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What Is Kitchen Island Range Hood

An island range hood is meant for a large, open kitchen. It has a greater extraction capacity compared to other types of range hoods. It is often installed above a cooking island kitchen setup. Installing an island range hood may require the help of a professional to ensure they have adequate ductwork and meet manufacturer specifications.

This type of range hood can add surprising value to your property as it provides excellent ventilation, impressive aesthetics, and additional kitchen lighting. This article discusses everything you need to know about an island range hood and why it is a central attraction of a kitchen.

Placement and Installation of an Island Range Hood

An island range hood is often installed in the ceiling above your cooktop at the center of an island kitchen. Since the installation process is very complex, it is important to hire a professional rather than trying to install it yourself.

modern kitchen

The appliance should not hang too high above your cooking area as it may reduce its efficiency in extracting cooking vapors. Installing it too low also interferes with your cooking space and head coverage. The maximum distance of installing an island kitchen range hood is estimated at 2 and a half feet. However, it is important to consult the supplied manual to see what the manufacturer recommends.

The Drain System of an Island Range Hood

An island range hood should be connected to an air exhaust system to allow the device to dispose of cooking vapors to the outside. This allows your island range hood to exhaust at full power keeping the kitchen free of any unpleasant odors or airborne grease. However, if you do not have enough room for this then you can simplify the installation by allowing the extractor to recirculate the air in your kitchen. This type of installation may require a recirculation set or carbon filters to sieve the airborne particles coming from your kitchen.

Benefits of an Island Range Hood

It Offers More Flexibility

Most range hoods leave little room for several people to cook together as they are often installed along the exterior walls in a kitchen. This makes it difficult to organize and cook in one area because the counter space is often limited. An island kitchen solves this problem as you have a walk-around cooking area that is more conducive and spacious to team cooking. Installing an island range hood allows you to cook, stew, simmer and fry foods just like a normal kitchen range hood but gives you more space to move about.

Air Circulation and Air Quality

Since a kitchen can get extremely hot when preparing meals, an island range hood is designed to clear unwanted particulates by allowing free circulation of air inside the kitchen. Choosing the right type of hood can eliminate cooking odors as well as improve the efficiency of your ventilation system. Having an island range hood allows your kitchen to feel cooler and fresh because it has a greater extraction capacity compared to other types of range hoods.

Enhanced Aesthetic Appearance

Besides functionality, island range hoods create a long-lasting visual appeal. They come in a wide variety of designs and materials to suit your style and preferences. Stainless-steel range hoods ensure a cleaner food preparation area, as they are easier to clean. Homebuyers pay more for a kitchen with an island range hood as it creates the impression that the previous owner took their kitchen revitalization seriously. Whether such an upgrade is true or perceived to boost your home’s real estate value, it still works well for homeowners who intend to stay in their home for a while.

Disadvantages of An Island Range Hood

Installation mishaps

A serious mistake during the installation of an island range hood such as unreliable electrical connections and ending the duct in an enclosed space can lead to operation problems in the future. This can make it difficult for your range hood to extract airborne grease residue and unwanted fumes from your kitchen. Failure to meet the height requirements during installation may affect the efficiency of your range hood as well as your head coverage and workspace.

An island range hood can provide many benefits to your kitchen if installed properly. Installing an island kitchen range hood is often suited for most kitchen islands and mechanical problems can only arise if it was not installed correctly. It is important to hire a professional to ensure that everything is done according to the manufacturer’s recommendations to avoid installation mishaps.