Hi Everyone —
I’m installing a 42″ GE Monogram island vent hood over a 36″ GE induction cooktop. The instructions recommend (but don’t require) installing it 30″ above the cooktop. Unfortunately, this is just too low for my 6′-2″ tall customer who is an avid cook. We mocked it up at 32″ and that was just barely acceptable. All of the award-winning kitchen design photos show the hood way up in the air and it seems to me that they couldn’t possibly work at that height. I’m wondering if installing it at 34″ or 36″ would make a huge difference in performance.
Any input is welcome.
Thanks,
Pete
Replies
Hood Height
Their factory site says 36in. max.
Hood Height
I'm thinking 33-34in. will probably be a happy medium. I don't want to lose too much venting action.
Make it adjustable.
Have you thought about raising the cooktop?
You didnt say what size project this was, but at 6ft, who has worked in comercial kitchens, my dream counter is set about 4 inches higher than the standard.
Raising the cooktop is a great idea, but I'm stuck with existing cabinetry and countertops. I'll have to remember this for next time.
VENT HOODS.....CAN 'O WORMS IF duks unrowed
The specifics of a vent hood of any type are tied intrinsically with the installed appliance.
What do I mean by that...
In our jusidiction (calgary AB CA), over a certain CFM rating for a vent fan, you may be required to install and electrically interlocked make up air system. In other words, when you turn on your range hood, it has to fire up a make up air fan.
Apparently (and I ain't encountered this yet) if the make up air exceeds a level, you may have to "heat it " first (???seperate heater unit)))
And that nice wooden hood fan cover, well it's combustable, so you not only have to conform to local codes, but you also have to conform with the MFGRs requirements,and in Cowtown here, Even if yu conform to local and provincial codes,and the mfgrs requirements are greater, the rule seems to be that the mfgrs rules trump code, you simply have to conform to either the local code or the manufacturers recomendations, whichever is more stringent.
30" oe 36" clearance, makes a whack of difference in kitchen design.
Oh I went through volumes of installation insturctions, consulted codes etc, and finally installed what the clinet spec'd. Range hood as delivered wouldn't even move the dampers 1/2"; UNDER NO LOAD CONDITIONS. To my mind it was ineffective, despite it's cost.
Appliance supplier gets on site, I query him about this anomoly, and he says, we just break out the damper spring.
In other words, the carefully engineered CFM venting is bogus. I dubble and triple queried client that the evacuation of cooking fumes was OK, and she repeatedly assured me it was, but to my mind it was inadequate.
To me, the whole stove top vent thing is woefully inaadequately underspecified, totally inadequately unmeasurable, and reallly close to being alchemic in concept and execution, In this case a 1000$ hood fan is nowhere near ther performance of a 150$ unit; despite the pundits saying it is working correctly.
It's gonna get worked out eventually, even the kitchen designers (who don't know about the installers breaking out the damper springs)and ain't got the technical answers...unless it's "they have changed designs, fan suppliers,etc
The whole BTU/appliance size etc questions have to be scoped out and cast in stone before yu ccan even think about capacity of vent hood., requirment for maKe up air etc.and that kind of stuff may affect overall design dimensions, etc etc etc/////
Damn, I wish it was simple.
Eric in Calgary
Island Vent
Did you consider using a down draft model? I installed one in a renovation, about 3 months ago and the clients love it. I must admitt though getting that 6" duct through the floor, and outside was a challenge. I made a bay window out of the existing one, and hide all the components in that, now all the noise, and fumes are outside.
There island measured 4' X 8', it was huge, with all kinds of storage space.
Downdraft
We actually removed a downdraft becuase the customer didn't like it. He wanted something really powerful overhead. I think part of it is the look. I think we'll install it around 34".
Downdraft v Updraft
Think about the area under the hood as a big permeable pipe. The bigger the area the less effective the draw from fumes originating at the burner on the stove. What you give up is effectiveness of captuing more of the moisture, odor and smoke the higher you raise it especially at the edge of the stove. From an engineering perspective the best hood would be one that surrounds the stove on three sides like a fireplace. Not very practical. The MFG site gives 36" as the maximum height where the vent will function within their tolerances so there should be no issues installing it at that height. The recommended is 30" to get "optimum" performance.
The downdrafts are not very effective. I have had two in two different homes and I have found them ineffective and noisy. the hot smoke and grease wants to rise and the downdraft has to overcome this. When you have a vent above the stove at least you have thermodynamics working in your favor. Some people may love the downdraft but I cannot recommend them because they don't work as well as a range hood. FYI I'm in the process of changing the downdraft out so you know where my bias lies.