Choose ducted extraction if a dedicated outlet to the outside is available, any necessary work can be carried out and the hood can be installed as planned. This sends air filled with steam and cooking smells outdoors. If you cannot confirm that this is possible, recirculation may be an option, provided you check that a compatible filter is available, how to maintain it and how noisy the hood is in this mode. Whether your kitchen is open-plan or not, the hood must also suit your hob, units and the clearances specified in the manual.
If you cook often but are unsure whether a dedicated duct can be used, look at cooker hoods that can be set up for recirculation. Before choosing this mode, check which odour filter is designed for the model you have in mind.
If your cooker hood will run close to your living area, compare its noise levels at the speed and in the mode you plan to use. The figures for extraction and recirculation may differ on the same model.
An external outlet may involve alterations to your home or building. In France, ANIL advises that tenants need their landlord’s written consent to make alterations, and that work affecting the structure or communal areas of a block of flats requires approval from the general meeting of co-owners. Before choosing extraction, check what your project would actually affect.
First decide where the extracted air will go. Then compare noise, maintenance and dimensions for the setup you’ll be able to install.
Consider this if: a dedicated outlet to the outside and the planned installation are possible, with any necessary permissions for the work.
The trade-off: installation may require building work. Que Choisir advises that a chimney or mechanical ventilation system (VMC) must not be used to connect a cooker hood.
Consider this if: there’s no usable dedicated outlet to the outside and the cooker hood can take a suitable odour filter.
The trade-off: filtered air is returned to the kitchen, and the charcoal filter needs to be maintained according to the instructions for its specific model.
| Factor | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Installation mode | Confirm there’s a dedicated outlet to the outside and that the work can be carried out. If not, check that the cooker hood and its filter support recirculation. | I cook regularly and want to choose a mode that can genuinely be installed in my home, without relying on a chimney or VMC as a cooker hood outlet. |
| Noise | Compare the dB figures at a similar speed and in the mode you plan to use. For the LFG615X built-in hood only, Electrolux gives 46 dB at the lowest speed in extraction mode, compared with 60 dB at the lowest speed in recirculation mode. | In my open-plan kitchen, I want to know how noisy the cooker hood will be during meals or conversations. |
| Filters | Check the compatible model number, availability and maintenance instructions. Bosch recommends changing the charcoal filters in its recirculating cooker hoods every 6 months; other filters have their own care instructions. | If I choose recirculation, I want to maintain the odour filter without getting the wrong model. |
| Dimensions and installation | Measure your hob and the space, then check the built-in dimensions and minimum clearances in the manual. Bosch recommends choosing a cooker hood at least as wide as the hob. | A wall-mounted, built-in or island cooker hood needs to suit my kitchen layout, not just the look I’m after. |
A cooker hood with ducted extraction needs a suitable route to the outside. Que Choisir says it must not be connected to a chimney or VMC. Depending on your home, additional work may also be needed.
Before choosing a model, get confirmation of where the duct leads and whether installation is feasible. If you rent or live in a block of flats, also check what permissions are needed for the planned work.
The figures for extraction and recirculation can differ on the same cooker hood, as they do on the Electrolux LFG615X. A single figure may not reflect how noisy it will be in your open-plan kitchen.
Compare the dB figures at the same speed and in the mode you’ll use, using the product specifications or manual for each model.
With recirculation, odour filters don’t all have the same maintenance instructions, and they aren’t universally compatible. A regenerable filter won’t automatically fit another cooker hood.
Note down the filter code specified for the exact cooker hood model, then check its replacement or regeneration instructions.
A built-in cooker hood needs to fit the unit it’s going into, and the width of the hob and installation clearances matter too. These clearances vary depending on the model and hob type.
Measure the space and hob, then compare your measurements with the dimensions and minimum clearances in the manual.
Bosch offers built-in cooker hoods designed to fit into a wall unit.
The LFG615X built-in hood lets you compare extraction and recirculation on the same model.
Elica offers replacement filters for some of its recirculating cooker hoods.
These three wall-mounted cooker hoods can be used for ducted extraction or recirculation. They offer a choice of 60 and 90 cm widths, but the right mode depends on your home and the instructions for the model.
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Its extraction and recirculation modes let you choose an installation to suit the outlet available in your home. The product name specifies an extraction rate of 580 m³/h and three speeds. For recirculation, check which filter is suitable and how noisy it is in this mode, as well as the installation clearances in the manual.
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Check that this 90 cm width suits your hob and the wall space available. The product name specifies an extraction rate of 564 m³/h, extraction and recirculation modes, and an included charcoal filter. Check the filter model number, noise level in your chosen mode and installation clearances.
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According to the product name, this 60 cm wall-mounted model offers extraction and recirculation, with a charcoal filter included. Its stated extraction rate is 300 m³/h. Measure your hob and the space, then check the documentation for noise levels, installation clearances and the filter model number.
No. According to Que Choisir, a cooker hood with ducted extraction must not be connected to a chimney or VMC. Before buying or planning any work, check that there’s a suitable dedicated route to the outside.
First check whether the project counts as an alteration to the property. In France, ANIL advises that tenants must not alter rented premises or equipment without their landlord’s written consent. You’ll also need to check the technical feasibility and any relevant building rules for the proposed outlet.
It depends on what the work will affect. According to ANIL, in France, work within a privately owned part of a property does not usually require approval from the general meeting of co-owners, but approval is needed if it affects the building’s structure or communal areas. Before choosing this mode, check the route for the outlet and the co-ownership rules with the building manager.
Follow the manual for the exact model and hob type. Bosch’s FAQ specifies 650 mm above a gas hob and 550 mm above an electric hob. For its LFG615X built-in hood, Electrolux specifies 65 cm and 50 cm respectively. Don’t apply these clearances to another model without checking its manual.
How often depends on the filter model and its maintenance requirements. Bosch recommends replacing the charcoal filters in its recirculating cooker hoods every 6 months, while Electrolux recommends replacing its standard ECFB01ST filter every 4 to 6 months, depending on use. Check which filter is compatible with your cooker hood and follow its specific instructions, especially if it can be regenerated.