No, a ductless range hood does not need to be vented. It can be placed nearly anywhere in your kitchen and filters the air instead of directing it out of the kitchen.
If venting outside is not an option, a ductless range hood can be installed. This option uses a series of filters to trap grease and odors before recirculating the air back into the kitchen. While not as effective as venting outside, it is still a viable option for those without access to a duct system.
Ventilation to the Outdoors (IRC M1503. 1): Residential range hoods should vent to the outside to effectively expel smoke, grease, and cooking odors, maintaining the home's air quality. This requirement is crucial for preventing the recirculation of contaminants within the home.
If you have an electric cooktop, range hoods should typically be 20–24 inches above the heat source. For gas cooktops, your range hood should be around 24–30 inches above the stove. Range hoods are a great way to complement your cooktop or range and can help clear the air while you cook.
Ductless range hoods work just as well as ducted hoods, but they don't need to be vented outside. So, how do they work? It's simple. Using commercial-grade baffle filters, the dirty air is sucked up into the unit and then filtered and returned to your kitchen – without the toxins.
A ductless range hood is a ventilation system that does not require ductwork to be installed in your home as they filter smoke and odors instead of removing them completely. Because they don't require any ductwork, these range hoods are great for kitchens in a variety of layouts.
Do Range Hoods Need to Be Vented? Range hoods do not necessarily need to be vented, but venting can help provide optimal performance and to remove smoke, steam, and odors from the kitchen.
Not all range hoods go to the ceiling. Certain types of range hoods use external venting and push air through ductwork in the wall, ceiling or floor and out of the house. Other types of range hoods use recirculating venting and filter air as it enters the hood and then push it back out into the kitchen.
Most spend between $650 and $2,500. Range hood installation typically costs between $650 and $2,500, with the average being $1,750. The price depends on the type of range hood you choose and the cost of local labor. Installing a ducted range hood with new ductwork comes in near the high end.
If you follow any tip in this list, follow this one. It is vital that you vent your hood outside your home, through the ceiling or wall. It's not healthy for smoke, cooking exhaust, humidity, and contaminants to build up in your attic. Instead, run the duct all the way to the outside.
The exception to this section allows the use of listed ductless (recirculating) range hoods as an alternative to the ducted type. However, exhaust to the outdoors would be required if natural or mechanical ventilation was not provided for the kitchen area.
Use Fans from Nearby Rooms
Along with placing a window fan in the cooking area, using fans from other rooms can help provide ventilation to the kitchen. Multiple fans create an airflow throughout the home that will help to provide cooling and ventilation.
Easy ways to tell if you have ducting or not are to first open the cabinets above your hood. If you see ductwork, you have a ducted range hood. The other way to tell is to turn your range hood on and feel if any air is blowing back into the kitchen. If it is, you have a ductless range hood.
And both are usually connected to a ducting system that removes air from the kitchen and sends it outdoors. The difference is that a vent hood is designed to draw air, while a range hood is designed to push air. A range hood uses a forced-air fan to push air out of the system.
Recirculating range hoods are typically not as effective as vented ones. But for kitchens with limited access to exterior walls for venting, they are often the best choice. For optimal effectiveness, it's crucial to choose a high-quality recirculating range hood with sophisticated filters and regularly maintain it.
Additionally, this should be a two-person job, and if you haven't worked with electrical wiring or are unfamiliar with this kind of installation, hiring an electrician is strongly recommended.
At the Home Depot, we strive to ensure a more complete, satisfactory customer experience. That's why we offer the option of adding installation services to your order when purchasing a range hood online.
Lowe's Range Hood Installation Services
When it's time to replace your range hood, we'll help you every step of the way. From having the best assortment of undercabinet, wall-mounted, island, downdraft and insert range hoods to installation, we have you covered.
In most cases, it's not illegal to have no range hood in your kitchen; however, local building codes may require one depending on factors like the type of appliance being used (gas vs electric) or whether there are windows nearby that can provide adequate ventilation when opened during cooking activities.
There should be a space between cabinet walls and the range hood.
A wood style island range hood should have at least 36” clearance from the cooktop, while a stainless steel range hood will require a 30” clearance.
Not all range hoods need ventilation, but vented or ducted models do always vent to the outside of a home. This venting can run through an exterior wall, floor or—with the help of a professional—be installed up and out through the roof.
The Bottom Line
A range hood shouldn't be vented into your attic. There are many ductless options available that will work great if you don't want to add additional ducting to direct kitchen exhaust outdoors. However, if you want a ducted range, there are many ventilation systems to select as well.
The practice of venting a range hood exhaust into a ceiling space or wall cavity is not sound. Over time, pollutants such as grease and oil can build up creating a fire hazard along with associated odours and potential damage to insulation and the like.