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Original poster

Do I REALLY need an extractor hood??

38 replies

Namechanger5432121 · 02/12/2016 20:34

In the process of ordering our new kitchen. Decided to have the hob in the island but I really hate the idea of blocking the light and openess of the room with a hood. Cant afford a built in ceiling one.
We very rarely use the extractor fan now.
So do I HAVE to have one?

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 02/12/2016 22:09

Yes

OnePlanOnHouzz · 02/12/2016 22:19

Yes

OnePlanOnHouzz · 02/12/2016 22:21

... in most cases the answer is yes - the new one needs to be one that's 'as good as or better than the previous one ' to be signed off if you are having building work done.

SquinkiesRule · 02/12/2016 23:06

Yes. Or you could get one of those Cookers with a downdraft vent. My MIL had one in her old house and she liked it.
besthoods

NicknameUsed · 02/12/2016 23:34

Yes, but don't have it too low. We rented a cottage one summer that had a low extractor hood over the cooker and 6'2" OH ended up with several gouges in his head.

I wouldn't consider buying a house that didn't have an extractor over the cooker.

80sMum · 02/12/2016 23:37

Don't even think about not having an extractor in the kitchen! It's essential!

Sofabitch · 02/12/2016 23:39

Is it essential? Why? Genuine question I've never had one?

HeddaGarbled · 02/12/2016 23:44

Ours is ineffectual - opening the window works much better. But it is old. Are newer ones more effective then?

Reality16 · 02/12/2016 23:46

I have never had an extractor fan

wowfudge · 02/12/2016 23:47

Ime they are only effective if they actually extract. Re-circulating ones do little other than collect grease.

RaisingSteam · 02/12/2016 23:58

There is an alternative way. Building regs will also be satisfied with a wall mounted Xpelair-type extractor - anywhere in the kitchen on external wall, does not need to be over hob. Although it needs to have a higher extract rate than a hood they are generally quieter. Like a bigger version of a bathroom fan, they come in pull cord, timed switch or humidity controlled versions and are fairly cheap. We have taken this approach in kitchens as DH is too tall for a standard cooker hood (before those angled ones came out).

tiej · 03/12/2016 02:24

We decided not to have one in our latest kitchen and it's fine. Can't say I've noticed any difference really, life carries on as normal.

CondensedMilkSarnies · 03/12/2016 02:31

I've never used my extractor fan , they should issue crash helmets with the bloody things ! I've lost count of the times I've cracked my head on the corner of it.

Out2pasture · 03/12/2016 02:48

in Canada they are mandatory. i'm sure in the uk moisture buildup and damp are an issue. you would be surprised at the amount of steam generated from cooking. then there is the issue of moist grease even if your not someone who ever deep fries food....that gross build up on the top of kitchen cabinets....

Roystonv · 03/12/2016 02:56

Design/functIon wise no, been without one for 20 years, similar design layout to you, open a window! Legally, depends on current regs and if work has to be signed off and not up to date on that, sorry.

Cacofonix · 03/12/2016 07:34

Not if you get one of these. We are putting one in our island as I agree about hoods over islands. For building regs we also have to have an extractor fan on an external wall. Our kitchen we just knocked down didn't have any (very old) and you had to cook with the window open.

InfiniteSheldon · 03/12/2016 07:36

Really glad I got one if I fail to use it the paint bubbles in one 'cold spot' corner. I made dh change the height of it three times before I was happy mind you he still calls it the fucking extractor.

DodoRevival · 03/12/2016 07:40

Recently removed mine; it served no purpose other that smashing foreheads on and making so much noise I couldn't hear anything else.

There's more light now and it's less cramped looking. I open the window regularly (as I did anyway). My hob is situated next to a window. So it might make a difference where your hob is located.

perfectlybroken · 03/12/2016 07:41

Urgh, I hate them, the noise from ours renders me unable to cook due to sensory over load. If there is a smaller and quieter way of getting past building regs I would do that.

PigletJohn · 03/12/2016 07:42

You can put an extractor hood at a height where you won't hit it.

FrancisCrawford · 03/12/2016 07:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

acornsandnuts · 03/12/2016 08:01

I've never had one. I open a window or cook with the patio doors open.

I hadn't realized building regs were required when installing a new kitchen. Is that defiantly a thing?

FourToTheFloor · 03/12/2016 08:11

Dh insists on turning ours on when he cooks but it does nothing. It literally sucks up the steam over the cooker and distributes it out the side Hmm

I usually have a window open and french doors if warm enough but in winter it helps to warm the house up.

Why do people say you need one? Is it really a ridiculous build reg now?

RaisingSteam · 03/12/2016 08:12

ventilation FAQs <a class="break-all" href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20151113141044/www.planningportal.gov.uk/buildingregulations/approveddocuments/partf/faqs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here

IF you are just replacing units and not altering the structure of the room, as said below, you don't strictly need to add an extractor if you didn't previously have one, although why would you want an unventilated kitchen? But it doesn't have to be in the form of a bulky cooker hood.

DodoRevival · 03/12/2016 08:17

For what it's worth, I should add the one I got rid of was the type that just recirculates the air, it wasn't extracting anything to outside. Always thought it pointless.