If there’s no external duct, choose a cooker hood whose exact model is designed for recirculation and has a compatible charcoal filter. In an open-plan kitchen, compare noise levels and extraction rates in recirculation mode rather than relying on extraction-mode figures alone. Filtered air is returned to the room, and the filter needs regular maintenance.
If your kitchen opens onto the living room and there’s no external outlet, look for a model designed for recirculation. Before choosing a cooker hood, check which odour filter it needs and how to maintain it.
When cooking shares a space with meals and conversation, consider odour filtration, noise at the speeds you’ll use and how often the filter needs maintenance separately.
A suspended cooker hood designed for recirculation may suit an island, provided its dimensions and installation height are right. A venting hob also affects your choice of hob and the layout of the base unit.
First, check that the model is suitable for recirculation and fits your space. Then compare its filtration, noise and maintenance requirements with the way you cook.
| Criteria | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Odours | Confirm that the hood has a recirculation mode and check the charcoal filter model number. To compare two cooker hoods, look for test results on odour removal in this mode: UFC-Que Choisir assesses odours with the filter in place. | I want to reduce odours in the living room, even though filtered air is returned to the kitchen. |
| Noise | Check the dB(A) at each speed and in the same operating mode. Compare the noise with the extraction rate at the speed you plan to use, rather than looking at the maximum alone. | While cooking, I want to be able to chat in the living area without always having to use the intensive setting. |
| Maintenance | Identify the grease filter, the type of charcoal filter and the instructions for each model. Check whether the initial kit and replacement filters are available for the cooker hood you’ve chosen. | I’d like to know in advance what maintenance involves and how often the filter needs replacing or regenerating. |
| Installation | Choose a wall-mounted, under-cabinet or suspended design to suit the position of your hob. Check the instructions for the width and installation clearances. For a venting hob, also check the space needed in the base unit and plinth. | My hob is against a wall or on an island, so I need a configuration that fits the space available. |
An extraction-rate figure on its own doesn’t tell you how well a hood filters odours or how noisy it is in recirculation mode. UFC-Que Choisir assesses odours in this mode with the charcoal filter in place.
For the model you’re considering, look for the extraction rate and noise level at each speed in recirculation mode, along with any available information on odour filtration.
A cooker hood that’s compatible with recirculation may need specific accessories for installation and future maintenance.
Check the instructions to find out which kit and charcoal filter you need. Then check what’s included with the hood and note the model number of any replacement filters.
Instructions vary by system. Franke recommends replacing its standard filter 112.0016.755 every three months, depending on use, while Elica gives regeneration instructions for its CFC0141725A filter.
Choose a filter type that suits you, and follow the instructions for your exact cooker hood and filter rather than applying a schedule that’s supposed to work for every model.
These examples show different configurations. Check the accessories and instructions for each specific model.
Bosch describes the DWK81AN20 wall-mounted cooker hood as compatible with both recirculation and extraction.
Franke describes the Smart FSMS F42 island cooker hood as suitable for recirculation only.
The Mood 7552 is an example of an island cooker hood with recirculation and a Monoblock filter.
Elica offers recirculation configurations for some venting hobs, as well as regenerable filters designed for specific models.
These models are for a hob against a wall or an under-cabinet installation where there’s no external duct. Compare their dimensions and the filters they need. An extraction rate with no operating mode specified isn’t enough, on its own, to judge performance in recirculation mode.
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This model is presented as suitable for recirculation and is designed for a hob against a wall. Its name lists an extraction rate of 370 m³/h but doesn’t specify the operating mode. Before installation, check the noise levels in recirculation mode and confirm that the CBCF002X2*2 filter is compatible and included.
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Worth considering if your space is designed for a 90 cm wall-mounted cooker hood. The title lists four speeds and an extraction rate of 650 m³/h, but doesn’t say whether this applies in recirculation mode. Two CBCF003 charcoal filters are listed as included. Check the instructions for the noise and extraction rate in this mode, as well as how to maintain the filters.
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This model is presented as suitable for extraction or recirculation and includes a charcoal filter. Its stated extraction rate of 611 m³/h isn’t linked to a specific mode. Check the noise and extraction-rate figures for recirculation, then find out which filter model it needs for maintenance.
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An under-cabinet design is worth considering if there’s a cupboard above your hob. This model lists three power levels, an extraction rate of 212 m³/h and an included charcoal filter. Check which mode the extraction rate applies to, how noisy it is in recirculation mode and the model number of the replacement filter.
Yes, as long as the model is designed for recirculation and fitted with a compatible charcoal filter. Air passes through the filters and is returned to the room. Unlike an extraction hood, it doesn’t vent steam outside.
Follow the instructions for the filter that matches your cooker hood. The recommended interval depends on the system and how often you use it. For example, Electrolux states that its OdourClean Standard ECFB01ST filter lasts 4 to 6 months; regenerable filters have different instructions.
Compare the dB(A) figures at equivalent speeds and in the same operating mode, preferably in recirculation mode if that’s how you’ll install the hood. Check the extraction rate at those speeds too. Neither the maximum extraction rate nor a ‘quiet’ label tells you how noisy it will be during everyday use.