What Is A Convertible Range Hood

When it comes to the aesthetics of your home, a quality-looking range hood goes a long way. There are so many choices when it comes to styles and designs of range hoods. You should be able to select the one that best fits your needs. In some cases, a new homeowner might want to save some money on their kitchen upgrades. Installing a range hood that requires ductwork could be costly. Instead, you should consider a convertible range hood. What is a convertible range hood? They can be vented or not vented and installed in any location below your cabinet space.

Let’s take a look below at some more details regarding convertible range hoods.

What Are The Styles

Believe it or not, there are a couple of variations of range hood styles. Let’s take a look:

• Ceiling-mounted – this style attaches to the ceiling above your island stove and is installed completely away from any wall.
• Under-cabinet – this style is installed over your stove and just underneath a set of cabinets.
• Wall-mount – this style is installed on your wall and located directly above the stove.

Range hoods have the option of being vented/ducted, non-vented/ductless, or convertible. A convertible range hood is used for either a vented or non-vented setup. They are way more flexible in their functionality and very practical.

What Types Are There

There are two main types of range hoods. With anything else available to your home, there are design and style choices, but inevitably you have ducted or ductless options. A convertible range hood works either way, as its functionality is universal. Let’s take a look at what a ducted and ductless range hood might be and their pros/cons.

• Ducted hoods – range hood that has a ducting system flowing up through the home and vented outside. It is always located directly above your stove or range and has a long pipe or ductwork that goes up the wall or up into the ceiling. This option is expensive and a little tricky to install. They are powerful and suck out smoke, steam, heat, odor, and humidity while cleaning your inside air. However, they are expensive to install and not always possible to fit into a home.
• Ductless models – a recirculating range hood that uses a suction fan to pull air from the kitchen, filter it, and push it back into the room. The charcoal filter will trap grease and odor particles. Low-cost installation and low energy is used. Can be a great installation where a ducted model is not possible. However, you will spend a lot of time cleaning or replacing the filter portion of the unit, if you cook a lot from home. They can also be louder than a ducted system and could require extra parts to meet the minimum height requirements to be effective.

Is One Better Than The Other

When it comes to a convertible range hood, there isn’t necessarily one better design. It is a matter of choice by the homeowner. The differences will vary based on style, design, your control panel, and how much power you need it to have. You will want to also decide how often you will use the hood, based on the kinds of food that you cook on your range or stove.

Deciding on a cabinet range hood, island range hood, and wall mount range hood, are all determined by the location of your range or stove. The purpose of your range hood is to remove smoke and other particles from your home. So, although a stainless steel range hood looks great, it might not matter as long as the hood operates the way that it is designed for.

Why Do I Need One

The idea of installing a convertible range hood is perfect. There are so many advantages to this idea, instead of installing a ducted range hood. Let’s take a look at the advantages.

• Price – it is much cheaper to install a convertible range hood as ductless than it would be to install a ducted range hood. The cost of hiring a professional, plus purchasing the duct materials is far greater than a simple convertible range hood installation.
• Easy installation – the installation process is a lot easier as there are fewer steps involved. You can install a convertible range hood as ductless and utilize a recirculating kit instead of added ducts.

How Much Does It Cost

The national average for a range hood installation is between $400 and $1,600. You can count on the cost being closer to $750 depending on the size of the hood that you have purchased. This cost varies based on how much of a custom range hood you would like installed, and if new ducts are installed. If you go with a convertible ductless range hood, you are going to save a lot of money.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Now that you know about range hoods, let’s look at some other areas for maintenance around the kitchen.

One of those areas is the sink. Many of us love our coffee in the morning but putting the grounds in the sink is not a good idea. The grounds can expand and stick to the plumbing so it is best to empty it into the garbage can.

Another area is the half bath or bathroom. Many people have one of these close to the kitchen so it is important to make sure all is working. When the toilet tank goes out, it is important to know that they are universal but many manufacturers want you to purchase their brand. If you have questions, consult a professional.

Lastly, when thinking about changes in the kitchen, many homeowners think about changing the cabinets or the pantry. There are so many different colors and materials for cabinets. One of those is popular cherry wood, usually in stock, and very durable so it is an excellent choice in a kitchen.

When Do I Call A Professional

When it comes to installing a range hood, it is important to reach out to a professional contractor. They will be able to tell you if a ductless or ducted convertible range hood is your best choice. If you aren’t sure about the space altogether, reach out to your local home inspection team. They can inspect the kitchen area and structure of your walls, ceiling, and cabinetry to determine what would fit best in your home. Also, they can recommend a reputable professional general contractor that specializes in range hood installations.

Conclusion

With so many choices regarding a range hood or a convertible range hood, you might want to ask for advice. When it comes to upgrades or appliance replacements it is always good to have a home inspection completed. Your local home inspection team can look over your kitchen layout and make recommendations for upgrades. These recommendations will be structurally sound and ensure that you aren’t creating a bigger mess in your home. Reach out to Liberty Inspections to inspect your kitchen during a home inspection in the Western, KY, Fort Campbell, KY, and Middle Tennessee areas.