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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to insist that I don't want a cooker hood?

56 replies

happyon · 12/04/2013 12:31

Sorry to be dull but have been quite amazed at how much debate this has caused. My kitchen is small but open plan and has a huge window so I'd rather have the cabinet space. Builder claims he won't put in new kitchen without it Confused. His refusal is not about building regs. He just thinks I'll 'regret it'. AIBU not to have one?

OP posts:
marquesas · 12/04/2013 13:49

I have one but I very rarely use it, I prefer an open window as the extractor is pretty noisy. However, I would always have one as I've been told that it could make it more difficult to sell the house in the future.

Original poster
happyon · 12/04/2013 18:07

Thanks. I guess I was hoping I could find a tiny one that could just be fixed on the bottom of the cupboard but they all seem to be fixed into the cupboards.

Does anyone have experience of the non-vented ones?

OP posts:
EuroShaggleton · 12/04/2013 18:13

I also think you will regret it.

Bunbaker · 12/04/2013 19:16

My window is nowhere near the cooker and on cold days the cooker hood with extractor is essential.

Chottie · 12/04/2013 19:21

I have a cooker hood and I use it a lot when cooking and I have the window open. I make soups and jams and chutneys and lots of things which need lots of simmering.

kelda · 12/04/2013 19:23

I have an extractor fan and a small, flat cupboard above it, just enough to put a few rows of glasses in.

I always use the extractor fan. The steam would damage the kitchen if we didn't have it.

madamecake · 12/04/2013 19:26

We have no cooker hood, just a bridging cupboard so we have plenty of height above the hob. No problems with condensation or odours, but we do have 2 windows so tend to just open them.
In our last house we had a non vented hood it didn't do anything other than look nice!

kinkyfuckery · 12/04/2013 19:28

I don't have a cooker hood and don't seem to notice any ill effects Confused

olivertheoctopus · 12/04/2013 19:34

We use ours mainly for the light rather than the extractor, love that light!! Could never have a cupboard though as ceiling too low so kinda irrelevant. Anyway, your builder should be building whatever YOU ask him to build. What's it to him if you regret it later anyway?!?

owlface · 13/04/2013 12:16

I had my cooker hood removed as I kept banging my head on it! I only used it for the light as it ventilated into the kitchen and I have an extractor in the ceiling anyway. Now I have two shelves in its place, I keep glasses on the lower shelf and breakfast cereals on the top shelf. I have Ikea LED lights under the shelf, they are great.

Gales · 13/04/2013 12:29

I have a cooker hood that I have only every used for the light - I open a window to get rid of smells and condensation. TBH, unless it's on an outside wall I don't think they're that effective anyway. I don't think you'll regret not having one, but I'm not sure how useful a cupboard over the hob would be either.

Poppy716 · 13/10/2016 05:08

Can anyone recommend a recirculating cooker hood? Various reasons I can't have an extraction one

MesM · 13/10/2016 05:24

We assumed we wouldn't need one as barely used it and would ruin the beautiful line of our beautiful kitchen Hmm however have noticed an upsurge in mould. I'd get one.

girlwithamoonandstaronherhead · 13/10/2016 05:27

Yanbu I hate cooker hoods the noise makes me feel like I cant think (or cook) straight, I prefer to open a window.

FrancisCrawford · 13/10/2016 05:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MakeJam · 13/10/2016 06:16

I wish I had an extractor. Grease accumulates on everything and it's yuck!

There's no reason why you can't have a slimline extractor and storage above the cooker. It's handy to have a light too.

@ WillieWaggler We had the same problem in our bathroom and kitchen and bought a portable dehumidifier with an integral heater (about £140). It's brilliant. No more condensation or mildew.

topcat2014 · 13/10/2016 06:53

We have a narrow (from top to bottom) cupboard above our hob. We use it to keep all the oven trays in. You need to clean the underside a bit, but it is far from minging.

Good extractor fan on another wall.

We used to have a hood as well - but it bust so we took it out - no regrets.

PikachuSayBoo · 13/10/2016 06:57

I don't have a hood. Don't have an extractor fan.

Never regretted it.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 13/10/2016 07:01

We have one and use it all the time, as well as having the back door open pretty well all the time weather permitting. The ILs never use theirs and their house stinks of cooking. I'd never not have one.

YellowCrocus · 13/10/2016 07:10

Like others I use the light on my hood all the time, and the fan occasionally. A slimline fan under a cupboard sounds like the best solution here.

cathaka15 · 13/10/2016 07:10

This one I had seen on eBay.

to insist that I don't want a cooker hood?
ryderandthepups · 13/10/2016 07:29

I don't have one, although hob is under a window. There's a small cupboard directly above that with the fuse board in it.Never had any problems!

BrainPrions · 13/10/2016 07:31

Yeah, that's one of those things you don't need.

Until you do.

We have one that doesn't work, and we don't realize what a pain it is until we need it.

GreenHen · 13/10/2016 07:37

I haven't got a cooker hood but my hob (induction) is on an peninsula, and not directly under a cupboard (in a large open plan area).

I wouldn't put a hob directly under a cupboard but I've had no issues or regrets about deciding to not have a hood. Previous to that we did have one but never/very rarely used it.

BabyGanoush · 13/10/2016 07:37

Our kitchen doesn't have one.

It was extended and the cooker is too far from the outside wall to have an extractor fan.

I really really wish I had one, I have to close kitchen door and open patio doors when cooking!

In Winter this is totally idiotic