If a cabinet, ceiling or other suitable surface can accommodate a hood near the hob, check whether this is an option before replacing your hob. To keep the space above an island clear, an extractor hob combines both appliances, while a worktop extractor lets you keep a separate hob. In either case, measure the space beneath the worktop. Choose between ducted extraction and recirculation based on the route available for the air, compatible accessories and filter maintenance.
If you want to keep the space above your hob clear, compare an extractor hob with a separate worktop extractor. Both require you to check the space beneath the worktop, the route for the air and access to the filters.
Recirculation is worth considering if your cabinet can accommodate the appliance and its filtration system. Check which kit is designed for your chosen model, and take your home’s existing ventilation into account.
Before switching to an extractor hob, measure the worktop cut-out, the clearance inside the cabinet and the space taken up by drawers. A similar advertised width doesn’t guarantee that the new hob will fit.
Start by checking where the appliance will go and how the air can be routed. Then make sure its dimensions and maintenance requirements suit your kitchen.
| Consideration | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Extractor position | Check whether a cabinet or ceiling can accommodate a hood near the hob. For an extractor hob or worktop extractor, check the cut-out and the space needed beneath the worktop. | I want to keep the view above my island clear, or keep my current hob if a separate hood can be installed. |
| Ducted extraction or recirculation | For ducted extraction, check that a suitable duct can be routed to the outside. For recirculation, identify the kit and compatible filters, and check the airflow route through the cabinet. | If an external outlet isn’t an option, I’d prefer a recirculating setup with filters I can maintain. |
| Dimensions and storage | Compare the worktop cut-out, installation height and space taken up by the ducts with the measurements in the exact model’s instructions. Measure the inside of the cabinet and check where the drawers sit. | Keeping my drawers matters as much as freeing up the space above the hob, so I need to know how much room is actually available beneath the worktop. |
| Maintenance | Check access to the grease filters and, for recirculation, the odour filters. Find out how to maintain them and which accessories are specific to the model. | I want to be able to remove the filters after installation without having to take the cabinet apart. |
| Home ventilation | Check your existing ventilation before planning a duct or changing a connection. Using an extractor while cooking doesn’t tell you how your home is ventilated the rest of the time. | If I’m renovating, I want the existing setup checked before deciding where to vent cooking air. |
Cut-out dimensions vary by model. Elica specifies a 56 × 49 cm cut-out for the NikolaTesla Fit shown, while Electrolux specifies 750–780 × 490 mm and an installation height of 225 mm for the KCC84440.
Before ordering, compare the installation diagram for the exact model with the measurements of your worktop, cabinet and drawers.
A cut-out that doesn’t fit may mean altering the worktop or cabinet.
Recirculation depends on the filters and kit designed for the appliance. Bosch states that a specific kit is required to install some of its hoods in this mode.
Check the model numbers of compatible accessories and make sure you’ll be able to access the filters once the appliance is installed.
Depending on the model, you may need to allow for a recirculation kit and filter maintenance or replacement.
A hood used while cooking can’t, on its own, tell you whether your home’s continuous ventilation is working properly. The layout of an existing duct is particularly important when changing appliances.
Have your existing ventilation and connections checked before planning any work.
A maximum extraction rate in ducted mode and a noise level quoted at a different speed don’t describe the same conditions. Bosch and Franke, for example, list figures for their respective models and settings.
Compare the same installation mode and speed, then check the instructions for installation requirements.
Bosch offers built-in hoods as well as integrated extraction solutions. Compare both types of appliance based on the space available.
Electrolux extractor hobs let you combine cooking and extraction in a single appliance.
Elica’s NikolaTesla range combines an induction hob with integrated extraction.
Novy offers worktop extractors with an integrated grille or a pop-up tower. They’re worth considering if you want to keep a separate hob.
Franke’s SMART FSM 7081R HI extractor hob is one example of an appliance that combines cooking and extraction.
These two cooker hoods are for kitchens where a suitable cabinet can accommodate the appliance above the hob. If you don’t have this kind of space, check whether an extractor hob or worktop extractor could work instead.
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Worth considering if there’s a suitable cabinet above your hob. This cooker hood is designed for under-cabinet installation and can be used for ducted extraction or recirculation. Check the clearances, airflow route and filter access in the instructions for this model.
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Consider this model if you can install a cooker hood beneath a cabinet. It’s designed for ducted extraction or recirculation. For recirculation, check that the separately purchased cotton filter is compatible, as well as the dimensions and installation height given in the instructions.
No. Recirculation filters the air drawn in while you’re cooking and returns it to the room; it can’t, on its own, tell you whether your home’s continuous ventilation is working properly. Have the existing installation checked before changing any connections.
Consider ducted extraction if you can confirm that a suitable route to the outside is available. If that isn’t possible, look at a recirculating model with a compatible kit, and make sure you can access and maintain the filters.
Measure the worktop cut-out, cabinet depth, clearance beneath the hob and the space taken up by the drawers. Also check the position of the air outlet and access to the filters on the installation diagram for the exact model. For example, the dimensions of an Elica NikolaTesla Fit differ from those of an Electrolux KCC84440.
Yes. Maintenance of the grease filters and, in recirculation mode, the odour filters varies by model. Check the instructions to find out how to remove, clean or replace the filters, and how to access them once the hob is installed.