The level of ventilation required for this level range and project requires high CFM and a Make Up Air system. Are you prepared to spend as much money, or more, on ventilation, as you will the range?

Hello, I talked to bluestar and they said I'd need something with minimum 600 CFM. How do you know if you also need a make up air system? I'd like to do more research on this if you have links. I'd be willing to spend money on it, but I didn't think it would cost as much as the range itself.

Code requires that Any vent over 400 CFM requires MUA. The venting and MUA can cost more than the range if you live in a cold area that requires heated MUA, in order to not remove all of the paid for heat out of your home when using the vent.

In order to get an actual 600CFM at the range point may require a bigger fan with more CFM in order to account for a long dun to the exterior, turns, or other obstacles. This requires local plotting of the duct route and size, and the MUA. Costs will all be local as well.

I see.

I read all the available articles on Yale appliances including this one regarding ventilation and MUA. https://blog.yaleappliance.com/how-high-do-you-hang-a-range-hood#:~:text=It%20doesn't%20cost%20that,for%20a%2048%20inch%20Pro. 

It seems like MUA required over 400 CFM may depend on your state. I am reading through some california requirements but it doesn't specially state anything that I've found yet. I live in LA so the temperature doesn't change too much, I'm not planning on running the A/C all the time. Forgive me if I sound stupid, but can't I just open a window when I'm cooking and then turn on the vent?

Will the sellers of blue star know the california requirements and be able to estimate costs? Looking at the vent I just seems to go straight up but I have no idea what happens through the attic and through the roof. It would be helpful if I had already closed escrow so I'd have access to the house.

https://www.hunker.com/13722990/kitchen-ventilation-code-what-you-need-to-know

It seems you are right. I've done some research I think the correct thing would be to how an HVAC contractor and see what he recommends and possibly add a damper. I have no fire places no water heaters inside. Only a dryer. Live in southern California and I have central ac/heat.

Thoughts?

You might want to read Consumer Reports range ratings. Their finding was that so-called pro-style ranges did not perform as well as "regular" ranges. Also, before moving any gas lines or electrical outlets, be sure to read the installation instructions that come with the appliance you're considering buying. There will be a diagram that shows the acceptable positions of the electrical outlet and gas line. For example, see the diagram on page 15 of the installation instructions for this Samsung NX60T8511SS range.

consumerreports.org/join - $10/month digital

Yes I'm actually reading through the installation instructions right now to see what is needed exactly. I purchased CONSUMER REPORTS before beginning to purchase any appliances but it seems they're ratings contradict other sources like online ratings on bestbuy homedepot Sears manufacturers websites Wirecutter and reviewed. Also many of their recommended picks are no longer manufactured...

CR is always a year or two behind and penalizes higher end appliances. That’s just a fact of how their system works. They reward low end and cheap.

"it seems [CR] ratings contradict other sources like online ratings on bestbuy homedepot Sears manufacturers websites Wirecutter"

You have to remember that those sources are anecdotal, biased (i.e., the commenters do not represent the universe of owners), and most do not perform comparative testing. However, they are useful because owner sometimes post their comments after they've had their respective appliances for awhile. While appliances do tend to have long manufacturing runs, appliances do change and models do become obsolete. Not much CR can do about that.

@User "CR is always a year or two behind and penalizes higher end appliances."

Yeah, it "penalizes" them for performing poorly and proves that often only their prices are "high-end".

CR rewards appliances that are reliable. My own experience tends to confirm that some very expensive, high end appliances can have disappointing track records.

June-

Cheap doesn't mean crappy. And as for your other points, I respectfully think that those areas affect all appliances. We clearly have different points of view on the utility of CR assessments. All I can say is that I've subscribed to the magazine for over 40 years and, while I don't always agree with every article, I think they are very fair and deliberative, and have saved me from spending/wasting unnecessary money over the years.

@User: "But they give points for cheap..."

Unfortunately, June doesn't Know. A product can be flagged as a "best buy" but that does not affect the rating the product receives. And the "best buy" designation helps consumers who are price-conscious and don't assume that price=quality like June does.

I actually started lookign at BlueStar due to some stuff I read on these forums. Would you say that cr is accurate in stating it's not a good performer? All of their top picks for ranges right now have a lot of electronics. LG

LG - SIGNATURE 7.3 Cu. Ft. Self-Cleaning Slide-In Double Oven Dual Fuel ProBake Convection Smart Wi-Fi Range - Textured Steel

Model:LUTD4919SN which is 3300$ vs BlueStar which is 3800$.

I figured the BlueStar may be more satisfying to cook on. And probably is more reliable since there are no electronic components. Also I've read some stuff about dual ovens sucking. Id rather have one very good oven than one crappy and one smaller good oven.

The featureless Bluestar 30" ranges (e.g., RCS304BV2) are all gas and have a single oven so they appear more comparable to the LG LSG4513ST ($1700) though there were other gas ranges that scored better than this model.

I have a 30" BlueStar RCS (can't remember the model). I've had it for a year and a half and pretty satisfied with it. It is completely analog - there is an indicator light to tell you when the oven has reached the desired temperature. Boling water is pretty fast. I do a lot of stir-frying in a wok and that's one of the reasons I picked it. Also no problems with slow cooking in a dutch oven. Broiler is pretty powerful. Roasted vegetables come out well; cookies/cakes are good too. I did get MUA to go with the higher CFM vent hood. I live in MA so it is required but I would have gotten MUA even if it is not required by code.

As for CR, I don't know about kitchen appliances. But with electronics like TV/speakers, etc. - CR is terribly behind.

@User "CR barely focuses on high end performance appliances."

CR's tests of pro-style ranges includes includes eight models over $4K, it's wall oven ratings included models over $3K and its dishwasher ratings included 15 models that cost $1600+. As Seargent Schultz used to say, "June know nothing, nothing!"

@RTHawk: "As for CR, I don't know about kitchen appliances. But with electronics like TV/speakers, etc. - CR is terribly behind."

When did you last read CR's TV ratings? Month and year, please.