Today we’re going to take a look at the best exhaust fans for kitchen use. Exhaust fans deserve more recognition than they are getting. It’s something that is frequently overlooked or set aside when building your dream kitchen. Meanwhile, they have been silently saving our pristine white walls, ceilings, and lungs for the longest time.
So, if you’re looking for a sign to get an exhaust fan installed in your kitchen, or planning to have it upgraded, this is it!
Our Favorite Kitchen Exhaust Fans Listed
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Do I Need An Exhaust Fan In My Kitchen?
Yes, exhaust fans help eliminate steam, smoke, air pollutants, and unpleasant odor when you’re cooking. It also helps to maintain the temperature in the kitchen when you cook. More so if your kitchen doesn’t have good ventilation.
The smoke and steam that cooking food generates can travel and stain your walls, ceilings, curtains, and even furniture. Eventually, the moisture it produces can also compromise the integrity of your house as it causes mold and mildew buildup.
While the strong scent can not only cling to your clothes and other fabrics in the kitchen for the longest time, it can also be harmful to your health. These sharp aromas and air pollutants can trigger asthma and headaches. While improper ventilation can lead to lightheadedness and difficulty in breathing.
How Does Kitchen Exhaust Fan Work?
Exhaust fans suck out all the humid air, smoke and unpleasant odors in stuffy areas like kitchens and bathrooms, laundry rooms. This improves the air circulation in the said areas and makes it safer and more refreshing to use.
Best Kitchen Exhaust Fan: TKD Picks
Best Portable Kitchen Exhaust Fan – Holmes 3-Speed HEPA Air Purifier
This portable air purifier by Holmes effectively works as a kitchen exhaust fan. It has a built-in HEPA filter that traps up to 99% of harmful particles in the air. It has 3 cleaning speeds and has an optional ionizer too. It is also designed to work either horizontally or vertically, so it works best if you have limited kitchen space.
You can get additional filters such as the Odor Eliminator or Smoke Grabber to make it even more perfect for your kitchen. This product is also backed up with a limited 3-year warranty from its manufacturer.
- REMOVES UP TO 99% OF AIRBORNE PARTICLES: The Holmes Desktop HEPA-Type Air Purifier with Optional Ionizer captures particles...
- INCLUDES IONIZER: This Holmes air purifier features an optional air ionizer that helps to bind negative ions to airborne...
- 70 CADR: Air purifier provides a 70 CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate)
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Kitchen Ceiling Exhaust Fan – Broan-Nutone 505 Ceiling Exhaust Fan
This compact exhaust fan by Broan-Nutone has a 180 Cubic Feet per Minute airflow capacity and only produces 6.5 sones. It effectively gets rid of unwanted odors, smoke, and excess moisture in the kitchen. Thus, making it cleaner and safer for you to prepare your family’s meals.
It comes with easy-install steel mounting brackets for hassle-free installation. Broan-Nutone 505 Ceiling Exhaust Fan is also energy star and HVI certified.
- VERSATILE FAN: Exhaust fan helps eliminate , tobacco smoke, and cooking odors. The galvanized steel house installs easily...
- EFFICIENT: Operates on 200 CFM and 8.5 Sones to ensure high-quality performance. Compatible with Overture Connected IAQ...
- EASY INSTALLATION: Includes steel mounting brackets with keyhole slots for a fast and easy installation
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Under Cabinet Exhaust Fan – Broan-NuTone 413004 Ductless Range Hood
If you want to level up your kitchen exhaust fan, this premium Stainless-Steel Ductless Range Hood by Broan-NuTone is the best way to go! It has a 2-speed motor that is permanently lubricated. It serves as both an exhaust fan and an overhead light for your kitchen. It is ductless and has a replaceable charcoal filter, so it’s easy to install and maintain too.
- HIGH-QUALITY DUCTLESS RANGE HOOD INSERT: Stainless steel hood insert improves ventilation and lighting over your stove with...
- EFFECTIVE INCANDESCENT LIGHTING: A protective lamp lens distributes light evenly over the cook-top and accepts up to 75W bulb...
