Is it Necessary to Have a Hood Fan Above the Stove?
Range hoods normally come with a fan and light directly above the stove. An above-the-stove microwave oven has these built in as a replacement for the ones that were taken out during installation. A hood fan is not necessary for the kitchen stove operation unless local building codes require one; however, having one is a good idea. Does this Spark an idea?
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Building Codes
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State or local building codes determine the proper size of the hood fan, the distance from the fan to the cooking surface and the acceptable length of ventilation. Building codes vary and change, so check with the proper authority before adding or changing a fan.
Primary Purpose
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The primary purposes of a hood fan is to remove odors, grease and heat from a kitchen area. This helps keep a kitchen clean and makes it a more pleasant place to stay. By taking these pollutants from the room along with any potentially dangerous carbon dioxide, hood fans can keep your family healthy.
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Smoke Removal
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A hood fan does not do a good job of removing excessive smoke from a room. If something burns on the stovetop and produces a lot of smoke, the best option is to open a window to remove the smoke. A hood fan should never be turned on when there is an actual fire on the stovetop.
Preventive Maintenance
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The grease trap on the hood fan should be cleaned on a regular basis, especially if you use a lot of grease or oil when cooking. It's possible for a fan or vent to get clogged and prevent the fan from working. To test it, turn off the stove burners and turn on the fan. Place a sheet of paper an inch wider and longer than the fan vent over the vent. If it falls away, the fan is not creating enough suction to pull the air into the vent. If the vent above the fan is clogged, it may take professional cleaning to fix.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit detail of classical cooking stove image by Tomo Jesenicnik from Fotolia.com
