Where to vent ductless (recirculating) range hood?

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Wanting to use a ductless range hood to save cost and not have to rework my crown molding (I know exterior vented is superior, but this the best option for me I think). I'm wanting to us a GE range hood insert in a custom built hood that I will make (sim to attached pic). The vent I plan to use does have an optional recirculation kit that shows it venting out the front of the hood, but I have NEVER seen a hood with a vent on the front and don't want that. Since my cabinets do not go all the way to the ceiling I was thinking of having the vent exhaust through out the top of the cabinet/hood (inside the kitchen). There is at least 12 inches between the top of the cabinet and ceiling. However, before I do this I want to confirm it is a good idea and I can't find any reference info at all about this kind of installation. I think at the very least I would want to direct the air flow away from the back wall (not straight up) so any grease residue that may make it through the filter does not accumulate on the ceiling. But I really can't find any interior exhaust vents that seem to be made for this application. Lots of exterior roof and wall vents, but nothing made for interior top of cabinets. Really thought I would find info on this since I can't be the first person to have this issue. Thoughts on this approach? Is there a better way/place to exhaust?

#rangehood #hoodvent #kitchenvent

Featured Answer

kaseki

6 years ago

Spaces into Places LLC brings up a good point. At this point in time on this forum, only the VaH ARS system has been reliably reported to have good recirculating filter performance. The ARS would not be inexpensive to purchase. So the question is: Just what has GE embedded in their filter pack (if any), and are replacement materials available? If there is no filter other than a mesh screen, then you are not capturing all of the grease, any of the moisture, or any of the odor.

Is this hood on an outside wall?

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Comments (8)

kaseki
6 years ago
Hart & Cooley make a vast variety of registers and diffusers, with the latter what you might want to install on top of the cabinet, with the blades aimed in the direction of desired air flow. Some kind of plenum will be needed to adapt the 8-inch duct to the diffuser shape. In all cases, the filter had better be really efficient, or you will get grease on the ceiling and everywhere else.

https://www.hartandcooley.com
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Spaces Into Places LLC
6 years ago
I'm puzzled by this question because the hood mfr designs the re-circulating exhaust location, you don't get to choose! Literally 6-8 lbs of grease per year gets released into your home, and unless you're cleaning those filters really frequently, it is going to do nothing for you. The moisture in the air goes no where, and you are shortening the lifespan of your cabinets unless you're degreasing and cleaning them regularly. Just vent it to the outside!!! It is worth it over the lifespan of your kitchen. You know that sticky feeling on your cabinets? That's the grease. It's not good. Just hope you can reconsider.
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Derrick Helm
Original Author
6 years ago
The GE unit has a charcoal filter and a mesh filter for smoke.
kaseki
6 years ago
Mesh filters, like baffles, collect grease particles from the larger end of the grease particle spectrum -- at least until the meshes, unlike baffles, become clogged, after which little air flows. Charcoal, unless covered with grease, adsorbs odor. So if the mesh filters are kept clean you will recirculate moisture (not necessarily bad depending on the conditions) and fine grease aerosols. Charcoal can be refreshed by heating, but not if covered with grease, so the charcoal will have to be replaced whenever odor becomes noticeable.
Derrick Helm
Original Author
6 years ago
Hood is not on outside wall, would need to go through ceiling and attic to roof. Not impossible but was more than I was hoping do.
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
6 years ago
I find those hoods that are done in the same material as the cabinets get dirty even with really good venting I sure would not want one with a recirculating hood it will be a mess in no time not to mention also discoloring.
kaseki
6 years ago
"Hood is not on outside wall, would need to go through ceiling and attic to roof. Not impossible but was more than I was hoping do."

Oh! Is that all. Many looking for hood aid here need to run ducts through devious paths. I think you will find that a properly venting hood (up and out) will be less overall labor measured over time than dealing with a partially effective recirculating system. Further, if you use a roof blower, you can use a silencer in the attic and make the hood quiet enough for conversation, even on high speed.