Rangehoods, originally designed for purely utilitarian purposes, are now often design features in modern kitchens. It's not unheard of, in fact, for a kitchen designer to design an entire kitchen around a stunning stainless steel rangehood. Rangehoods still have a purpose to fulfil, though and some of them fulfil their purpose better than others.

Whether you are a gourmet chef or a working single whose cooking skills are limited to bacon and eggs, you need something to help eliminate cooking odours from your home. That's what rangehoods are for. Our Rangehoods Buying Guide will help you find the best rangehood for your needs.

Types of Rangehoods

There are only two basic types of rangehoods - ducted rangehoods and recirculating rangehoods. We'll look at them one at a time:

Ducted Rangehoods

Ducted rangehoods draw air through filters, into air ducts and then out of doors. This type of ducted rangehood system is the most efficient, but there are some catches to it. Your cooktop must be either positioned against an exterior wall or the ducting system must be able to find its way through the ceiling and out into the open air.

Recirculating Rangehoods

Recirculating rangehoods draw air through filters, into an enclosed air space above the rangehood and then recirculate the air back into the room. Good recirculating rangehoods can do a more than adequate job for the average cook and are certainly better than nothing, but you need to look carefully at their specs if you are looking for functional rangehoods rather than just kitchen fashion accessories.

You can purchase both ducted and recirculating rangehoods in three basic styles. These include canopy rangehoods, fixed rangehoods and slideout (or retractable) rangehoods:

Canopy Rangehoods Canopy rangehoods are those that have no cabinets above them. They are usually made of stainless steel and the ducting is hidden behind a stainless steel covering.

Fixed Rangehoods Fixed rangehoods cover a large portion of the cooktop area. Because of this, they can trap and recirculate most of the steam that rises from the cooking area. They have functional advantages over their tractable countertops. Because they are fixed, they have larger filters and greater overall capacity than recirculating rangehoods. On the downside, some users find them obtrusive because they have to be mounted lower than the more powerful ducted rangehoods. Some taller users even complain about bumping their heads against their corners.

Slideout Rangehoods

Slideout (retractable) rangehoods are more popular than either ducted rangehoods or fixed recirculating rangehoods. This is because the average home chef doesn't really feel the need to use their rangehood every time they are boiling an egg or steaming some vegetables. When they do use their rangehood, they simply slide out the extension and turn it on. Some models even automatically turn on when extended and shut off when retracted.

Choosing Between Rangehoods

If efficiency is your greatest concern, if your budget allows for it and if you can duct your rangehood out of doors either through a wall or the ceiling, then we suggest ducted rangehoods. These are big ifs, though. If you can't duct your rangehood, don't give up - you haven't run out of options.

If your budget is your greatest concern, then you are probably better off looking for recirculating rangehoods. Even though some of the higher end recirculating rangehoods cost as much as or more than some ducted models, don't forget that there are installation costs involved with ducted systems, while a good do-it-yourselfer can often install a recirculating rangehood himself.

If both efficiency and your budget carry equal weight and you cannot duct your rangehood, then you will need to take a closer look at the specifications for rangehoods. Here are some things to look for:

Capacity

In rangehoods, capacity is the biggest measure of efficiency. This is measured in cubic metres per hour. An efficient slideout rangehood will have a capacity of 380 cubic metres per hour. Unfortunately, some manufacturers fudge this number and state only the ducted capacity of their unit if it has both ducted and recirculating installation features. Take this spec with a grain of salt.

Number of fans

Rangehoods come with anywhere between one and 3 fans. More fans equal greater efficiency.

Decibels

Some rangehoods are noisier than others. Check the decibel ratings if quiet efficiency is what you're looking for.

Fan Speeds

Your rangehood doesn't have to be going full-tilt at all times. Look for at least two fan speeds and three is even better.

And finally ...

While you don't necessarily have to get the most expensive rangehood on the market to get one that works efficiently, price is often a good indicator of how well it will perform. We suggest using our "Best Buys" rangehoods comparison guide. These rangehoods have the most features for the least money and you can often find them at heavily discounted prices.