How to pick a range hood

How to pick a range hood

When choosing a range hood, consider kitchen size, cooking style, body depth, ducting and maintenance before deciding on a model. This page is a general household guide for replacement or new installation.

Enquiry: +852 9684 8806 · See also How to order, Delivery & Installation and How to pick a water heater.

1. Kitchen size and cooking style

Extraction should match the room and how you cook, not appearance alone.

• Size and layout. In a small kitchen, or an open-plan kitchen that opens onto the living area, cooking fumes spread more easily. Choose a hood with adequate extraction and check that the duct run is reasonably clear.
• Everyday steaming and boiling. If most meals are steamed, boiled or simmered, a typical household hood is usually sufficient.
• Frequent stir-frying or deep-frying. High heat, chilli and long frying produce heavier fumes and grease. Look for stronger extraction and parts that are easy to remove for cleaning.
• Hob position. If a two-burner hob sits to one side, independent left and right controls can help you increase extraction on that side. This is a control feature; it does not replace adequate overall extraction.

2. Slim versus standard body

Cabinet space in Hong Kong homes is often limited, so body depth usually decides whether a hood will sit flush.

• A slim body suits shallow cabinets, or kitchens where the hood must sit close under a wall unit.
• A standard body generally has more internal space, but you should first measure the opening, the wall-unit height and the distance from the hob.
• Before ordering, measure the old hood (width, depth and height), the cabinet opening and the duct position. If the recess is tight or the duct is not a straight run, ask a technician to assess the site first.
• Wall-mounted household hoods in Hong Kong are commonly about 700 mm wide. Confirm the actual product dimensions against the opening on site.

3. Ducting and installation

A range hood should be installed by a qualified technician. Do not alter the power supply or ducting yourself.

• Most household hoods are wall-mounted and discharge fumes outdoors through a duct. Keep the duct as short and straight as practicable, with as few bends as possible, to limit resistance and residual fumes.
• Standard installation usually covers wall mounting, duct connection and a single opening. A long duct, extra bends, additional openings or a relocated outlet can reduce extraction and fall outside the standard scope.
• Before installation, confirm that the power point, duct outlet and wall structure are suitable.
• If the old unit needs to be removed, arrange this at the same time; it is charged separately.
• Delivery is by appointment. Fees and scope are set out on Delivery & Installation.

4. Cleaning and maintenance

Grease build-up weakens extraction and may affect motor cooling. When comparing hoods, check whether the filters, oil cups and other parts can be removed for cleaning.

• Clean the hood according to the product manual; do not wait until grease has built up heavily.
• The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) discusses cooker hoods together with fans: keep paper and cloth away from a running hood, and clean it as the manual requires so dirt does not collect around the motor and hinder cooling.

Official reference: EMSD — Household Electrical Safety Handbook: electric fans, exhaust fans and cooker hoods.

5. What to prepare before you choose

1. Measurements and photos of the old hood and cabinet opening (width / height / depth / duct position)
2. Kitchen size, whether the kitchen is open-plan, and the type of hob
3. Cooking habits (everyday steaming and boiling, or frequent stir-frying and frying)
4. District, delivery or collection, and whether installation and removal of the old unit are required

You may browse this store’s Range Hoods collection.