- EASY CARE: Charcoal filter is replaceable so you can maintain optimum grease capture and keep the kitchen fresh
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Exhaust Fan for Kitchen Window – Air King 9166F 20″ Window Fan
This 20” Window Fan by Air King is packed with irresistible features. This window fan prides on its industrial-grade, powerful 120-volt motor, backed with 1/6 horsepower. It comes with Air King’s signature Storm Guard, allowing you to close the window behind the fan during bad weather conditions. No need to mount and unmount it every time. It is also made from impact-resistant plastic housing for guaranteed durability.
- 3-speed, 1/6 HP, 120V, 1 phase, permanently lubricated.Wattage: 115 watts.Voltage: 120 volts.Number of speeds:3
- Front mounted rotary switch and RPM (High/Med/Low) is 1600 / 1450 / 1100. Compliance: ETL, OSHA.
- Front Mounted Switch, Impact Resistant Plastic Housing, Powder Coated Steel Front Grill and Blade
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Wall Mounted Exhaust Fan – Broan-Nutone 512M Through-the-Wall Ventilation Fan
This small but terrible wall mounted exhaust fan from Broan-Nutone offers 70 Cubic Feet per Minute capacity and a 6.0 Sone rating. The fan’s motor has a “twist-lock” mechanism allowing for easy installation. It also has a built-in drafter that reduces possible backdrafts. Its grille is made from a white polymeric material that you can paint to match your house’s exterior.
- VERSITILE: Ventilation fan eliminates heat, humidity and unwanted smells inside the garage, kitchen, laundry room or rec room
- IN-WALL INSTALLATION: Requires cutting a hole in the wall and wiring to a switch; has a built-in exterior wall cap/vent, so...
- HIGH QUALITY, EFFICIENT OPERATION: Operates at 70 CFM to efficiently ventilate rooms up to 65 sq. ft.; use for spot...
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Kitchen Exhaust Fan Buying Guide
Here are some of the things you will need to consider when deciding what type of exhaust fan is best for your kitchen:
Ducted or Ductless
This is one of the first things you will have to consider if you want to go with a ducted or ductless hood. Ductless hoods take the stale air and recirculate it back to the kitchen. As the name indicates, they don’t require ducts and therefore can be installed anywhere in the kitchen.
It is convenient, but it is important to note that it doesn’t get rid of the smoke or odor. It filters it and blows it back, which can cause your kitchen to be a little humid. It is also said to be a little louder than ducted hoods since its fan works harder.
On the other hand, a ducted hood is believed to work more efficiently when it comes to getting rid of the humidity in the kitchen. It sucks all the smoke and unpleasant odor completely out of the house through the ducts.
The downside is that you can’t put it anywhere you want. It can only be placed where there is a duct system available that goes from the house going out. This may not do well if you have limited space in your kitchen.
Type of Hood
There are several types of kitchen hoods. It primarily depends on the layout of the area where you’ll be putting it. The fan-favorite (pun intended 😉) is the wall chimney hood, as it is said to be very efficient.
Size
This is another important aspect of choosing your exhaust fan. You have to note that the hood should at least be as wide as your cooking surface. If your kitchen space and layout permits, get a bigger one for the best efficiency.
Ease of Installation and Maintenance
If you’re doing the installation yourself, you want to make sure it is safe and doable without professional help. Check the installation manual if it’s understandable and easy to perform.
It is highly recommended to use outdoor vents and larger ducts whenever possible to make the most out of your new kitchen exhaust fan. Don’t forget to clean your ducts and filters from time to time as well as to wash or wipe the surface of the hood itself.
Which Exhaust Fan Is Best For The Kitchen?
As modern technology advances, more and more types of kitchen exhaust fans become available in the market. They differ in size, features, ventilation type, and price but mainly, they differ in the type of hood. Here are the tried and tested types of kitchen exhaust fans over the recent years:
Under Cabinet Hoods
As the name suggests, this type of kitchen exhaust fan is installed under the built-in cabinets in your kitchen. This works best for you if you want to disguise your kitchen hood as a cabinet. Under Cabinet hoods look less bulky, especially if you have a smaller kitchen.
