Having the right kind of kitchen range hood in your rentals can help make cleaning easier for you and your tenants, keep the air a little fresher, and reduce complaints of cooking smells. This is the weekly maintenance tip from Keepe.
If you are replacing a stove or doing a small kitchen renovation, think about the options and what might be the right kitchen range hood options.
A kitchen range hood or vent hood helps trap the smoke, heat, steam, odor, and grease from your tenants’ cooking or frying and then transfers them outdoors. This eliminates the presence of strong smells or unhealthy smoke during or after cooking.
Benefits of a Range Hood
First, let’s look at why you should have a range hood in your rentals in the first place, or replace an old existing one.
- A range hood helps to collect any dangerous fumes, which in turn protects tenants from carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Having a range hood that collects kitchen grease and smoke saves hours of cleaning time. It also gives you a cleaner and fresher kitchen environment and protects and adds value to your rental unit.
- Range hoods can add extra lighting to the cooking area, increasing safety in the kitchen.
 3 Types of Range Hoods
 Good, low-cost range hoods for your rentals are available. So here are the general types of range hoods, starting with the upper end for higher-priced units. Range hoods usually come in a ready-to-install package, making it easy for maintenance.
No. 1: Island-mount range hood
 These are used over cooking equipment where no wall exists. This type of range hood is attached directly to the ceiling. Most island-mount range hoods will cover ceiling heights of up to 9 feet. Positioning this type of hood over the cooking surface is the best way to eliminate fumes or smell.
No. 2: Wall-mount range hood
 Large, stylish, and professional in appearance, a wall-mount range hood is a popular choice. It is often installed on exterior walls when a cabinet isn’t available. A wall mount range hood is like an upside-down chimney in appearance. The size of the wall vents should be the same or larger in comparison to the stove size.
No. 3: Under-cabinet range hood
A more economical choice for a rental, this type of hood fits under a cabinet above the stove. Â It is mounted under the wall cabinet and attached to an exterior wall. The most common duct size for this hood is about 5 inches to 8 inches. Â These hoods are mainly top-vented, but some come with back-venting options. When compared to a wall-mount range hood, the under-cabinet range hood is more powerful because of its double blower feature.
 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Range Hood
 Size: Range hoods come in different sizes depending on specific needs. In general, when choosing the size of a range hood, choose one that matches the size of the unit’s stove or slightly larger. For instance, if the stove size is 30 inches, you should aim for a 36-inch range hood. This allows it to effectively collect all the steam or smoke without any drifting past the sides.
Power: The more powerful the range hood, the more efficient it will be at its job. Manufacturers will provide you with a measure of power to expect from their range hoods in CFMs (cubic feet per minute). The Home Ventilating Institute recommends at least 100 CFM per linear foot of range for range hoods installed against a wall, and 150 CFM for island vent hoods. Also, ductless hoods do not provide the same power as range hoods that need to vent the air outside your house.
Ventilation Type: Range hoods are either vented and include ducts that move air outside, or they’re ductless and recirculate all the air they take in while trying to remove as much of the smoke and food contaminants as possible with the help of filters. Ducted range hoods are far more effective than ductless ones, but they’re more complicated to install, will cost you more upfront and might be impractical depending on the building your rental is in. Remind your tenants that a ductless range hood has filters that need to be replaced regularly and that the range hood needs more frequent cleaning.
In conclusion
Range hoods may not be in the budget to replace in every rental property, but if you can afford them, they are a great addition to tenants’ kitchens. The range hood will improve kitchen air quality, save cleaning hours, and add to the value to your rental.
About Keepe:
Keepe is an on-demand maintenance solution for property managers and independent landlords. The company makes a network of hundreds of independent contractors and handymen available for maintenance projects at rental properties.
Keepe is available in the Greater Seattle area, Greater Phoenix area, San Francisco Bay area, Portland, San Diego and is coming soon to an area near you. Learn more about Keepe at https://www.keepe.com.
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