Without an external duct, choose a cooker hood that is explicitly compatible with recirculation and with the charcoal filter or kit specified for its model. A wall-mounted hood is suitable when a wall is available, while a built-in model or integrated filter unit is better suited to a wall cabinet. Also compare noise levels at the speeds you use, filter access and maintenance requirements. In France, a motorised cooker hood must not be connected to a communal air outlet, under the order of 24 March 1982 published by Légifrance.
If no external outlet is available, you need to choose an appliance compatible with recirculation, with a charcoal filter and planned maintenance. UFC-Que Choisir points out that the installation method affects performance, noise and running costs.
To integrate the cooker hood into a wall cabinet, check the built-in dimensions, the space it occupies, access to the filters and the return path for filtered air. UFC-Que Choisir and Franke highlight the importance of a suitable cabinet for built-in filter units.
In an open-plan kitchen or when cooking frequently, compare the data provided for recirculation mode, the noise level at commonly used speeds and the availability of a compatible charcoal filter. UFC-Que Choisir's tests distinguish between measurements taken in extraction mode and those taken in recirculation mode.
Consider this: if there is a clear wall above the hob and no wall cabinet needs to house the cooker hood.
Key point: its recirculation performance depends on the charcoal filter, the appropriate kit and regular maintenance.
Consider this: if you want to maintain a seamless kitchen frontage with the cooker hood integrated into a wall cabinet.
Key point: a built-in format alone does not guarantee compatibility with a charcoal kit; check the exact model reference.
Consider this: if you are looking for discreet integration beneath a suitable wall cabinet.
Key point: filter access, noise and the space required inside the cabinet vary depending on the model.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Recirculation and odour reduction | Confirm that recirculation mode is intended for the model selected, with a compatible charcoal filter or kit. Compare data or tests carried out in this mode rather than relying solely on extraction-mode figures. | I want the air to return to the kitchen after being filtered for odours. UFC-Que Choisir states that, in recirculation mode, the air passes through a charcoal filter before returning to the room. |
| Filter maintenance | Identify the charcoal filter reference, its replacement or regeneration schedule and access to the grease filter. Check the instructions before ordering. | I prefer to know from the outset what maintenance is required and to be able to remove the filters without dismantling the installation. |
| Integration and noise | Measure the required width, depth, height and clearances. Compare dB(A) levels at the speeds you will actually use, not just the lowest quoted figure. | My cooker hood must fit the available wall or cabinet without becoming too noisy for everyday use. UFC-Que Choisir explains that the installation method can affect noise and running costs. |
A cooker hood designed for extraction is not necessarily ready for recirculation. The charcoal filter and, depending on the model, the recirculation kit must match the appliance's exact reference.
Before settling on a design, note the hood's full reference, check recirculation mode in its documentation and confirm the required filter or kit.
In recirculation mode, the air passes through a charcoal filter before returning to the room. UFC-Que Choisir measures performance separately for the two modes and assesses odour reduction in recirculation mode.
Look for data clearly associated with recirculation and compare odour filtration, noise and maintenance before considering the extraction airflow rate.
A built-in cooker hood or integrated filter unit requires a suitable cabinet. A filter that is difficult to reach may also be maintained less regularly.
Check the kitchen plan for the required width, depth, built-in height and clearances, as well as whether the filters can be removed after installation.
In France, Article 13 of the order of 24 March 1982 prohibits connecting an individual mechanical device, such as a motorised cooker hood, to a communal air outlet system, according to Légifrance.
If no compliant individual duct is available, keep the project in recirculation mode and have any ventilation changes checked by the qualified professional responsible for the property concerned.
Worth considering if you are looking for a recirculation-compatible cooker hood with filters and kits identified by reference.
A useful reference point if you want to compare regenerable charcoal filters and their maintenance over several years.
Worth exploring for wall-mounted and built-in cooker hoods or integrated filter units designed for kitchen installation.
Worth considering for an integrated installation where the recirculation unit can be fitted in a ceiling, cupboard or plinth, depending on the layout.
These Joybuy options are suitable for wall-mounted installation with recirculation in a kitchen without an external duct.
Image unavailable
For a wide cooking area with a wall available, recirculation is supported with two included CBCF003 charcoal filters.
90 cm wide, with four speeds including a booster, a stated maximum airflow rate of 650 m³/h, a stated maximum noise level of 59 dB and washable aluminium grease filters. Check the figures specific to recirculation, wall clearances and the filter replacement schedule.
Image unavailable
This 60 cm wall-mounted option supports recirculation with two included CBCF055 charcoal filters.
It offers three speeds, a stated maximum airflow rate of 580 m³/h, a stated maximum noise level of 64 dB, adjustable height and a washable grease filter. Check the figures applicable to recirculation, installation clearances and the reference for replacement filters.
Image unavailable
It is suitable for a 60 cm hob when recirculation and monitoring noise at each speed are priorities.
The three speeds are stated as ranging from 221 m³/h at 51 dB to 367 m³/h at 63 dB; CBCF002X2 charcoal filters and two washable aluminium grease filters are specified. Confirm that these figures apply to recirculation and check filter access after installation.
Image unavailable
This wall-mounted cooker hood offers extraction or recirculation, with a set of charcoal filters stated as included.
60 cm wide, with a stated maximum airflow rate of 300 m³/h, LED lighting and a dishwasher-safe washable aluminium grease filter. Check the instructions for the noise level, full dimensions, installation clearances and the replacement conditions for the charcoal filters.
No. In recirculation mode, extracted air returns to the room after filtration; the property's general ventilation system must continue to ensure air movement between the air inlets in the main rooms and the outlets in utility rooms. UFC-Que Choisir and the order of 24 March 1982 published by Légifrance distinguish this continuous ventilation from the local treatment of cooking fumes and odours.
No, when it is a communal air outlet system, whether mechanical or naturally ventilated. Article 13 of the order of 24 March 1982, published by Légifrance, prohibits connecting an individual mechanical device such as a cooker hood equipped with a fan.
The grease filter must be cleaned according to the instructions, while a compatible charcoal filter is required to treat odours in recirculation mode. Bosch states that its standard DHZ1100 filter lasts 6 to 12 months; regenerable filters have their own instructions and service lives according to their reference.
Compare the dB(A) levels at the speeds you will actually use for cooking, rather than looking only at the minimum level. Also check that the performance figures being compared relate specifically to recirculation mode: UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between measurements taken in recirculation mode and those taken in extraction mode.