If the noise of a kitchen extractor hood bothers you at the end of a long day, you are not alone.
On social media, videos describing kitchen fans’ “absolute sensory nightmare” are garnering thousands of views and comments.
If your kitchen is not equipped with a range hood or exhaust fan, unpleasant smells and smoke could be affecting your well-being. Research shows that kitchen fans serve an important purpose for both your home and your health.
Do you really need an extractor hood when cooking?
It’s a good idea to use your kitchen extractor fan if you have one.
“Cooking produces all kinds of emissions that are not necessarily good for our health. By using exhaust air, they are removed from the air,” says Lidia Morawska, head of the International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health at the Queensland University of Technology.
Exhaust fans capture and filter steam, odors, smoke, grease and other potential contaminants created during cooking.
According to Professor Morawska, frying at high temperatures in particular is associated with higher emissions.
Standing at the stove and inhaling pollutants can have serious health effects over time.
“We’re talking about respiratory, cardiovascular, systemic problems,” she says.
“Basically, every system in our body is affected.”
Even though the exhaust fan doesn’t remove all dangerous particles from the air, any functioning kitchen fan will significantly reduce exposure, she explains.
By cleaning the filter regularly, you can ensure that the kitchen fans continue to function properly. (AdobeStock)
What can you use instead of a kitchen exhaust fan?
For those who do not have an extractor hood in the kitchen, opening a window or door is the best alternative, says Professor Morawska.
“If there is no other option, ventilation must be increased by any means available to the room,” she says.
Portable air purifiers are another option, but they can be expensive and offer only a partial solution, says Professor Morawska.
“The size of the air purifier must fit the room. If that’s the case, yes, then it works.”
However, air purifiers only remove the particles in the air, not the gaseous products that are also released during cooking, she explains.
The question “Electric vs. Gas”
Also consider whether your home has an electric or gas stove.
“From a health perspective, electric stoves are much safer than gas stoves,” says Professor Morawska.
While electric stoves themselves do not emit harmful pollutants, only the particles created during cooking, gas stoves also emit gaseous combustion products, she explains.
According to a 2023 report published by Asthma Australia, gas cooktops are the most common type in Australia.
Their use is linked to asthma attacks and the development of asthma in childhood, the organization says.
Do kitchen extractor hoods have to vent to the outside?
Kitchen range hoods come in many different styles. The most common options include freestanding wall hoods, under-counter models that are built into the kitchen cabinets, fixed hoods, and retractable hoods that can be pulled out when needed.
There are also exhaust fans, which are hidden behind the hob and rise up when cooking. However, the US research group Consumer Reports has rated them as the least efficient.
Tests by Australian consumer group Choice found that wall-mounted and fixed range hoods are the most efficient because they cover a larger area above the cooktop.
Another difference is where the air goes after it is sucked into the filter.
Extractor hoods with an exhaust system suck in the air and direct it outside, while recirculation hoods return the air back into the room after filtering it. Choice states that extractor hoods with an exhaust system are the preferred option according to their own tests.
In order for the extractor hood filters to function properly, a certain amount of maintenance is required.
Aluminum mesh filters can be cleaned at home following the manufacturer’s instructions, while other types of filters need to be replaced, Choice’s website says.
Recirculating cooker hoods are equipped with carbon filters, which also need to be replaced regularly. However, how often depends on the type of cooking and the frequency of use.
According to Choice, every three to six months is the most common manufacturer recommendation.