However, this takes up at least a whole slot of your cabinet space, so only use it if you have alternate storage options. In this type of hood, the vent’s ductwork is usually hidden through an adjoining wall, chase, soffit, or ceiling to let out the smoke.
Some under-cabinet hood models have the option to slide out the hood from under the kitchen cabinet if you must.
Wall Chimney Hoods
You would see this a lot in rustic-themed kitchens, but it looks just as good with other designs too. I personally find it aesthetically pleasing. But more than the looks, it is also said to have the most efficient ventilation system compared to other types of hoods.
Wall chimney hoods can only be installed when you don’t have an upper cabinet installed above your cooktop. This is because this type of exhaust fan has a sizeable exposed vent that allows it to efficiently circulate the stale kitchen air.
Downdraft Hoods
Use this if your house layout doesn’t allow you to add any external ductwork through the walls or ceiling. Then a downdraft hood is your best bet to have an exhaust fan installed in your kitchen. It is not widely used mainly because it doesn’t expel the hot air and sharp odor in the kitchen. Instead, it just redirects it downwards to the ducts beneath the floor.
Island Hoods
This is the best exhaust fan to use if your cooktop is located on your kitchen island. This type of hood is installed on the ceiling and has an exposed vent. The ductwork is laid out through the ceiling too.
For best results when using an island hood, remember that the exhaust fan should be bigger compared to the width of your cooktop. This is because there is nothing to help funnel the fumes due to the lack of cabinetry or wall.
Ductless Hoods
Because of the lack of duct, this exhaust fan can be installed anywhere – under the cabinet, on the wall or on the ceiling. This is perfect if you have limited space and don’t want to lay out any more ductwork.
As described earlier in this article, this type of hood sucks the smoke and fumes from your cooking surface, filters it, then circulates it back to your kitchen. Therefore, there’s a high possibility of the smoke dispersing to the rest of your house.
How Do You Install An Exhaust Fan In A Kitchen?
When it comes to installation, a ductless exhaust fan is relatively easier to set up than a ducted one. Simply because it doesn’t involve installing ductwork or piping.
Ductless Exhaust Fan
Measure the range hood and make sure you have enough room for it above your cooktop. You also want to make sure that the power cable reaches a working electrical outlet. If there is none, you will an electrician to install one for you.
Once this is all set, follow the manufacturer’s installation manual to mount your brand-new hood.
Ducted Exhaust Fan
Now, this will be a little trickier so spare some time and patience if you decide to go with a ducted kitchen hood. First, you need to decide where you want the ceiling exhaust hole to be. After you make the hole, put the vent pipe through it.
At this point, it’s like a Lego piece, attach the duct elbow to the exhaust port you created. Then attach the vent fan and secure the brackets in place with screws. Then cut out an exhaust hole to let you connect the duct to the outside vent. Now plug in the rest of the wires and test the fan!
What Do You Do If You Have No Exhaust Fan In The Kitchen?
Does your house or building prohibit you to have either ducted or ductless exhaust fans installed in your kitchen? There are other options you can do to try and improve the air circulation in your cooking area.
Use a window fan
If your kitchen at least has a window, you can install a window fan and keep it on the “exhaust” setting. It cannot help with grease (use a grease guard instead) but it can suck the smoke and steam out of the place just like an actual exhaust fan would.
Use a portable air filter
If you don’t have a kitchen window, you can use a portable air filter instead. It gets rid of the unwanted odor and helps improve the overall air quality of the kitchen. Plus, you can also put it anywhere else in the house if you’re not cooking.
Install grease guards or use semi-gloss paint finish
To protect your kitchen walls, install aluminum foil oil splash guards. They are removable and easier to clean than to scrub stubborn stains from your wall. You can also use semi-gloss paint finish on your wall to make the cleanup much easier.
So, are you ready to pick the new exhaust fan for your kitchen? I hope this comprehensive guide helps you in choosing the best for your home’s ventilation needs. Let us know in the comments below which one you ended up with! Much love, ciao! ♥
