How to Choose a Rangehood: Ducted vs Recirculating Explained
A rangehood is one of the most important and often overlooked components of a kitchen. It removes cooking vapours, grease, heat and odours, protecting your kitchen surfaces and improving indoor air quality. This guide walks through the key decisions: ducted vs recirculating, extraction rate, noise levels and installation considerations.
Ducted vs Recirculating
Ducted Rangehoods
A ducted rangehood extracts cooking air to outside the building through a duct in the wall or ceiling. It is the most effective type — it removes moisture, heat and odours entirely from the kitchen. Ducted rangehoods are the preferred choice wherever installation is possible. They require a ducted exit point through an external wall or roof, which may need to be created if one doesn't exist.
Recirculating Rangehoods
A recirculating rangehood (also called ductless or recirculating) draws cooking air through charcoal filters that absorb odours, then recirculates the filtered air back into the kitchen. It does not require external ducting. It is less effective than ducted — it removes some odour and grease but returns heat and moisture to the kitchen. It's a practical choice for apartments, units or any kitchen where ducting is not feasible. Charcoal filters must be replaced every 3–6 months (ducted rangehoods only need grease filter cleaning, not replacement).
Extraction Rate: How Powerful Do You Need?
Extraction rate is measured in cubic metres per hour (m³/h) and indicates how much air the rangehood can move. The required extraction rate depends on kitchen volume and cooking style. As a rule of thumb: multiply kitchen volume (length x width x height) by 10 for a minimum extraction rate. For gas cooktops and heavy cooking, multiply by 15–20. A typical 3m x 4m kitchen with 2.7m ceiling needs approximately 324 m³/h minimum, 486–648 m³/h for gas or heavy cooking.
Noise Level
Rangehood noise is measured in decibels (dB). Most rangehoods operate at 55–70dB on high speed — comparable to a conversation. Premium rangehoods (Bosch, Miele, Siemens) often achieve 50–55dB on high due to better motor design and acoustic insulation. Noise is particularly important for open-plan kitchens where the rangehood is audible from the living area.
Clearance Height
The rangehood must be installed at the correct height above the cooktop: typically 650–750mm above a gas cooktop and 450–600mm above an electric or induction cooktop. Check your specific rangehood's installation manual for the manufacturer's requirements. Installing too close reduces fire safety; too far reduces extraction effectiveness.
Rangehood Styles
- Canopy (wall-mounted): Mounts to the wall above a cooktop on an external wall. Classic, effective
- Island rangehood: Suspended from the ceiling above a kitchen island or peninsular cooktop. Available in various widths to match island size
- Undermount (integrated): Installed under an overhead cabinet, invisible when not in use
- Slide-out: Retracts under the cabinet when not in use. Compact and discreet for smaller kitchens
See Our Full Range
Oceania Appliances stocks rangehoods from Bosch, Electrolux, Westinghouse, Fisher & Paykel, Smeg, Artusi and more in all styles and sizes. Free delivery across Sydney. Visit 2/14 Centre Place, Wetherill Park (open 7 days, 10am–8pm), call or WhatsApp 0422 489 492, or email support@oceaniaappliances.com.au.