Replies

1. 
   DanH | Dec 14, 2011 06:53am | #1

   Clarify please -- was your gas cooktop vented, and, if so, how?

   Not that I approve of them, but there are a lot of unvented range hoods available/installed.

2. 
   hammer1 | Dec 14, 2011 10:00am | #2

   Not likely any inspectors will be coming to an existing house and busting you. It's not gas vs electric, it's what you cook. The first time you burn something, fry some pork chops, steam some broccoli, you'll wish you had a vent. Non vented range hoods will take out some of the odors and smoke but they don't compare to exterior venting. Better than nothing, just remember to clean the filters regularly.

3. 
   bob4blues | Dec 14, 2011 04:34pm | #3

   To Vent or not to Vent a cooktop

   I'm with Hammer1 on this.  Cooking is a major source of poor indoor air quality.  Besides odors (think about broiled fish), moisture can be a major problem if your house is anywhere near modern standards of tightness.  While it can be a pain, venting to outdoors is best.  Is your cooktop on an outside wall or is it in an island where you'd need a down-draft vent?

4. 
   Tisme | Dec 15, 2011 12:32pm | #4

   Venting a cooktop

   My existing gas cooktop is down vented - had to do a "side duct" conversion because I have drawers underneath.

   It's in an island configuration about 5' from a window.  As for odors, this cooktop has never eliminated or even diminished odors from cooking.  In retrospect, I wish I had thought about  some sort of air quality recirculation system.  The builder didn't mention it, and being the first house I've designed, I missed it.  One of those lessons learned.  We built the house 12 years ago, "tight" and high "R" rating for discounted mortgage rate.  Being in Alaska at latitude 61, humidity is very rarely a problem.

   My mother boasts about cooking for a family of seven for 25 years on an island cooktop without ventilation............

   Bottom line, if I admit it, is that I am driven to get rid of the @#($8&@#(*$ gas and have a clean, smooth, easy-to-clean surface preferrably *without knob*s, and this really limits my choices.  This isn't a magazine feature grandiose kitchen (I often wonder who really cleans all those gas stoves).   I have limited space.

   Thanks for all the comments - any more, I'm listening...........

1. 
   calvin | Dec 15, 2011 07:13pm | #5

   We have a vented micro above.......

   never use it.

   We love the smells of cooking.  Door openings in the winter for dog walking, firewood bringing and the etc.............seem to change the air fine.

   Admittedly, after 21 yrs there is a bit of "grime" on the cabs around the stove-but that's why we have cleaner (now all we have to do is use it).

   Could you go up (didn't reread the first post) and over using a joist space above, to get outside?    There are several decent looking hoods meant for an island application.

2. 
   DanH | Dec 15, 2011 08:28pm | #6

   Well, as the existence of unvented range hoods demonstrates, code doesn't require a vent in many parts of the country.  You can check what code requires in your area, and then do as you please, observing code to the extent you feel it's necessary.

1. 
   calvin | Dec 15, 2011 08:29pm | #7

   The part I like is.........

   insurance requires it.