I have the Broan 390cfm power pack--for the difference in price I'd go for the larger capacity blower. I made my own liner with left over aluminum flashing and plywood--much less expensive, but if you're not able to DIY, for ap. $55.00 you can have peace of mind.

Broan power pack and liners on Amazon

Awesome!!! Thanks you, I'll take a look at it right now!

MG, will you show a pic of yours?

Terri, I'll post a link to the hood album--you can scroll down to see the front and back of the DIY liner, and there are pics of the bottom of the hood surround, where the power pack fits up into it--which is also covered in the aluminum flashing. The blower is screwed into the wood of the liner, and the liner rests on lengths of spray-painted angle iron, which are attached to the surround with screws.

Barrel hood project. (Click on each picture for text explaining the steps.)

This is the power pack, attached to the liner, which is sitting over a plastic bin. I was getting ready to test the blower--when it was turned on I couldn't separate it from the plastic bin, because of the suction that was created. I knew then that it was going to work out OK. :)

This is the part that you see when you look up underneath the hood surround--front is at the bottom of the pic. The black plastic oval houses the controls for the lights and blower:

A question which has nothing to do with your hood but why gas over induction? Especially since you have young children? Induction is so much safer than gas or electric.

MG, Thank you!!

CP Artist actually, that is more likely the way we would go. In 5-10 years we should be in a better place financially (not that we're bad off, just can't splurge everywhere I want to) and I'm sure induction will have become more the norm. Does this mean I never have to worry about setting my hair on fire?!