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Extractor Hoods
Standard Hood
This is the cheapest and generally smallest type of hood. It is fixed to the wall and is about four inches high, usually with a flip-out glass visor on the front. As with all hoods, a standard hood can be ducted or recirculating.
Chimney and Island Hoods
These are probably the most fashionable type of extractor at present and there are a huge amount of different models to choose from. As the name suggests, a chimney hood looks just like a chimney coming down from the ceiling. All chimney hoods can be ducted or recirculating. The ducting is a flexible or rigid hose which is purchased separately and hidden inside the trunking of the hood. With a chimney hood you can spend over £1,000 if you want to buy the best available, but fortunately there are also lots of really great hoods for under £200. Finally, investigate the possibilities of an external higher output external motor for increased power and performance in addition to lower noise levels in the kitchen. Miele have a number of good models such as the DA 5100 D EXT 100cm wide hood which is becoming a best selling model despite being at the very top end of the market.
A cooker hood can be either an eye-catching centre piece or hidden and non-intrusive. Unlike years gone by, cooker hoods now have quiet yet powerful motors to minimise cooking smells and prevent the build up of steam.
Virtually all hoods can either be vented to the outside or configured to recirculate air. All hoods have a basic metal or acrylic filter at the bottom where the air enters the hood. If you have an acrylic type, these are supplied with the hood and will need replacing regularly. Note that there are universal kits which you cut to size, available in most DIY shops at a cheap price. Metal filters are better as they are normally washable in a dishwasher (but check the maker's instructions first).
If you have no access to an outside wall and smells from cooking are a problem, you might consider adding a carbon or charcoal filter to your recirculating hood. These are not supplied with the hood and can be quite expensive, so it might pay to check before you buy.
Carbon/charcoal filters soak up fat and nasty smells and can make a big difference to the quality of air in your kitchen. How often you replace them is dependant on how often you cook, but as a rough guide every six months seems average. Carbon filters and vent kits can be expensive but check out your local DIY shops as they often supply universal kits at up to a third of the cost of branded kits.
If you are venting, please note that venting kits are not normally supplied with the hood. If you have access to an outside wall from where your hood is located, there is no question that a vented hood is the best option. It may cost more for the fitting, but once it is done you will reap the benefits.
For most people, a basic hood will have more than enough extraction power to cope with their needs, but for people who use their kitchen to its full potential, the model's extraction rate should be considered. For example, if you cook a lot of spicy dishes or fish, the last thing you want is for the smell to be lingering for days! So always check the rating for any extractor and if possible compare it to the one you are using at present so that you have some idea of what to expect.