If you cook often and generate steam and odours, consider extraction first if you can install a dedicated duct and an authorised outlet to the outside, with an adequate air supply. If an external outlet isn’t feasible, choose a hood that supports recirculation and has compatible filters. In either case, check that its format, width and installation dimensions are right for your kitchen.
If your cooking regularly creates steam and odours, check the duct, outlet and air supply before choosing an extractor hood. If you live in a shared-ownership property, you’ll also need to consider the status of the areas involved. ANIL advises that approval from the general meeting is required if the work affects the building’s structure or communal areas.
If installing an external outlet isn’t feasible, look for a model designed for recirculation. Bosch and Elica point out that kits and filters must be compatible with your chosen hood, and that filter maintenance is part of the buying decision.
If your hood will be fitted inside a cupboard or recess, compare its built-in dimensions with the available space. Don’t forget to allow access to the filters and room for the duct or recirculation kit. The format alone doesn’t determine how the hood works.
Consider this: if you cook often and can install a dedicated duct and external outlet, with an adequate air supply.
Things to bear in mind: installing the duct and outlet may require building work. According to ANIL, if the work affects the structure or communal areas, approval from the residents’ general meeting may be required. If your home has a naturally draughting combustion appliance, ask a professional to assess the air supply.
Consider this: if there’s no feasible way to extract air outside, provided the model supports recirculation.
Things to bear in mind: filtered air is returned to the kitchen, so you’ll need a compatible kit and must maintain the filters. Bosch and Elica note that these accessories depend on the model.
Once you’ve chosen a mode, check the hood’s width and installation dimensions against your kitchen units. Then compare the specifications for the mode you’ll use. UFC-Que Choisir measures extraction and recirculation separately in its testing protocol.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Steam and odours | Whether the model supports the mode you’ll use, and the stated airflow and noise levels in that mode. | When I often cook food that creates steam and odours, I want to choose a hood that’s suited to the job. Around 33% of consumers prioritise effective extraction while cooking. |
| Installation feasibility | A duct and air supply for extraction; electrical supply and any permissions if the work affects the structure or communal areas. | Before choosing an extractor hood, I need to know whether an outlet can be installed and the hood fitted in my home. This is the first consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
| Available space | Width in relation to the hob; built-in dimensions and access to the filters. | In a kitchen with an existing cupboard or recess, I’m mainly looking for an appliance that will fit and can be maintained easily. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this kind of integration. |
| Noise and maintenance | Noise level at the speed and in the mode you plan to use; compatible filter model and maintenance requirements. | Noise matters to me in an open-plan kitchen. If I use recirculation, I also want to be able to maintain the filters. Around 20% of consumers prioritise quiet operation and easy maintenance. |
A duct to the outside isn’t interchangeable with the home’s general ventilation system. ANIL advises that if the work affects the structure or communal areas, approval from the residents’ general meeting is required.
Before ordering, ask someone to confirm the duct route, air supply and status of the wall or duct.
Installation may require ductwork and a professional fitter.
A cooker hood works at the hob. In France, the decree of 24 March 1982 on ventilation in homes requires general, continuous ventilation. Buying a hood alone won’t resolve a problem with your home’s ventilation.
If you’re concerned about general ventilation, have it assessed separately from your choice of hood.
A model described as convertible may need a kit designed for that specific model. Bosch says its recirculation kits aren’t universal.
Before buying, check the instructions to identify compatible accessories and find out how to maintain the filters.
Depending on the system, you may also need to allow for a recirculation kit and replacement or regeneration of the charcoal filter.
A stated figure is not enough to compare models unless you know the mode and speed it applies to. UFC-Que Choisir measures airflow separately for extraction and recirculation in its testing protocol.
Compare figures measured in the same mode, then look at the noise, dimensions and maintenance requirements for each model.
Depending on the model, the range includes hoods designed for extraction or recirculation.
Elica offers hoods with installation options that vary by model.
The range includes wall-mounted and integrated formats, with operating modes that vary by model.
Novy offers ceiling and downdraft hoods, as well as built-in extractor units.
The range includes integrated filter units, with operating modes that vary by model.
These models include an under-cabinet option and several wall-mounted designs. Their product descriptions list both extraction and recirculation. First, choose the mode that’s feasible in your home, then check the width, installation instructions and accessories for the model you’re considering.
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Worth considering if you want to fit a hood beneath a kitchen cupboard. The model is listed as suitable for extraction and recirculation, and has push-button controls. Check the installation dimensions and the accessories required for your chosen mode.
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Worth comparing if your kitchen can accommodate a wall-mounted hood above a hob that suits its width. The product description lists extraction and recirculation, an airflow rate of 650 m³/h and a five-layer filter. Check which mode the stated airflow rate applies to, and whether you need a kit for recirculation.
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Worth considering for a wall-mounted installation that needs a 90 cm hood. The product description lists extraction and recirculation, four speeds, an airflow rate of 620 m³/h and a five-layer aluminium filter. Compare the installation dimensions and confirm which recirculation accessories are compatible.
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Worth comparing if a 90 cm wall-mounted hood suits your cooking area. The product description lists extraction and recirculation, an airflow rate of 564 m³/h and an included charcoal filter. Check the installation dimensions, then compare the noise level and airflow for the mode you plan to use.
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Worth considering for a wall-mounted installation if you’re looking for a 60 cm width. The product description lists extraction and recirculation, an airflow rate of 611 m³/h and an included charcoal filter. Check the installation dimensions and the noise specifications for the mode you’ll use.
No. A cooker hood is designed for use above the hob and doesn’t replace the general, continuous ventilation required under the French decree of 24 March 1982 on ventilation in homes. If there’s a problem with your ventilation, have it assessed separately.
Yes, provided extraction is feasible and you obtain any necessary permissions. ANIL says that work affecting the structure or communal areas requires approval from the residents’ general meeting. Before buying, check the duct route, the status of the areas involved and the rules for your building.
Check the location of the power supply against the instructions and your existing installation. For a fitted kitchen in France, Promotelec says that an additional socket used exclusively for the hood may be permitted under the conditions of NF C 15-100. Ask a qualified professional to assess any wiring changes or uncertain situations.
Recirculation systems described by Bosch and Elica use a compatible charcoal filter or odour-control module before returning air to the kitchen. Check the instructions to identify the accessories for your exact model and find out how to maintain or replace them.
Yes, for applicable new cooker hoods sold in France. The French Ministry of the Economy says that energy labels apply to cooker hoods, including those sold online. Check the energy label and product details for each model, and don’t assume that its energy rating alone tells you how noisy it will be or how well it will extract in your installation mode.