Do you have an extractor hood in your kitchen, or not?

[Vivacia]

We would only be able to have a recirculating one and wondering if it's worth it. The kitchen isn't huge, but it's not small either (although the ceiling is a bit low compared with the other rooms).

We won't be having any wall units, and I'm a bit of a cleaning fanatic, so washing the windows every day, cleaning the walls once a week etc wouldn't be a problem if that meant dealing with grease and condensation.

[craftycottontail]

I have one but it's so noisy I rarely use it. DH works for DIY company and says for them to be properly effective you need to have them on before cooking and for good 15 minutes afterwards, and definitely can't be doing with noise for that long! (esp as we have open plan lounge/kitchen)

[Pancakeflipper]

I have one and hardly use it as have a large kitchen so I don't seem to need it. Though the light bit is handy.

[NaturalBlondeYeahRight]

We haven't got one, cottage ceiling too low- couldn't think of a way round it. Not too many issues, gets a bit smokey/steamy if I'm cooking for lots ie Christmas (although that could be my cooking!) just open the window or back door for a couple of minutes.

[lljkk]

We had one & just sold it on Ebay. Usually put lids on pots so no need.

[ILikeBirds]

Yes, we have one. Some sort of extraction required under building regs when knocking through and renovating a kitchen and this was the easiest way to achieve it.

Keeps the cooking smells from lingering which is important when it's a living space as well, not particularly noisy. I'm not sure I'd go for one if I could do recirculating only, is there really no way to duct to an outside wall?

[Vivacia]

Thank you so much for your responses. I'm afraid it's a bit of a relief to get the advice I was hoping for!

The only time I've cooked with extractor fans is in catering kitchens. Even though we inherited one with our house we've probably used it twice in six years. The noise is too noticeable and doesn't seem to do anything. I'm also of the "open the window for two minutes" thinking.

ILB, we would have to have a pipe going along the wall for about 2 to 3 metres. With no wall units to hide it above, I think it'd look dreadful.

[ILikeBirds]

Can you not go into the ceiling? Our ducting runs between the ceiling and the floor above to an outside wall.

[Vivacia]

It possibly could, but that would mean re-plastering the ceiling afterwards. Also, there's a flat roof above the kitchen, so there might not be enough room.

[MrsGrowbag]

We had this dilemma when doing our kitchen extension as building regs require one in new build or extensions. I didn't want hood over my hob, which is in an island. We got round it by fitting ceiling fan, like the sort you get in bathrooms, only nicer looking (!) so that building regs are satisfied. If you have flat roof above, couldn't you do that quite easily? We do use ours but it is a bit noisy. Tbh, I wouldn't ever have a recirculating fan - they are worse than useless. If you are putting a kitchen into a new extension then I think it's a requirement that the fan vents to outside. Ours goes straight up through the ceiling.

[fossil971]

No. we have a extract vent in the ceiling above the cooker and in another house I had a wall xpelair.

Every month or so I wipe over the shelves/cupboards nearest the cooker where a bit of grease builds up - but I used to get that in the old kitchen that did have an extractor and had to clean the flipping extractor hood itself (grease trap) too. There is no way that daily or weekly cleaning is needed.

I would consider a whisper-quiet ceiling fan or wall fan if at all possible. They can be externally mounted. Building regs will want you to have some sort of ventilation if your work is notifiable.

loads of fans

[Vivacia]

That's great, thanks for taking the time to reply fossil. Always good to get the advice you wanted to hear(!). I was thinking about washing the windows frequently because of the condensation (I hate it, it makes me feel "urgh").

[PigletJohn]

An extractor fan is very useful for sucking cooking smells, steam and greasy fumes away, so keeps your kitchen cleaner and your house fresher. If it is not on an external wall for the duct to poke through, you can run duct on top of or inside wall cabinets to get outside.

A recirculating hood does none of these things, its only function is as a kitchen ornament.

[CarpeVinum]

A recirculating hood does none of these things, its only function is as a kitchen ornament.

Well...crap. I've just spent three weeks going over different models trying to find ona that

a) I like
b) I can afford.

There is nowhere else my cooker can go and it is miles from an external wall.

I'm worried abput grease getting on the fluepipe from the chimney heat putlet, not to mention all the kitchen smells using the vents to travel to the bedrooms.

I though the recycle type absorbed the grease and smells and you could just wash the filters in the dishwasher ?

[annalouiseh]

Carpe
they do work, just need to keep on top of the charcoal filter replacement and washing the metal grease filters.
90% of island hoods end up being recirculating as only have suction power for approx 1.5mtrs from an external wall.
most hoods are sold as ducted and recirculating.
one goes through a filter and back into the room, the other vents outside.
if a recirculating extractor didn't work then why do there filters need washing??? because there pulling in the grease etc.
if you buy a hood it will have the same suction if ducted or not.
in a given world vented is better, but the recirculated ones do work and help.
if you dont clean your filters then.....

[CarpeVinum]

Thanks anna

Mission "find affordable cooker hood that works asthetically with 17th centurary Cascina but does non look faux naff "..is a go !

Why doesn't IKEA do it's roundish one in a bigger size ? Why! WHY?!! why!

[teresagresswell]

Got stairs below my kitchen.wooden beams in kitchen could i have an extractor fan but not to expensive on a budget??

[SquinkiesRule]

We have a hood over the cooker, it vents to the outside and I love it. My house doesn't smell like food and the kitchen doesn't get all steamy when it's cold out. It is a bit noisy, but it's better than the greasy walls above the cupboards we inherited when we bought the place.