Recycling extractor fans - are they any good?

[Temeraire]

Just about to put in a kitchen. I got a design from Ikea even though I don’t know whether I’ll be going from them in the end, which seems to tick all the boxes but I’ve just remembered that she designed it assuming a recycling extractor fan. Are they any good?

A recirculating cooker hood can be an attractive kitchen ornament. It serves no other purpose.

I had a terrible suspicion you were going to say that PigletJohn. Thanks anyway

Can you duct to an outside wall behind cupboards? You would need to cut the cupboards to allow for it though. It’s far more efficient.

Kitchen bloke said to me that all they do is make the tops of cupboards & the ceiling dirty.

Plan doesn’t matter, it’s easy enough to swap for one that vents out - boxed or chimney style.

I have one, I don’t know why I have one, I never use it and on the rare occasion I do turn it on it does sweet F.A. If I could be bothered to remove it I would and put nice shelves up instead.

Is there actually such a thing as a truly effective extractor fan? I ask because my DH insists there isn't (every time I suggest we go for an open plan layout downstairs!)

yes, but open plan is not a wise choice if you have any objections to steam, grease and cooking smells drifting round the house.

I have a fairly open plan kitchen and I don’t have an extractor. We occasionally get smells in the house from the kitchen BUT the same happened in my enclosed kitchen with a fairly big extractor. I tend to think they are not great unless you have them on warp factor 9! I’m fine without one! (Shhh! Building regs think we do have one!)

I’m debating whether to bother in the new kitchen or not The non venting ones appear to be worse than useless and venting one out here is a massive ache & cost 😫

given that all extractor hoods are fugly, noisy, block the light, are a head bump hazard and are of limited use unless very expensive, we went for an extractor fan rated for a kitchen (i.e. with a grease filter).

Despite costing over £100 it took four goes to get one that worked properly, but it is QUIET and does the job. However it is on an outside wall with a simple straight pipe leading directly through. And we don't have open plan.

@mencken

Yes if the kitchen was on the outside wall
I’d definitely do that, it’s what I’m used to &
Prefer.

I don’t think all extractor hoods are ugly though and at not quite 5ft NONE have ever been in danger of being a head bump hazard 🤣

@Cataline. I doubt it, but it wouldn’t stop me having open plan. It’s not as if it doesn’t travel if you have a separate kitchen, I very much doubt there’s any difference really - it’s nitike the kitchen is a sealed unit