Kitchen range hood blower insert model comparison: VAH/Best/Victory

last month

Hello Experts,

Im an inexperienced home owner, in the process of researching about our kitchen remodel, which we are planning to do this summer.

Please find the snap attached,:

We are replacing out cooktop with 36" Wolf transitional cooktop:CG365T/S

We are removing the cabinets and microwave and planning to keep a customized 42" range hood (30" height)

My current question/topic of discusison is about the "inline" range hood insert. Since we are not doing a major remodeling, we are thinking to keep inline blower itself.

Here are the ones I have shortlisted so far:

1)Vent-A-Hood Magic Lung BH340PSLB 900 CFM (1350 Eq. CFM?) 40"

2)VICTORY Star (Double blower) 42" 900 CFM

3)Best (Broan) : HBN542912SS (HBN5 SERIES): 42" 1240 TrueCFM ?

I've read through the detailed descriptions and notes from the topic experts like @opaone, and @kaseki (BIG thanks to them!) I am sort of familiar with the make-up air needs and restrictions when choosing out a blower insert just from CFM rating. But I am also interested in noise level comparison on the high setting. Since its hard to find someone who have personally experimented with all these various types of blowers, I would like to request your thoughts and suggestion in this regard.

Thanks

Featured Answer

kaseki

last month

I can restate some generalities. For a given CFM:

(a) a larger slower blower fan will be quieter. This is easier done in-line or external mount.

(b) a remote blower will be slightly quieter.

(d) baffle hiss will remain no matter what you do except not have baffles (VaH)

(e) no-baffles VaH Magic Lung hoods have the blowers exposed to the cook and tend to be noisy (https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6417748/hood-depth-question#n=10); (https://www.houzz.com/discussions/2324336/vent-hoods-and-noise-the-real-scoop-on-vah) Newer models may be quieter than Clinresga's experience.

Vent-a-Hood's flow rate equivalence factor (1.5) relative to their blowers free-air performance only applies to their hood hanging in free air vs complete hood systems using conventional blowers/baffle filters/nominal make up air. When ducting and MUA are included, the actual flow from a Magic Lung based system will be less than 2/3 of the "equivalent" flow rate, whereas conventional systems should actually achieve 2/3 of their blower's rated performance.

My Wolf Pro Island hood uses a rated (zero static pressure) 1500 CFM roof fan, has an in-line Fantech LD-10 silencer, and presently an unblown slightly restrictive MUA path. I have measured 100 ft/min under most of the hood entry aperture, implying a total flow rate of 1000 CFM.

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Comments (7)

wdccruise
last month
"We are replacing ou[r] cooktop with 36" Wolf transitional cooktop:CG365T/S"

Are you replacing the countertop? If not, have you measured the dimensions and location of the cutout to be sure that the proposed cooktop will fit?
0
basichomeowner thanked wdccruise
klem1
last month
That's a lot of money to spend based on information from strangers. Were it me I would rely on expertise of ventilation contractor I hire to install it.
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basichomeowner thanked klem1
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McDonald Enterprises
last month
That is a poor plan, that maximizes cost, and minimizes results for that expense.
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basichomeowner thanked McDonald Enterprises
basichomeowner
Original Author
last month
Thanks everyone for your valuable time and inputs. Appreciate all of your suggestions.

@kaseki: Thanks much for all the details. I will be discussing the specs what you have provided here with a ventilation contractor and take it up. Thanks again.
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opaone
last month
Did you see the noise comparisons here: https://bamasotan.us/range-exhaust-hood-faq/

@kaseki's Wolf or a Modernaire would with an inline blower would be a good option for performance, noise and cost.

Also, I wonder if you are confusing the term 'inline' with something else. An 'inline' blower is one that is mounted remote from the hood insert, typically in an attic space or in some cases outside on a wall or roof. It is 'inline' with the duct. The three best performing above all have inline blowers.
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kaseki
last month
Mine is external (roof) mounted, so it might be designated 'end of the line.' The massive silencer is inline attic mounted.