarely cook meat at home (less than once a quarter), and never something that I would fry. I usually eat out at lunch, which is where I eat nearly all of the animal products I consume -- veggie choices just aren't as plentiful "out."

"And they are not working either. "

That is the point; they do not need to. The fans run less than 2-3 hours per year. It is quite amazing how clean the hood, walls, cooktop, etc. stay, since I gave up the cooking style and items that contain/emit grease.

Caddidaddy - thanks for the offer, but we ordered one last week. It's not here yet, but has been ordered. From reviews online it looks like it will be a big improvement from the over the range microwave vent that we've had the last 15 years, and also fits our budget. Thanks.