How to choose and design your custom range hood

Print out this Personal Design Sheet to use as you navigate the following

Application:
The very first thing to work out is whether you need an island, a wooden canopy insert/liner, a wall mount hood or an under cabinet hood - follow this link to see the differences.

Style:
Once the above has been worked out then you need to decide on the all important style - what basic shape do you want - follow these links to work out which style you prefer:
    
    - Wall/Under Cabinet
    - Island Hood
    - Wooden Insert/Liner

Of course we can also make a specific style you have seen or want - we will require a picture together with the information listed below to assist in the design process.

Finishes(for some ideas browse the full online catalogue):
Now that you have decided on a few styles the all important finishes must be chosen
    - Choose the main colour or finish that you want for the bulk of the body
        - Main body colour(colour matching RAEL available) or metal finish such as stainless 
          steel, copper, brass, hand rubbed bronze etc.
        - Then you need to choose whether you want bands and what finish you want the 
           main lip to be - once again these can be colour or any metal, they can be 
           polished or hand beaten etc.
        - You can add accents such as utensil rails or rivets, or screw heads etc

Sizes:
Height:
You now need to determine what space you have available for the range hood. For wall or island goods allow between 30" and 34" space between the planned underside of the hood and the top of the range - the space remaining to the ceiling or underside of the soffit is the height available for the hood.

Width and Depth:
How wide is your cook top and how much width do you have available for the hood - ideally the hood must be 3" wider than the range top on either side - as a minimum it should be the same width as the range top. How deep is the range top?

How much suction power is required:
Take a look at the owners manual for your range top or look it up on line and add up the stated btu's for each burner on the range top - the sum of these gives you a number something like - 75 000 btu. In order to size the blower divide this 75 000 by 100 - the result is the ideal blower size - in this case 750cfm.

Filter System
Baffle filters are always the best to use and are a must on the higher cfm blower systems. Mesh filters are generally okay on the lower cfm applications. Baffles are quieter than mesh and also have the added advantage at being better for fire containment. All filters must be washed in a dishwasher on a regular basis - the more the better - washing won't damage them.

Internal vs External Blowers
Internal blowers are integral to the range hood itself - they are not in the duct run or on the outside of the building as are external blowers(external range hood blowers can be either inline of the ductrun or external to the building). There is a misconception that external blowers are always quieter - ventilation noise consists of two components - airflow noise through the filters and the duct system. The second component is the mechanical noise from the blower itself - a good quality blower, such as we use in our Modern Aire hoods are the best on the market and are very quiet. So if your ducting has restrictions in it due to many bends or crimping of the pipe the blower will have to work harder and will be noisy. Internal blowers are less expensive than external systems.

Ducting:
Can the range hood be ducted directly outside and if ducting already exists how big is it. How many bends are there in the ducting. It is very important to make the ducting as big as possible to ensure an unrestricted flow of air.

Once the above information has been collected we are all now on the same page, so to speak, and we will then be in a position to quote you for your dream range hood. You can then scan and email Personal Design Sheet to us and we should be in a position to quote you for your dream range hood.

If you need any help do not hesitate to contact us - Thank you

Usefull Industry Links:  
                                                                                asktheceolink

Here is a really useful site if you are looking for great links in one place on home renovation -HandyCanadian.com

MacRae's Blue Book - North America's #1 Industrial Directory

BuyItCanada.com - A Canadian Directory  

That Garden Web - discussion forum on Modern Aire                                                asktheceo link


 
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