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Cooker Hood Buying Guide
You’ve got that brand spanking new oven and that fiery new hob too, now you’ll want a shiny cooker hood to complete your awesome kitchen set-up. But, like most things, there’s a whole lot of choice out there and it can be tricky finding the right one. This guide will help you get to grips with everything cooker hoods, so you can feel a little more confident when it comes to choosing.
Things to know
Energy Rating
Need a cooker hood that’s kind to the planet and your bills? You won’t have to look any further than the handy energy rating. With a range of A+++ - E, you can easily compare how energy efficient each appliance is – those ranked A and above are the best in the biz. So now you can keep your tummy and your wallet happy.
Warranty
Cooker hoods are built to last, but sometimes things can go wrong. That’s why the warranty is so important, it keeps you safe from any nasty surprises. The standard length is usually one or two years but check the warranty section on our product pages to know exactly what you’re entitled to.
Noise Level
Cooker hoods can be noisy, so if you have an open plan house, you may want to look at a model with a quiet motor. These use magnets instead of brushes, making them much smoother to run. Check the specs for the decibel level of your hood.
Dimensions
Getting the right size cooker hood is important if you want a steam-free kitchen. Dimensions vary depending on the type of hood you want to buy, but matching the size of your hood with your hob will keep those clouds and odours at bay, so be sure to measure up before you buy. You’ll find the dimensions in the key features section.
Extraction Rate
One of the most important things to consider when buying a new cooker hood is the extraction rate. This refers to the air that your hood can process in an hour and is measured in meters cubed (m3). Ideally, your cooker hood should filter the air in the room 10 times per hour to be most effective.
So, let's use a standard-sized kitchen as an example and show you how to work out which extraction rate best suits your space.
1. Firstly. You'll need to work out the volume of your room. To do that, measure the width, depth and height in metres then multiply them.
For example, Width 3.6m x Height 2.4m x Depth 2.8m = 24.1m. This gives you a total volume of 24.1m3.
2. Now choose a cooker hood and find the extraction rate in the spec section of our page. Once you have that, you divide it by the volume of your room.
For example, 416÷24.1 = 17.2.
This means this model will filter the air 17.2 times an hour. As long as this number is 10 or above, you can be confident you've found the correct extraction rate for your home. Happy hood hunting.
Power Supply
Whether it’s a 13A standard plug or a cut plug, the power supply is what brings your cooker hood to life. Three-pronged plugs need a socket nearby and a cut plug will need an electrician to hardwire it. So, whether you’re replacing something old or adding something new, make sure you pick the right one for your kitchen. Keep in mind if you’re upgrading your current hardwired cooker hood, there may not be a socket nearby for the new hood.
Key Features
Touch Control
Forget fiddling with annoying buttons – touch controls are the way forward. With a simple tap, you can switch settings in an instant. So, no matter whether you’re stirring in sauce or boiling a pot of pasta, you’ll be able to keep your windows clear and your kitchen free from lingering smell.
Extraction boost
When you have multiple pots and pans bubbling away, prepping dinner just isn’t going to be comfortable in clouds of steam. With the push of a button, heat boost technology will increase the extraction rate to clear your kitchen as quickly as possible. Read on to find out more about some of the benefits.
Easy clean
Cooker hoods are a must for a steamy kitchen and they’re fab at sucking up grease and odours. However, this does mean they’ll need a good clean every now and then. Luckily some models come with clever features that make it much easier.
Quiet extraction
If you’re enjoying a natter with your other half while chopping the veggies, putting on the cooker hood shouldn’t mean an end to the conversation. Thankfully, quiet extraction means you won’t be putting up with any background buzz.
Hob and hood connection
Forget fumbling around with complicated controls, hob and hood connection lets you focus on your cooking. With this nifty feature, your hob will wirelessly start your cooker hood, adjusting the speed based on its settings and the pan temperature. Now, instead of figuring out what those buttons do, you can concentrate on your burgers.
Increased filtration
Increased filtration describes a bunch of cooker hood features that do more than just banish smells. These features might also remove things like grease or pollen. Some can even clean the air before recirculating it into your home. Read on below for the benefits.
Energy Saving Technology
You’ll be making meals in comfort with your new cooker hood – no more steam, no more lingering curry smell. And one benefit you may want to look out for when choosing yours is energy efficiency.
Everyone wants to save a few pennies on their bills, and there are lots of different ways cooker hoods do their bit for your bank balance and the environment.
Sensor controlled extraction
What’s better than cooking in a clear, fresh kitchen? A cooker hood that automatically picks the best settings, that’s what. With sensor control extraction technology, you don’t need to worry about a thing. The hood keeps track of what’s happening on the hob, so if you have multiple pans bubbling away, it’ll change the settings for you. So, you can get on with chopping up those veggies.
Smart connected
A smart-connected cooker hood can be set up to work with your phone and be controlled using an app. Some even link your hob and hood together, so the hood can adjust itself automatically. If you have a lot of pans on the highest setting for example, the hood increases the extraction rate to match the level of steam – without you having to do a thing.
Key Features
The secret to a fresh-smelling kitchen
Find out everything you need to know about hood, from downdraft to smart models
Bosch venting hobs
You won’t need a separate cooker hood to keep the air in your kitchen clean
FAQs
- Do I need a ducted or recirculating hood?
It depends on your current installation. If you’ve never had a cooker hood before then you can choose either.
- What extraction rate do I need for the size of my kitchen?
You need to make sure you look at the width of your hob or cooker first. Then measure your kitchen (for example (W)6m x (D)4m x (H)3m would be 72m³) then multiply it by 10 to get your ideal extraction rate. It doesn’t matter if you get a hood that’s less than this, it’ll just take a little longer to clear the room.
- What is the diameter of the ducting?
The standard diameter is 15cm, although some ducting comes with a reduction kit, which means you can take the diameter down to 12cm.
- What size ducting kit do I need?
This all depends on your current installation or where you want your hood fitted. Most manufacturers say the shorter the distance to the outside the better, as they’ll work more efficiently.
- I have a range cooker – what size hood do I need?
The hood you choose should always be the same width as your hob or cooker, any smaller and it won’t work as efficiently as it should.
- What is the benefit of recirculation?
There’s no real benefit of recirculation, it’s just as good as if you duct out. You’d only setup your hood for recirculation if you’re not able to duct outside.
- What if I have a low ceiling?
If you have a low ceiling in your kitchen, then we would recommend going for a built-in canopy hood. Or even better, if you don’t want your hob above your oven, a downdraft extractor hood or venting hob would be perfect as it doesn’t attach to your ceiling.
- What if I have a high ceiling?
Cooker hoods should be fitted 65-75cm above the hob. If your ceiling is higher than this you may need to look at building a suitable housing unit so that it's at the required height. You could also consider a downdraft extractor or venting hob if your kitchen set up allows for this.
