First, choose a mode that suits your home: extraction sends air outside through a suitable duct, while recirculation filters the air and returns it to the kitchen when an external outlet cannot be used. Then check the width, installation height and accessories for the specific model. If you need to create an outlet, make sure you understand any restrictions that apply to your home before choosing this option.
If there is no suitable duct you can use, look for a cooker hood that supports recirculation. Check the part number for the initial installation kit and the carbon filters: Bosch says its kits are not universal.
If there is already a duct or an outlet is planned, have its route and any restrictions that apply to your home confirmed before choosing a cooker hood. If the work could affect the façade or communal areas, check the leasehold rules and speak to the building manager. If you rent, ask your landlord as well.
Compare the stated noise levels at the same settings, and check the cleaning instructions for the grease filters. For recirculation, also check the part number and replacement frequency for compatible carbon filters.
Consider this if: a suitable duct can carry the air outside and using it is compatible with your home.
Consideration: check the duct route and any plans for an external outlet before installation. Bosch says its cooker hood must not be connected to the mechanical ventilation system.
Consider this if: there is no usable external outlet and the cooker hood you choose supports this mode.
Consideration: filtered air is returned to the kitchen. Check which accessories you need and allow for carbon filter maintenance.
Once you’ve chosen a mode, check that the cooker hood’s size suits the position of your hob and the instructions for both appliances.
| Factor | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Installation mode | Check whether there is a usable external outlet and which modes are permitted in the cooker hood’s instructions. For extraction, check the duct route and do not plan to connect it to the mechanical ventilation system, in line with Bosch’s guidance. | I need to know that I can install the cooker hood in my home before choosing its shape or stated extraction rate. |
| Positioning | Check the position of the hob against the intended mounting location: under a cabinet, on a wall or above an island. Measure the space available for the cooker hood and, if applicable, the duct. | My hob is against a wall or under a cabinet, and I’m looking for a design that leaves enough room for installation. |
| Width and height | Compare the cooker hood’s width with the width of the hob. Check the installation clearances in the instructions for both appliances, especially if you have a gas hob. | My cooker hood must not restrict my movement or be fitted at a height that is unsuitable for my hob. |
| Filters and maintenance | For recirculation, note the part number, number of filters and replacement frequency for compatible carbon filters. Also check the cleaning instructions for the grease filter. | I want to know which filters to buy and what maintenance the cooker hood will need. |
| Noise | Check the stated noise level and the speed setting it applies to. When comparing different models, take account of the stated measurement conditions. | If I cook often, noise at the setting I’ll use matters just as much as the specifications at the highest setting. |
Support for recirculation doesn’t mean the required kit and filters are included. Bosch says its initial installation kit must match the part number of the cooker hood in question.
Before ordering, check the instructions for the intended mode, what’s included and the part numbers of compatible accessories.
These examples from different brands highlight details to check for a specific model; they do not apply to every cooker hood made by each manufacturer.
Bosch provides information on both installation modes and the accessories needed for its cooker hoods.
Franke’s product pages let you check the dimensions of some models and the part numbers of their accessories.
Whirlpool offers, among other options, 60 cm and 90 cm wall-mounted cooker hoods that can operate in extraction or recirculation mode.
This selection includes under-cabinet and wall-mounted cooker hoods. Their product names indicate whether they can be used in extraction or recirculation mode. First choose the mode that works in your home, then check the installation dimensions and accessories for the model you select.
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Designed for under-cabinet installation, this cooker hood is listed with two modes: extraction and recirculation. Check the installation dimensions and mounting height, as well as whether the CBCF009 carbon filter is compatible with and included in the configuration you order.
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The telescopic panel is designed for under-cabinet installation, and the product name states an extraction rate of 370 m³/h. The product page lists extraction and recirculation modes, as well as included carbon filters. Check the built-in dimensions, mounting height and instructions for the CBCF002X2 filters.
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For a wall-mounted installation with room for a 90 cm cooker hood, the product name states an extraction rate of 564 m³/h and lists extraction and recirculation modes. It also lists an included carbon filter. Check its part number so you can plan for a replacement, and confirm the required mounting height.
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This angled wall-mounted cooker hood is suited to considering a 60 cm installation. Its product name states an extraction rate of 300 m³/h and lists extraction and recirculation modes. Carbon filters are listed as included. Check the replacement filter part number and the installation clearances specified for your hob.
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Designed for a hob against a wall, this model is listed with three speeds, a stated extraction rate of 580 m³/h and extraction and recirculation modes. If you choose recirculation, check that the CBCF055*2 filters are compatible and included in the configuration you order. Also check the mounting height.
Not for the installation described by Bosch: the brand says the air must be vented outside and the cooker hood duct must not be connected to the mechanical ventilation system. Before installation, have the suitable outlet route for your model and home confirmed.
The clearance depends on both appliances. Check their instructions and follow whichever applicable requirement is stricter. As an example limited to the conditions specified by Whirlpool, the brand gives a minimum clearance of 65 cm for a Whirlpool gas hob with a power rating below 7 500 W. This measurement does not apply to every installation.
Follow the guidance for the filter that is compatible with your cooker hood rather than relying on a single replacement interval. Franke recommends replacing part number 112.0016.755 every three months, depending on use; Electrolux gives a lifespan of four to six months for the OdourClean Standard ECFB01ST.
Have the plans and leasehold rules checked before choosing a cooker hood that needs an external outlet. ANIL says decisions about work to communal areas or building equipment are made at a general meeting. Ask the building manager what steps apply to the duct or wall opening you are considering for your building.