I have a Best by Broan and I really like it. It has the baffles and the mesh filters. It really filters odors out. It is also easy to clean I just put the filters in the DW. I also like the way it adjusts for the volume of the fans. Most of the time I run it very low while cooking. It is so quite on low that I left it on by mistake because I couldn't hear it. But it also very powerful on the high end and louder.

Thanks...

I guess I understand that the Best will be a better option but how much better than the Zephyr ones? I can't find any sleek looking hoods with baffles. What is the advantage of the baffles other then easier cleaning?

I will look into Vent-A-Hood... Do they have sleek looking options?

homechef59 - I looked at Vent-a-hood. I don't think they are in our budget... Thanks for suggesting.

An appliance salesperson told me that most vent hoods are made by the same company. He suggested I look at XO.

keagle.... Your salesperson has no clue what he/she is talking about. Try not to speak to him again :)

Unless he was making crap up or mistaking hoods for microwaves, he probably meant that most of the hoods they sell are from the same company. :)

Unfortunately there is a subclass of people who, confronted with a question that they can't answer, invent an answer on the spot. Some of them are employed, so we all have to deal with them at some point.

I recommend searching on the Internet for "kitchen ventilation" and on this site for "hood" to discover a wealth of information that can inform your decision. Start with your requirements (performance, aesthetics, cost) and find candidate hoods that appear to meet them. This can lead to the question to pose here: How do you like X model hood? We can also provide answers to technical questions in many cases.

kas

kaseki - thanks for your comment.
I specifically asked for the two models that we liked. I know that Zephyr has a very good reputation. We are leaning towards:

http://www.abt.com/product/76253/Zephyr-ZROE30CS.html

I posted here because I didn't find any reviews online.

In the case of specific models that I don't own, I can't comment. If you specify their aperture area and asserted zero static pressure air flow rate, I could comment on where they stand in relation to cooking measurements of effluent plume capture and containment.

kas

for what ever its worth - below is part of a thread from August 2013

XO XOV36S is 36"x24" D 700cfm with optional baffle filters is about the same as the Zephyr.

And the hood is made in Italy by Faber but the blower is made in
Germany by EBM.Faber has about 50% market share for rangehoods in Italy.
EBM has about 42% market share for hood blowers in Europe plus they
make other type of fans/blowers too.

XO is a new marketing company but its being distributed by Eastern
Marketing in the US which also distributes AGA, Bertazzoni, Blomberg,
Lynx, Marvel, Vent-A-Hood, and Waste King. And is being carried by some
reputable stores too.