If you've read our other extractor hood articles (Fitting a Cooker Hood, for example), you may be wondering whether all extractor fans for the kitchen need to vent outside. The short answer is no.

Where do downdraft extractors vent to?

Typically, downdrafts are recirculated although they can be vented to the outside. To vent a downdraft extractor to the outside, you'll have to go down through the floor if your island/breakfast bar isn't adjacent to a wall which may mean installation costs are higher.

Do cooker hoods have to vent outside?

Do range hoods have to be vented outside? No; range hoods without a duct, or ductless range hoods, can recirculate air back into your kitchen. However, to clean your kitchen air most efficiently, purchase a ducted range hood. Rather than relocate the cooking exhaust, it will evacuate it from your home entirely.

Are recirculating extractors any good?

Summary. Recirculating cooker hoods are unable to remove steam or moisture caused by cooking, but they can still effectively remove grease and cooking odours improving the environment in your home if you are unable to fit an extraction hood in your kitchen.

How effective are downdraft extractors?

Downdraft extractor fans often have a reputation as not working as effectively as other methods of extraction; however recent models have become much better at removing odours, steam and grime when cooking with improved design and more powerful extraction rates.

We test the effectiveness of extractors that are built into hobs (instead of placed overhead)

44 related questions found

How do you use a downdraft extractor?

You simply turn the extraction unit on as you begin cooking, and it takes the air, steam and odours away from the hob directly, not from the air around the hob. Downdraft extractor fans are also incredibly stylish too. Most downdraft extraction fans are designed to fit behind your hob.

Does the extractor need to be above the hob?

Cooker hoods should be positioned above your hob — or, in the case of downdraught extractor fans, directly behind or to the side of the hob.

How do you vent a kitchen without a hood?

10 Things to Do If You Don't Have a Range Hood or Vent

1. Use a window fan. ...
2. Use a portable HEPA air filter. ...
3. Use a fan in another room, like the bathroom. ...
4. Get a grease splatter guard. ...
5. Wipe down your kitchen cabinets frequently. ...
6. If you paint your kitchen, use a satin or semi-gloss finish, or choose scrubbable paint.

Do extractor fans remove moisture?

The extractor fans fitted in council homes are extremely energy efficient and have low running costs of just a few pence per day. ... Turning off extractor fans means that moisture is not easily removed from inside your home which can lead to the formation of mould.

Does an extractor fan need to be on an outside wall?

Ducted extractors need access to an external wall so that air can be removed from the building via a pipe (or duct) to the outside. ... As a general rule, the shorter the duct run and the fewer the bends, the better your hood will perform.

Do cookers need extractors?

An extractor hood is not a requirement, However it is a good way of eliminating smoke and steam when the hob is in use therefore reducing other problems in the future. Steam in particular obviously creates a very damp environment which over time can reduce the lifespan of kitchen units and worktops.

What is the difference between a cooker hood and an extractor fan?

These cooker hoods simply send the air outside through ducting. They do not filter or process it in any way. ... However, ducted/extractor hoods can be louder because more power is needed to push the air through the ducting.

Do you need a kitchen vent?

Without question. It's far preferable to vent the air outdoors than to recirculate it into the room. A vented hood that removes steam, smoke, heat, and cooking odors is the best way to keep your kitchen clean, since it gets rid of grease particles that would otherwise accumulate on your walls and cabinets.

How much space does a downdraft extractor need?

The amount of space required by the downdraft extractor does differ, depending on the one you choose but if you leave 300mm of space behind the unit that the hob sits above then that will be enough space to cover any sized downdraft extractor.

How does a recirculating extractor fan work?

How does a recirculation extractor work? A recirculation hood extracts the air, filters it, and blows it back into the kitchen. ... When the extractor hood sucks the cooking air, the carbon filter absorbs dirt and odors from the air. The air is clean and the hood blows it back into the room.

What is a downdraft hood?

A downdraft range or cooktop integrates the ventilation system directly into the cooking surface, eliminating the need for an overhead vent. A retractable unit—sometimes called a downdraft range hood—is another form of downdraft ventilation that rises from near the cooking surface when in use.

How do you vent a bathroom with no outside access?

The easiest way to vent a bathroom with no outside access is to install a ceiling vent, but you have other options to consider, too. You can also add more ductwork, get a floor vent, or just use a fan to add extra airflow during your projects.

How do I vent a bathroom with no windows?

Best Ways to Improve Ventilation in a Bathroom Without a Window

1. Use an Exhaust Fan. ...
2. Wipe Any Spills and Drips. ...
3. Open All the Doors. ...
4. Place Portable Fans. ...
5. Use a Dehumidifier. ...
6. Don't Dry Towels Inside. ...
7. Use a Moisture Absorber.

What to do if bathroom has no ventilation?

Here are a few solutions.

1. Purchase an Exhaust Fan. Extractor or exhaust fans are the most common method of ventilating a windowless bathroom. ...
2. Install a Fresh Air Supply Vent. ...
3. Exhaust Fan + Air Supply Vent. ...
4. Use a Dehumidifier. ...
5. Install a Ceiling Fan. ...
6. Install an Air Conditioner. ...
7. Keep the Bathroom Door Open. ...
8. Use a Regular Fan.

Is it illegal to not have an extractor fan in a kitchen?

In short – yes, you do need an extractor hood. Since April 2006, building regulations state that extract ventilation must be fitted in a kitchen which has been built from that date onwards. ... A kitchen will not meet these regulations if the hood only filters the air and recirculates it around the kitchen.

Why do some kitchens not have a range hood?

Some kitchens have been designed and constructed on the cheap and may not have a range hood. This is more common in rentals and some older homes. It can be the scourge of the home with no way to exhaust airborne grease, smoke, cooking smells, and steam out of the kitchen.

Is it code to have a vent over the stove?

Most residential building codes do not require a range hood above a stove or cook top, but you'd be wise to ensure your locale is not the exception. Even if it's not legally required, you should think long and hard before forgoing a hood altogether.

Do you need an extractor fan in a utility room?

Any new kitchen, bathroom (or shower room), utility room or toilet should be provided with a means of extract ventilation to reduce condensation and remove smells.

Can you use an extractor fan instead of a cooker hood?

UK Building regulations state, “If you carry out any 'building work', and there is an existing extract fan (or cooker hood extracting to outside in the kitchen) you should retain or replace it. However, if there is no existing ventilation system you need not provide one.”

Do you need an extractor fan in a downstairs toilet without a window?

2 Answers from MyBuilder Electricians

Per building regulations you don't have to have an extractor fan is a room that has window(s). That doesn't mean, of course, you can't have one anyway but is not a requirement.