Why You Need an Island Range Hood
If your kitchen island has a cooktop, you need a fan to draw out smoke, steam and excess heat, just as you would with a conventional cooktop. Island range hoods, which are sometimes called island cooktop vent hoods or island exhaust hoods, are designed for freestanding cooking surfaces. They function like ordinary range hoods but are designed for 360-degree viewing, which adds an eye-catching design element.
How to Choose the Right Island Range Hood
Besides choosing an island stove hood that is visually appealing and suits your kitchen’s design theme, you also need one that fits the space and has the right CFM (cubic feet per minute) rating. This combination ensures your kitchen is functional and stylish.
Island Range Hood Sizes
Range hoods for islands come in various sizes, but most are between 30 and 66 inches wide. Measure the cooktop area and choose a range hood that is slightly larger. With a conventional range hood that’s built into the kitchen cabinetry, the cabinets help direct heat and smoke towards the fan. Since an island range lacks a bordering structure, the hood must be wider than the cooking surface.
CFM Rating
Besides choosing an island stove hood that is visually appealing and suits your kitchen’s design theme, you also need one that fits the space and has the right CFM (cubic feet per minute) rating. This combination ensures your kitchen is functional and stylish.
CFM measures how much air the range hood can move in one minute. So, what is a good CFM rating for an island range hood? You need a range hood that moves 150 CFMs of air for every 12 inches of cooktop space. So, if you have a 40-inch cooktop, you need a range hood with at least 500 CFMs.
How High Should an Island Range Hood Be?
You should always defer to the manufacturer’s recommendations for an exact answer. However, most recommend mounting an island range hood somewhere between 24-30 inches above the cooking surface.
Are Island Range Hoods Worth It?
A range hood is a must-have for any cooking surface. If you like being able to move around or face guests sitting at your countertop directly while cooking, incorporating an island cooktop into your kitchen layout is the way to go. Just be sure to factor the total installation costs into your budget.
Island Cooktop Range Hood Disadvantages?
While there really aren’t any major disadvantages to an island cooktop, it’s important to choose the right hood model for the space. Redirecting heat and smoke in an open environment can be challenging and the range hood may not function properly if it doesn’t sufficiently cover the cooking surface, or if it doesn’t have a sufficient CFM rating.