Discussion Forum
There is a vent hood (built around 1976) over an electric stovetop on our kitchen island and we would like to remove it. Does this violate any building codes or pose safety concerns? Are there any other alternatives to an obtrusive vent hood for this set up?
Thanks
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Fine Homebuilding is excited to be the official media partner of the 2024 Building Science Symposium series! This event offers builders, tradesmen, architects, designers and suppliers to discuss topics ranging…
Featured Video
How to Install Cable Rail Around Wood-Post CornersHighlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
I don't think that not having one would violate any codes, but I sure wouldn't want to be without one - particularly over an island stove.
Besides removing cooking oders, range hoods remove lots of moisture which can be very important in a cold climate where moisture buildup inside a house can cause all kinds of problems. One of the major culprits in houses with winter time indoor condensation problems is poor removal of cooking steam.
If you just don't like the look of your hood - or perhaps the noise - look into some of the modern units. Many of them are very attractive and much quieter than the old ones.
Maybe look into a downdraft system .
dusty
Depends where you live. Our code requires range hoods, and also a minimum volume of mechanical ventilation which can be made up of both range and bathroom fans.
We live in Houston, Texas, so excess condensation from heating in cold climates would not be a problem. I've googled the topic and have not seen any comments that say it is required for an electric cooktop on a kitchen island. Who could confirm whether or not it is required for this setup? Also, we don't fry things or cook with a lot of steam so the exhaust and smells would not be a problem, but how would it affect the resale value?
Thanks for the feedback
Expensive range hoods designed to mimic those found in commercial kitchens seem to be the appliance du jour. We just bought a $200 one and I could tell the salesman thought we were dirt for not springing for the models costing ten times that. Like you we don't fry much and when I removed the old one after 12 years it was virtually clean. Unless it turns out to be required in your area I wouldn't worry about having one. Resale? By the time they notice it isn't there you'll be long gone.
Who could confirm whether or not it is required for this setup?
Well, I just checked Municode, Houston has no specific ordinance for venting cooktops outright. (May have to back-check using ResCheck to see if they now have a change to the mechanical code.) And, to be precise, that's only City of Houston, I did not check, Missouri City, Humble, Katy, Cy-Fair, Bellaire or any of the other dozen seperate municipalities in the metro Houston area (or the unicorporated parts of Harris Co--or Chambers, Ft Bend, etc.)
Now, an island vent hood is always more expsnsive. just is. Lots of design alternatives, though, just with an appreciable sticker-shock. A person can even use a wooden box with hood internals installed--but, that's also pricy.
Now, let's presume you do have practiced Harris Co kitchen habits down, you might not need an exhaust hood all that often. And, given that you are in an 8-9 month dehumidifying a/c situation, moisture from cooking is not a huge concern.
Now "resale value" is a great big, hotly-debatable topic, with no real purpose or end, unless a person just wants to debate/argue about it.
In your case, if you come to sell your present house, one of two things will happen. Either, you will have to credit any offer on the house the cost of a hood; or you'll have to find some sort of hood to install to get an offer. The metro Houston RE market is weird. About half the folks just move into a house "as is" and cope with what they get. The other half will renovate to suit before moving in. The renovators are going to rip the kitchen out anyway, so buying a hood for them is wasteful. If they are moving in "as is" they'll either do without, or take the credit from the sale price. The nice thing to do would be to have a lump sum available at the time of sale, and be able to offer that in cash at/before the closing. Then, it's entirely up to the new owners.
But, that's my opinion, others' differ.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Talk w/ your BO about it. I agree, though, not having one is probably a less than desirable idea (did I say that 'soft' enough?). Smells/odors, not to mention moisture in Texas is not desirable is it?? You wouldn't want grease floating around and then cloggin your A/C coil. Figure out Plan B. Have a hood made ... either stainless ... maybe powder coated metal. maybe something else. Think hard before you get rid of the idea/hood.
You need to check two things.
1. Manufacturer requirements of range. Most have requirement of distance to combustables but I dont recall re. hood.
2. The code in your area. You can call the local governing body or research the code for ventilation, etc.