In an existing kitchen, consider extraction if an external outlet, make-up air and the necessary work are feasible in your home. Otherwise, recirculation lets you choose a cooker hood without an external duct, provided the model supports this mode and you can maintain its compatible filters. Then choose a wall-mounted, under-cabinet or island hood to suit the position of your hob and the available installation space.
You’re renovating your kitchen and looking into installing a duct. Before choosing a cooker hood, check the possible route, make-up air, whether there’s a combustion appliance in the home, and any permissions required for the work.
If your kitchen can’t accommodate an external outlet, look for a model designed for recirculation. Check that the exact model reference supports the filters and, where necessary, the kit required for this installation.
A hob against a wall, under a wall unit or on an island won’t suit the same cooker hood position. Measure the available space and installation clearances, and allow room for the duct or recirculation components.
First decide whether the air can be vented outside or needs to be filtered and returned to the kitchen. Then check the model’s format and specifications for the mode you’ve chosen.
Consider this: if the duct, make-up air and necessary work are all feasible in your home.
Bear in mind: plan the duct route and obtain any permissions needed for the work before buying.
Consider this: when an external outlet can’t be used or installed.
Bear in mind: the air is filtered and returned to the room. The compatible charcoal filter will need cleaning or replacing as instructed.
| Factor | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| External outlet | Check the duct route and dimensions, the make-up air required and the work involved. If you have a combustion appliance that relies on room air, have the two installations assessed together before opting for extraction. | I want to know whether the cooker hood can be installed in my home without committing to work whose feasibility still needs to be confirmed. |
| Operating mode | Check the instructions to confirm that the model reference supports your chosen extraction or recirculation mode. Bosch describes extraction as venting air outside, and recirculation as filtering odours before returning the air to the room. | Without an external duct, I’m looking for a cooker hood designed for recirculation. If a duct is possible, I want to compare the stated specifications for the installation I’ll actually use. |
| Dimensions and installation | Measure the hob and the space on the wall, in the unit or above the island. Check the cut-out dimensions, available depth and installation clearances specified for the model. | The cooker hood needs to fit into my redesigned kitchen, not just match the width I had in mind. |
| Noise and extraction rate | Compare the stated figures at similar speeds and in the same operating mode. For this model, for example, Electrolux gives a range of 56 to 74 dB in extraction mode and 66 to 75 dB in recirculation mode for the LFT819X, depending on the speed. | In an open-plan kitchen, the noise at the setting I’ll use matters just as much as the cooker hood’s maximum quoted figure. |
| Filters and maintenance | For recirculation, find out the charcoal filter reference, whether a kit is required and what maintenance is recommended. Bosch notes that its recirculation kits aren’t universal. | I’d rather know which filters are compatible and what maintenance is involved before choosing a recirculating model. |
A duct may require drilling, alter the outside of the building or pass through communal areas. Your choice of cooker hood will also depend on what work is possible in your home.
Plan the proposed route before you buy. If you rent, ask your landlord what alterations are allowed; if you live in a co-owned building, check with the property manager and consult the building rules. Ask your local council whether any permissions are needed for external work.
Elica says that not all cooker hoods can be converted from one mode to another. A kit designed for a different model won’t resolve this incompatibility.
Note down the full model reference and check the instructions for the permitted operating mode and the references for the kit and filters.
A recirculation kit and compatible charcoal filters may be required, with maintenance or replacement needed depending on their type.
A cooker hood may be the width you want but still not fit the depth of your unit, the installation height or the duct route.
Measure the hob, unit and ceiling space, then compare these measurements with the dimensions and clearances in the instructions. Compare noise and extraction rates for the mode you’ll use.
Recirculation returns filtered air to the room. With extraction, make-up air and any combustion appliance that relies on room air need particular attention. A cooker hood is not a substitute for the home’s ventilation system.
Remember to maintain the filters if you choose recirculation. Before installing an extraction system, have the make-up air and any potential interaction with a wood burner, fireplace or gas water heater assessed.
These brands offer examples of formats and accessories to check against the exact model reference. Their inclusion here doesn’t mean that a particular model is part of the Joybuy selection.
Bosch offers, among other options, built-in canopy hoods and recirculation accessories.
Electrolux’s guides distinguish between wall-mounted, built-in and island cooker hoods to suit the position of your hob.
Novy offers integrated cooker hoods and information on maintaining its recirculating models.
These wall-mounted and under-cabinet models are suited to kitchens where the hob is against a wall or beneath a wall unit. For each one, check that the intended operating mode, installation dimensions and filters suit your setup.
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Designed for a hob against a wall, this 60 cm wall-mounted model should be checked against the width of your hob and the space available. The product name mentions a two-way air circulation system; check the instructions for the setup, filters and installation clearances required for your chosen mode.
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This 60 cm model is designed for under-cabinet installation, with a stainless steel finish and two ventilation options. Measure your unit and check the installation clearances and accessories needed for your chosen mode.
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A telescopic under-cabinet design is worth considering if your wall unit needs to house the cooker hood. The title states a width of 60 cm and an extraction rate of 370 m³/h, but doesn’t specify the conditions for this figure. Check the cut-out dimensions, the space needed for the mechanism and the figures for the mode you’ll use.
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This 60 cm wall-mounted model is listed for extraction and recirculation, with a stated extraction rate of 650 m³/h. Before choosing it, check the figures for your selected mode, the filters required for recirculation and the space available for installation and any duct.
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This 90 cm angled wall-mounted cooker hood is listed for extraction and recirculation, with a stated extraction rate of 620 m³/h. Check that its width and installation dimensions suit your hob and wall. For recirculation, also confirm which filters are compatible and how to maintain them.
Don’t arrange for a hole to be drilled until you’ve discussed the plans with your landlord. In France, ANIL notes that alterations to rented premises or equipment require the landlord’s written consent. Check whether your proposed work falls into this category before choosing a cooker hood that needs an external outlet.
Check the co-ownership rules and speak to the property manager before planning the work. An outlet that affects the external appearance or communal areas may require approval from the co-owners. ANIL states that decisions about work to communal areas are made at a general meeting.
Yes, depending on the proposed alteration and the location of your home. Service Public notes that changes to a building’s external appearance may require a prior works declaration, with specific rules in protected areas. Check your plans with the local council before starting work.
It’s an option when your kitchen can’t accommodate external extraction, provided the model you choose supports recirculation. Confirm which kit and charcoal filters are compatible, then follow the maintenance instructions. A cooker hood doesn’t replace the home’s general ventilation.
Compare their stated noise levels in the same operating mode and at similar speeds. For example, Electrolux publishes different ranges for extraction and recirculation for its LFT819X, so a figure for one mode won’t necessarily apply to the other.