If a dedicated duct to the outside can be installed and an adequate air supply is in place, a ducted cooker hood can expel extracted air from your home. If there’s no suitable duct, choose a hood that supports recirculation and factor in filter maintenance. A venting hob is best considered when you’re replacing your hob. According to Anses and Légifrance guidance on home ventilation, using a cooker hood while cooking does not replace general ventilation.
If cooking regularly produces steam and smells, start by looking into the route for a dedicated duct, the air supply needed and any permissions required for the work. Whether you can install an outlet to the outside matters more here than a feature advertised on the hood.
A recirculating cooker hood may avoid the need to install a duct. Check that your chosen model supports this mode, then find out whether you’ll need a kit and which filters are compatible before ordering.
If you’re also replacing your hob to free up space above it, consider a venting hob. Whether it’s right for you depends on the worktop cut-out, the space in the base unit and the extraction mode available on your chosen model.
First, find out whether dedicated ducted extraction is possible, then choose the type of appliance and how it will be installed. Using lids and ventilating your home during and after cooking can also help, but neither is a substitute for a properly functioning ventilation system.
| What to consider | What to check | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Duct and installation work | Look for a route for a dedicated duct to the outside. If you live in a flat, check with the building management company what steps are needed if the work affects communal areas. | If an outlet seems possible, I want to know whether it can really be installed before choosing my cooker hood. Around 36% of shoppers would prioritise this. |
| Extraction while cooking | Compare the stated specifications for your chosen installation mode and follow the dimensions and clearances in the installation instructions. | If my cooking often produces steam, smoke or smells, I first look for extraction that suits my hob and its installation. Around 29% of shoppers would make this their priority. |
| Recirculation and filters | Confirm that the hood supports recirculation and check the charcoal filter reference. Also check how to maintain it and whether a kit is required. | Without a usable duct, I want to run my cooker hood in recirculation mode and be able to maintain its filters. Around 21% of shoppers would put this need first. |
| Venting hob installation | Check the worktop cut-out, the space beneath the hob and access to the filters on the model you’re considering. | When renovating an island or open-plan kitchen, I want to free up space above the cooking area and may replace the hob at the same time. Around 14% of shoppers would prioritise how it fits into their kitchen. |
A cooker hood works around the cooking area; it cannot ventilate your entire home on its own. Blocking an air inlet or neglecting your existing ventilation is a separate issue from choosing a cooker hood.
Keep air inlets and outlets clear and use the hood as an additional measure while cooking. Anses also recommends covering pans or switching on the hood when you cook.
A cooker hood that supports recirculation may need a specific kit. According to Bosch, this mode uses a metal filter and a charcoal filter, with maintenance requirements that vary by model.
Before buying, note down the reference for the compatible kit and filter, then check the instructions to find out how to clean, replace or regenerate the filters.
The kit and charcoal filter may be sold separately from the cooker hood.
A ducted cooker hood removes air from your home. Electrolux explains that an air inlet is needed to replace the extracted air. Extra care is required if you also have an appliance that burns fuel and uses air from the room.
If your home has a stove, fireplace or water heater that uses room air, ask a professional to check the installation and air supply before choosing this option.
A venting hob combines cooking and extraction. The base unit, worktop and any route for ducting must all suit the exact model.
Ask for its installation diagram before finalising your units, and check the extraction mode and future access to the filters.
Worth considering when comparing ducted extraction and recirculation modes, along with the kits and filters available for each.
Worth considering for an integrated or decorative cooker hood, or for a venting hob project.
Worth considering if you’re choosing a hob and integrated extraction at the same time.
This selection includes under-cabinet and wall-mounted cooker hoods to consider depending on your duct and installation options, plus a hob with integrated extraction for replacing your cooking area at the same time. For each model, check the instructions to find the right set-up for your kitchen.
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Worth considering if you want to fit a cooker hood beneath a wall unit and need to choose between ducted extraction and recirculation. The product information states an extraction rate of 370 m³/h. Check the instructions for the figures that apply to your chosen mode, installation dimensions and compatible filters.
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Worth considering for wall-mounted installation if you’re looking into ducted extraction to the outside. The title states an extraction rate of 650 m³/h and lists ducted and recirculation modes. Confirm the extraction rate for your installation and the connection required. For recirculation, check the reference for the compatible filter.
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Worth considering if a 60 cm wall-mounted cooker hood suits your kitchen layout. The title states an extraction rate of 370 m³/h. For recirculation, check the instructions to confirm the compatible mode, charcoal filter and any accessories required.
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Worth considering if an angled wall-mounted hood suits your kitchen. The title states an extraction rate of 580 m³/h and lists ducted and recirculation modes. Check the installation requirements, extraction rate for your chosen mode, and the relevant filters or accessories.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your hob while choosing an extraction system. The title describes a 59 cm induction hob with integrated extraction and mentions CBEHKIT installation accessories, which must be ordered with it. Before buying, check the cut-out, the extraction mode supported by these accessories and access to the filters.
No. A cooker hood extracts air around the cooking area while it’s in use, but it cannot ventilate your entire home on its own. In France, the decree of 24 March 1982 published by Légifrance states that ventilation should be general and continuous, at least when outdoor temperatures mean windows need to stay closed. Keep your existing ventilation system working properly.
Don’t treat an outlet for a shared mechanical ventilation system as an available duct for your cooker hood. Ask for a dedicated extraction route to be assessed before buying. If you live in a flat, check the plans with the building management company, especially if the work affects communal areas. ANIL notes that decisions about work on communal areas are made at a general meeting.
Consider recirculation when a dedicated outlet to the outside isn’t possible in your kitchen. Check that the exact model supports this mode, that any required kit is available and that you can maintain a compatible charcoal filter. Filtered air is returned to the kitchen, so home ventilation is still essential.
Follow the cooker hood instructions and check the exact reference for each filter. Clean the metal filter as directed by the manufacturer. In recirculation mode, also check the guidance on replacing or regenerating the charcoal filter. Electrolux, for example, offers a long-life filter claimed to last two to three years; this guidance applies to that particular accessory.
It may suit an island if you’re also choosing or replacing the hob and its installation works with your base unit. Before ordering, check the model’s cut-out diagram, the space beneath the worktop, any route needed for ducting and access to the filters.