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.
Even though it is not required by code, we still strongly recommend ducted exhaust systems in kitchens with gas stoves. This is the most effective way to direct potentially harmful fumes, moisture and even carbon monoxide out of the house and away from fresh breathing air.
If you don't have an exhaust hood, cooking also generates excess heat, which raises the temperature in the kitchen, which increases moisture retention. Cooling air condenses moisture, which can damage finishes or support mold growth on walls, countertops, and cabinets.
A kitchen chimney is more effective at removing cooking odours and smoke than an exhaust fan. Chimneys are equipped with filters, often including baffle or charcoal filters, which trap grease, odours, and smoke particles.
While not all residential buildings are mandated to have range hoods, when they are present, they must comply with the following standards: Ventilation to the Outdoors (IRC M1503.
If you are in a kitchen that's not equipped with a range hood or exhaust fan, unpleasant odours and smoke could be damaging your wellbeing, with research showing kitchen fans serve an important purpose for both your home and health.
Use a window fan.
If you're fortunate enough to have a window in your kitchen (or at least nearby), install a small window fan and run it on “exhaust” every time you cook. This will pull the air out, and while it may not do much for grease, it will help eliminate cooking odors.
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.
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.
The fact is that cooking always produces some air pollution. This can range from water vapour to smoke and grease, all of which can cause numerous problems. If you don't want a damp, smelly, greasy kitchen, proper ventilation is essential.
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. If you are installing a KitchenAid® range hood, you can access product manuals here.
Insulating your home and making it airtight without proper ventilation creates a reduced indoor air quality. Fresh air does not enter and stale air is not removed to the outside. The consequences are: Increased risk of respiratory diseases such as asthma and allergies.
Recirculating. 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.
A study has found that a number of kitchen staff will turn on the cooking appliances without activating the exhaust fan. The kitchen then quickly warms up, however without ventilation you are increasing your exposure to carbon monoxide and other dangerous gases.
Use a Window Fan
A window fan has similar advantages to an air filter. Using a window fan in the kitchen can bring some great advantages. Firstly, it helps with ventilation by creating a flow of fresh air. When you're cooking, steam, smoke, and lingering odors can fill the air.
You can add a vent to existing ductwork if your AC can handle it. This can provide comfort in rooms not served by your HVAC system. It can even improve indoor air quality and increase your home's resale value.
You can improve natural ventilation by fully or partly opening windows, air vents and doors. But do not prop fire doors open. You should be able to open any windows and keep vents or trickle vents open that let in fresh air. If any windows have been painted shut, they should be reopened.
After choosing the type of range hood, you'll need to select the venting option: external (ducted), recirculating (ductless), or convertible ventilation. Ducted hoods work by pushing air out of the house through ductwork in the wall or ceiling.
Recirculation extraction fan
Ducting is not always practical, or possible, so recirculation is another ventilation option. Recirculation hoods don't extract air to the outside and instead, they filter the air, grease and cooking odours through a charcoal filter before recycling it back into the kitchen.
Eye irritation: Smoke and fumes produced during cooking can irritate the eyes - causing redness, itching and tearing. Headaches and dizziness: The buildup of carbon monoxide in a poorly ventilated kitchen can cause headaches, dizziness, and even death in extreme cases.
Though you may not be required to install a hood over your stove, it is generally recommended for the best cooking experience. Without one, smoke and fumes may build up in your kitchen. Range hoods also help to reduce heat and moisture while cooking so you may not even break a sweat when cooking dinner for your family.