People who have bought a house with an electric stove but without any range hood vent installed, or own a house that has never had a range hood above their electric stove, might consider installing a hood. For most people the dilemma is, since an electric cooktop produces less steam, do I really need a range hood above it?
Even though electric cooktops produce less steam, you need a range hood for them. This is because irrespective of their power, cooking on them still produces steam and grease which will reduce your indoor air quality over time. Having a range hood is strongly advised if you have an open kitchen layout as the lack of it will spread the pollutants throughout the house.
In this article, we’ll discuss the reasons why an electric stove also needs a range hood, what are the types of hoods available and what could be the consequences if you don’t have a range hood in your kitchen.
Why it is better to have a range hood than not over an electric stove
Cooking can become very irritating and uncomfortable if you have to prepare your food in a kitchen full of steam and fumes and even odors from the previous food preparation session. If you or someone in your family suffers from a bronchial or another lung disorder a steam and fume-filled kitchen can be a health risk.
There is the perception that because food prepared on an electric stove usually creates less steam, fumes and odors than when the food is prepared on a gas stove, an electric stove doesn’t need a hood.
To a certain extent, this is true because the gas stove generates a higher heat, and thus, more steam than an electric stove. But the air in your kitchen still becomes polluted when you use your electric stove.
A range hood removes fumes, heat, steam and odors from the kitchen while you are cooking. Its built-in fan pushes the fumes and heat upwards through a ventilation or duct system.
It expels grease particles and odors
A range hood doesn’t only trap grease particles with its filters but expels all particles that are not trapped. A range hood also reduces the breeding possibilities of bacteria and mold because it sucks the mold-forming particles away.
Some food odors can linger while cooking and even after your cooking has been completed. But a range hood sucks up food odors from your kitchen while you cook, expels it to the outside and keeps the air in your kitchen fresh.
It cools the air in the kitchen
Besides cleaning the air, a range hood also cools the air in your kitchen.
When you’re cooking on your electric stove, the air around the cooktop is heated by heat from the stove and steam from the food. A range hood will reduce the hot temperature that accompanies cooking because the hood cools the air by removing the heat and steam. This gives a comfortable, cool, and pleasant feeling in your kitchen.
The range hood sucks up heat from the air, just as it sucks fumes and smoke by using its built-in fan.
It illuminates your cooktop better
A range hood also provides extra lighting. The range hood usually has small LED lights that illuminate your cooktop better.
The extra lighting enables you to see clearly what you are preparing and helps to prevent the burning of your food. The light also provides illumination when you are cleaning your stove. You can see all the dirt on your cooktop and you can clean it thoroughly to preserve your cooktop better.
Different types of hoods for your electric stove
There are various types of vented hoods available that you can use above your electric stove. You can choose one to fit your kitchen’s layout and other kitchen requirements, and you can even get one that fits in with your kitchen décor.
Although the appearance varies, the purpose of all of them is the same – to improve the air quality of your kitchen or another food-preparing area after cooking.
The types of hoods include the following:
Wall mount range hoods
The wall mount range hoods are probably the most popular range hood style for domestic homes. This type of hood is installed on the wall above your electric stove. Sometimes, however, it might be necessary to remove a section of cabinets above your stove to create the most effective capture area. It is recommended that the hood is installed 28 to 36-inches above your electric cooktop.
The wall mount hoods sometimes come with an optional chimneypiece that helps with the ventilation. The chimney also enhances the look of the hood.
Generally, wall mount hoods vent out through an exterior wall behind them.
Home designers and professionals often call exhaust hoods the centerpiece of the kitchen.
Under-Cabinet Range Hoods
Under-cabinet range hoods are ideal if you want a low profile design. With an under-cabinet hood, you don’t have to remove any cabinets before installing the range hood unless the cabinet is too close to your cooktop. Then you’ll have to raise your cabinets enough to give you the ideal capture area of 28 – 36-inches above your cooktop.
To provide proper air ventilation, the ductwork for this type of hood is either installed behind the hood out of an exterior wall or up through the cabinet above the range hood.
Island range hoods
If your electric stove is installed on an island in your kitchen, you’ll have to install an island range hood. Island range hoods are mounted on the ceiling above your electric stove and vented to the outside of the house with ductwork going up through the ceiling and out through the roof.
Just like a wall mount hood, an island range hood can give your kitchen great appeal.
Custom range hoods
There is also the possibility of contacting a company specializing in hood manufacturing and ordering a custom-made hood for your electric stove. A custom range hood is a good option if you want a stove hood with a special look.
Other important reasons to install a range hood
Although vented hoods have primarily been developed to improve the air quality of kitchens while cooking they also provide other related features.
As explained earlier, effectively working vented hoods remove odors, grease, smoke, and fumes produced by using your cooktop. The vented hood sucks up the polluted air and expels it to the outside.
Not having a vented range hood puts your health at risk
Cooking produces irritants and chemicals that get into the air in the kitchen while you cook on your electric stove. Without a range hood, these harmful fumes will stay in your kitchen posing a risk to your health. It can lead to irritated skin, coughing, asthmatic symptoms, headaches, and even lung cancer.
It protects your investment in your home
Because a vented range hood traps grease and other residues produced by cooking and then expels it to the outside of the kitchen, the grease cannot stick to your cabinets and drip down to your floors. Less scrubbing of your cabinets is needed and discoloration of your cabinets due to frequent scrubbing can be prevented.
It prevents false smoke alarms
When cooking without a range hood the excessive fumes in your kitchen may trigger the smoke alarm. Then you have to stop your cooking to shut off the alarm and open all the windows and doors to get rid of the fumes.
With a vented hood, this will not happen. The excess fumes will be “absorbed” and expelled by the hood.
It lets you cook with confidence
With a vented range hood above your electric stove, you can use different cooking techniques without worrying about the odors and smoke. You can do steaming, poaching, stir-frying, and any “strange” cooking technique you want to experiment with.
Conclusion
If you have an electric stove in your kitchen you need to have a vented range hood above your stove. It will keep the kitchen environment clean and fresh and without any odors while you cook on your electric stove. Although you have less heat with your electric stove than with a gas stove, the cooking on your electric stove also releases steam, oil and heat into your kitchen that will linger there unless you have a vented range hood to expel the polluted air out of the kitchen.
