Kitchen Range and Range Hood Pairing Guide

When shopping for a new range, home chefs sometimes overlook the range's closest companion: the range hood. Shopping for a range hood isn't as exciting as shopping for a new range, but ventilation is key to keeping your kitchen clean and your indoor air free of toxic debris.

Why explore range hoods when upgrading your range? Your ventilation needs might change when you buy a new range for three reasons.

3 Reasons ventilation needs can change with a new range

Here are three reasons to explore upgrading your range hood when you buy a new kitchen range.

Keep in mind—we're not saying an upgrade is a must! You may already have a high-quality range hood that will work great with your new range, but it's worth evaluating your needs. With that in mind, here's what you need to know.

Heating power, ventilation needs, and suction power (CFM)

The most important factor in assessing your ventilation needs comes down to the burner power of your cooktop. In gas burners, heating power is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs). In electric burners, it's measured in wattage or watts.

Higher cooking power requires a stronger blower, which is the part of the range hood that pulls the exhaust into the unit, where it's then filtered.

There's a simple formula to generally assess how much blower strength you need. We say "generally" because cooking requirements vary. Someone who does a lot of deep frying, or uses their wok daily, might need a little extra suction power beyond what the formula suggests.

A blower's suction power is measured in Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM), and we'll show you how to calculate those requirements. It's different for gas and electric, so here's the formula for each.

Gas Stoves

Add up the max BTU capacity for each burner, then divide that number by 100. For example, a cooktop with four burners (with the following max burner settings) will require a range hood with a minimum 400 CFM of suction power.

Burner A: 12,000 BTU
Burner B: 12,000 BTU
Burner C: 8,000 BTU
Burner D: 8,000 BTU

Add them all together: 12,000 + 12,000 + 8,000 + 8,000 = 40,000 total BTU

Divide by 100: 40,000 BTU ÷ 100 = 400

Minimum CFM requirement: 400 CFM

Electric Stoves

This one is easy. Measure the width of your stove (in inches), then multiply that number by 10. For example, a 36-inch cooktop will require a 360 CFM blower (minimum).

Having said all that, CFM isn't the only factor that makes a difference in range hood power.

Why CFM isn't everything

CFM is essential, but it doesn't tell the whole story. How efficiently the range hood captures cooking exhaust also plays a key role, which is why you want to purchase a range hood from a reputable seller that uses the latest technology.

How do you find a reputable seller? Look at reviews (we post all our customer reviews on our website at Hauslane), and Google the potential seller to assess its reputation. Hauslane has received accolades from objective sources like Forbes, Newsweek, and the USPAACC for selling high-quality range hoods, so if you buy from one of our competitors, make sure they have a solid reputation as well.

Other factors that influence a range hood's effectiveness include:

• Hood coverage that covers the entire cooktop area (width and depth)
• Installation height (distance above the burner)
• Design and airflow path

You want to buy a range hood that at least covers the width and depth of your range—preferably a bit wider. That ensures that it sucks up all those dirty, dangerous smoke particles.

Using Hauslane's shopping filter to find the right range hood

You can use our 1-minute quiz to figure out which range or range hood is right for you, or you can use Kitchen Lab, our concierge services, where you hop on a quick virtual meeting with a HausExpert who will help you find the right product for you.

You can also review our 6-step range hood buyer's guide to determine which range hood matches your range and your cooking needs.

Once you've done that, visit our homepage, hover your mouse pointer over the "Product" menu, and click on the range hood style you want to buy (under-cabinet, wall-mounted, built-in, or island range hoods).

At the top of that page, you can filter and sort your results based on things like:

• CFM strength
• Filter type
• Highest priced
• Lowest priced
• Other features

At Hauslane, you'll find high-quality range hoods that optimize CFM power as well as noise control, capture capacity, and durability. We offer a vast selection for any range, kitchen setup, and cooking style.

Ventilation and health

We talk a lot about outdoor air quality these days, but indoor air quality affects our health in numerous ways. Cooking produces dangerous gases and cooking exhaust, and there is evidence that some homes without proper ventilation have indoor air that is more dangerous than polluted outdoor air.

The good news is that using a quality range hood that matches your range and your cooking habits goes a long way toward making your kitchen (and your lungs) healthier and cleaner.

Common mistakes to avoid when shopping for a range hood

If you're planning to buy a new range hood when you upgrade your range, here are a few common mistakes to avoid:

• Underestimating your ventilation needs when you have power burners
• Choosing a range hood that doesn't (at least) cover the area of your cooktop
• Forgetting to consider your cooking habits
• Focusing only on CFM alone, without considering the overall design
• Forgetting to plan for your future needs, such as increased cooking
• Not realizing outdated kitchen appliances can impact your home's resale value

If you're carefully researching ranges to find the right one for your kitchen, you owe it to yourself and everyone else in your home to evaluate your new ventilation needs. You can find a high-quality range hood for a reasonable price at Hauslane, and it will elevate both your cooking experience and your quality of life.