If an external outlet is usable and you have permission to use it, choose a cooker hood designed for extraction. Otherwise, look for a model explicitly compatible with recirculation and its filters. UFC-Que Choisir points out that your home may dictate the installation method. Darty explains that, with recirculation, much of the moisture stays in the kitchen. Also check the installation dimensions, noise levels in the mode you plan to use and filter maintenance requirements.
If your kitchen cannot be connected to an external outlet, look for a cooker hood designed for recirculation. Check which kit and filters are compatible with its exact model number rather than assuming an extraction model can be converted.
If external extraction is possible and permitted, this mode sends extracted air out of the kitchen. Before choosing a cooker hood, also check the available ducting and the installation requirements in its instructions.
If the hob, wall unit or recess is already in place, choosing a hood by its format alone does not guarantee that it will fit. Compare the cut-out dimensions, available space and required distance from the hob for your chosen model.
First, find out which installation method your home allows. Then choose a format that suits your hob and its surroundings. Compare noise levels and maintenance requirements for the mode you will actually use.
Choose this if: a duct to the outside is available or can be installed with the necessary permissions, and you want extracted air to be sent out of the kitchen.
Bear in mind: the connection must comply with the instructions. A new outlet may require permissions relating to your home, as well as planning procedures.
Choose this if: no external outlet is available or permitted, and your cooker hood model supports recirculation with the right accessories.
Bear in mind: filtered air is returned to the room, much of the moisture stays in the kitchen, and filters need the maintenance set out in their instructions.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Home and permissions | Check which mode the cooker hood supports and whether the duct can be used. Before creating a new outlet, check the permissions and procedures that apply to your home. | If my kitchen has no usable outlet, I need to know which mode is permitted before choosing a model; around 33% of consumers put this compatibility first. |
| Odours, smoke and moisture | Check the specifications for the mode you will actually use and the relevant speed settings. With recirculation, take the room's ventilation into account. | When I cook with smoke or lots of steam, my main concern is reducing what lingers in the kitchen; around 27% of consumers prioritise how cooking emissions are dealt with. |
| Hob and units | Compare the width of your hob with that of the hood, then check the cut-out dimensions and installation distances in the instructions. | With my hob and unit already in place, I want to fit the hood without changing the planned layout; for around 20% of consumers, fitting into the available space comes first. |
| Noise and maintenance | Compare noise levels at the speeds and in the mode you are considering. Check which filters are compatible and what maintenance they require. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to keep noise under control and maintain the filters regularly; quiet operation and easy maintenance are priorities for around 20% of consumers. |
Elica says that not all of its cooker hoods can be converted from one mode to the other. A kit or filter designed for a different model may not be suitable either.
Note down the full model number and check the instructions for the supported mode, the initial installation kit and compatible replacement filters.
The recirculation kit and filters may be supplied separately from the hood.
Airflow and noise levels can vary depending on the installation mode. For example, Electrolux publishes separate figures for the two modes of its LFG615X integrated hood; these figures do not apply to every other model.
Check the specifications for your installation and the speeds you normally use, as well as the intensive setting if you plan to use it.
If you rent or live in a flat with shared ownership, the permissions you need depend on the work involved. Work on the exterior or shared parts of a building is not treated in the same way as simply installing an appliance.
According to Service Public, alterations to a rented home require the landlord's written consent. In a shared-ownership building, check the building regulations and any permissions needed for work on shared parts or changes to the exterior. If the façade will be altered, check with your local council too.
You may need to complete additional procedures or restore the property if work is carried out without the required permissions.
An integrated hood must also fit inside the unit and meet the specified clearance above the hob for that model.
Measure the cut-out, depth and available height, then compare them with the installation diagram and the air passage specified in the instructions.
An unsuitable wall unit may need to be altered or replaced.
Bosch offers a range of cooker hoods, including wall-mounted and integrated models, with extraction or recirculation options depending on the model.
Elica offers a range of cooker hood formats and provides details about installation modes and compatible filters.
The Electrolux range includes integrated hoods, some of which are documented for both installation modes.
Yes, provided the installation is suitable for the property and you have obtained the necessary permissions before work begins. According to Service Public, alterations to the property or its fittings require the landlord's written consent. If the property is in a shared-ownership building, check its regulations too.
A new outlet may require several procedures, depending on the building and the work involved. For a shared-ownership building, Article 25 b of Légifrance provides for approval by the general meeting if the project affects shared parts or the exterior. Service Public also states that a change to the exterior may require a prior planning application. Check the plans with the building management and your local council before drilling.
No. With recirculation, filtered air is returned to the kitchen rather than being sent outside. Darty says that much of the moisture stays in the room, so take its ventilation into account and compare the hood's specifications for this specific mode.
No. A charcoal filter is used for recirculation, not for an installation that sends air outside. Check the instructions to make sure the hood supports recirculation, and note the model numbers of the compatible kit and filters.
Follow the instructions for the model you have installed. The grease filter needs regular cleaning, while charcoal filter maintenance depends on the technology used. Elica distinguishes between filters that need replacing and those that can be regenerated. Check which type is compatible with your hood and follow the method set out in its instructions.