Cooking puts particles and gases into your kitchen air, whether your stove is gas or electric. Health Canada says using your range hood is one of the simplest ways to cut that down. Here’s how to choose one, plus four under-cabinet range hoods from the top 10 of the Range Hoods Best Sellers.
Short on running it on high: Why Run A Range Hood On High? Health Canada Explains
Quick answer
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Use your range hood whenever you cook, preferably on the high setting, and pick one that fully extends over the stove burners. That’s Health Canada’s advice. If you cook on gas, Health Canada also says the hood fan should vent to the outside.
A simple place to start: the AMZCHEF 30-inch range hood, ranked #1 in Range Hoods when we checked. It’s listed at 700 CFM with 3 speeds. Want something smaller or quieter? The FIREGAS 300 CFM hood is listed at 57 dB.
Four range hoods, by how you’ll use them
| Product | Best for | |
|---|---|---|
| AMZCHEF 30-inch under-cabinet range hood (UL-LF0176C1-ST) | Best for a big, busy kitchen. Listed at 700 CFM with 3 speeds, touch and remote control, and 63 dB. Vents out through a 6-inch outlet. #1 in Range Hoods when we checked. | See price |
| FIREGAS 30-inch under-cabinet range hood, 300 CFM | Best for a small kitchen or condo. Listed at 300 CFM with 2 speeds and 57 dB. Hard-wired (plug sold separately), ducted or ductless. #5 in Range Hoods when we checked. | See price |
| AURAKICH 30-inch range hood, 400 CFM dual motors (AUR-RHS02-US1) | Best if you want a plug-in hood. Listed at 400 CFM with 3 speeds and 66 dB. Plugs into an outlet, ducted or ductless, and includes two charcoal filters. #6 in Range Hoods when we checked. | See price |
| SNDOAS 30-inch black range hood, 700 CFM (US0475NBP) | Best for a black kitchen. Listed at 700 CFM with 3 speeds and 66 dB, with dishwasher-safe baffle filters. The duct pipe and carbon filter are sold separately. #7 in Range Hoods when we checked. | See price |
Specs come from the retailer’s product pages and can change, so check the current page before you order. CFM means cubic feet per minute, a measure of airflow.
What does Health Canada say about range hoods?
Health Canada’s advice for cooking:
- Use your range hood exhaust fan, preferably on the high setting, when you cook.
- Running a range hood on high (300 cubic feet per minute) during cooking can reduce exposure to cooking-related pollutants by more than 80% compared with slower speeds.
- The hood should fully extend over the stove burners to work best.
- If you have a gas stove, make sure the hood fan vents to the outside, and cook on the back burner. That helps direct nitrogen dioxide and other gases to the fan.
- Keep anything from blocking the outside vent, and check that the fan moves enough air.
- No range hood? Health Canada says to consider installing one or opening a window close by.
How do you pick a range hood?
- Size: Health Canada says the hood should fully extend over the burners. All four hoods above are made for a 30-inch stove.
- Venting: the product pages describe the FIREGAS, AURAKICH and SNDOAS as ducted or ductless (recirculating through charcoal filters), while the AMZCHEF lists exhaust venting. The AURAKICH includes two charcoal filters; the FIREGAS and SNDOAS sell theirs separately. With a gas stove, Health Canada says to vent outside.
- Airflow: the product pages list 300 CFM for the FIREGAS, 400 for the AURAKICH and 700 for the AMZCHEF and SNDOAS. Health Canada’s example is 300 CFM on high.
- Noise: since Health Canada suggests running the fan on high, it helps to know how loud high is. These four list 57 dB (FIREGAS), 63 dB (AMZCHEF) and 66 dB (AURAKICH and SNDOAS).
- How it connects: the AURAKICH plugs into an outlet. The product page for the FIREGAS says it’s hard-wired, with the plug sold separately.
Common questions
Should I run my range hood on high? Health Canada says preferably yes, when you cook. It says running a hood on high can reduce exposure to cooking-related pollutants by more than 80% compared with slower speeds.
Does a range hood have to vent outside? For a gas stove, Health Canada says to make sure the hood fan vents to the outside.
Which burner should I use on a gas stove? The back burner. Health Canada says that helps direct nitrogen dioxide and other gases to the exhaust fan.
Which of these four is the quietest? The FIREGAS, listed at 57 dB. The AMZCHEF is listed at 63 dB and the AURAKICH and SNDOAS at 66 dB.
Before you buy
- Measure your stove. The hood should fully extend over the burners.
- Find out whether you can run a duct to the outside. If you cook on gas, plan for it.
- Check the airflow and noise numbers on the product page, and pick a hood you’ll be happy to run on high.
- Check how it connects: plug-in or hard-wired.
- Cook on gas? Our carbon monoxide alarm guide covers where to put an alarm.
- Want cleaner air beyond the kitchen? See our air purifier guide.
Sources: Health Canada, Factsheet: Cooking and indoor air quality; Health Canada, Nitrogen dioxide; Health Canada, Improve indoor air quality in your home. Product details come from the manufacturers’ and retailer’s product pages, so check the current page before you order.
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