When completing your kitchen, a range hood is an essential. These small appliances are mounted above the range and work to improve the air quality in your kitchen by clearing smoke, removing odors, and collecting excess heat. If you don't have the space for ductwork, a ductless range hood is a great option for keeping your kitchen clear. What is a ductless range hood? Keep reading to learn more about this space-saving, easy-to-install range hood.

What Is a Ductless Range Hood?

Traditional range hoods are installed above the range to capture all of the steam, smoke, heat, or odors that come from cooking. The air that is captured is then released to a vent outdoors through a series of ducts in the walls.

As its name would suggest, a ductless range hood is a range hood that doesn't require any ductwork. Ductless range hoods still capture the same steam and smoke and redirect the air away from the stove for a cooler and more comfortable cooking experience. Rather than being vented outdoors, the air is filtered before recirculating into the kitchen.

These range hoods come in a variety of designs to match the layout of your kitchen, ranging from wall-mounted to under-cabinet to island.

Because ductless range hoods don't require vents, they're much easier to install on your own and don't have the same placement restrictions that ducted range hoods do. For example, ducted models have to be installed near a duct that leads from the kitchen to the exterior of the house. Ductless models can be installed in any location and don't need access to existing ducts or new ductwork.

Tip!

Looking for a versatile option or not sure where you want to place a new range hood? A convertible range hood works both as a ducted or ductless range hood, so you can place the range hood exactly where you want.

How Does a Ductless Range Hood Work?

Ductless range hoods don't have the ductwork to vent air outside, so these range hoods use a system of filters to clean the air before recirculating the filtered air back into the kitchen. The filters are often made with washable stainless steel coils to catch larger debris like oil or grease as well as charcoal filters to capture smaller particles. It's important to regularly clean and replace the filters to ensure that the ductless range hood is working properly. Filters typically need to be replaced once or twice a year.

To install a ductless range hood, you'll need close access to an outlet. If you don't have an outlet that is near the stove and at an elevated height, you will have to install an electrical box and a new outlet above the stove. We recommend hiring an electrician to complete the electrical work and install the outlet if you aren't confident working with electrical systems.

Benefits of Ductless Range Hoods

There are plenty of benefits to choosing a ductless range hood. We've highlighted some of the reasons why ductless range hoods are a great addition to your kitchen:

• Ductless range hoods are an affordable alternative because they don't require the high cost of installing new ductwork.
• When deciding where to place your stove and ductless range hood, you don't have to worry about placing these appliances near existing ductwork. You can install a ductless range hood in any place, which provides plenty of flexibility in where you want to place the range hood.
• These range hoods are excellent for spaces you can't fully renovate or add new ductwork, such as an apartment or a condo. If your apartment or condo doesn't have a range hood, a ductless model could help clear up extra smoke or odors while cooking.
• Ductless range hoods can come with helpful features that can improve your cooking experience, such as integrated LED lights, programmable timers, or automatic sensors that turn the range hood on and off.

Tip!

Want to learn more about range hoods? Check out our guide How to Choose the Best Range Hood For Your Kitchen to find helpful tips on picking the right range hood, or read our guide 6 Range Hood Ideas That Will Help You Visualize One in Your Space to find inspiration.