Ventilation in the Kitchen: Importance, Methods, and Design Strategies
When upgrading kitchen fixtures or remodeling a kitchen, one of the most overlooked features is the ventilation system. However, proper ventilation can help prevent inhalation and fire risks to keep your space comfortable and safe.
In this article, we will cover the importance of ventilation, how to choose the right ventilation for your kitchen, and how to design a ventilation layout that fits with your kitchen plumbing supplies.
The Importance of Ventilation
Regardless of the type of kitchen you have or its size, ventilation is essential in any cooking environment. During cooking, steam often condenses on walls and windows to cause damage. Meanwhile, carbon dioxide from gas range combustion can also accumulate in kitchens. Having vents in the kitchen reduces or eliminates these problems by releasing steamy, smelly, and stale air.
Various Ventilation Methods
Unlike other types of ventilation systems, kitchens produce grease, smoke, and food odors that aren’t present in other parts of the house. The most common way to keep a kitchen ventilated is to use an extractor hood with a filtering system. There is also a fan that is typically located in the kitchen as well, but could also be in a nearby duct system.
Homeowners can choose from slim hood designs that are placed under stove cabinets or that hold up the microwave with a fan underneath. Some ventilation systems that are more advanced feature a wall-mounted microwave that is set over the range. Downdraft ventilation, ventilator power packs, and wall ventilation fans are also options to consider.
Choosing the Right Ventilation for Your Kitchen
Depending on the kitchen you have, some ventilation methods may be more effective than others. The hood is typically the most effective way to vent a kitchen range, and this hood should hang over the front and sides of the range by about three inches.
The exhaust fan that you choose for your kitchen should be determined by the square footage of the room because larger kitchens require more output. Homeowners that wish to use a range in an island should choose a downdraft system for ventilation because this method uses low pressure to pull fumes downward and outside of the house.
The way in which you use your kitchen should also influence the type of ventilation system that you choose. For example, if you like to cook with cast iron skillets in the kitchen and have inadequate ventilation, you may need to also use a window fan, an air filter, a grease splatter guard as part of the cooking process. Many homeowners also want to choose a kitchen fan that is quiet to reduce noise levels in the home, and fans with different blower options are available to affect sound.
Ventilation Layout and Design
While keeping both form and function in mind, it’s important for homeowners to create a look that serves the kitchen’s ventilation needs without detracting from aesthetics. In terms of layout, the cooking range should be placed against an external wall if possible to directly vent to the outside. This way, you don’t have to deal with hiding the duct work or finding space for a ceiling vent. Windows in the kitchen can also help promote good ventilation and brighten up your entire space.
At Central Plumbing Specialties, we offer a wide variety of kitchen plumbing supplies to go with your ventilation system of choice to create a beautiful cooking and dining space you’ll love spending time in. Once you’ve decided on the best ventilation strategy for your kitchen, stop by one of our five well-appointed showrooms to browse kitchen fixtures that will complement your layout and overall design!