Can anyone recommend a brand of range hood that’s really quiet? Ours is vented thru the wall and is really noisy, wife is pretty disgusted with it and wants me to replace tha thing. – – we listened to this one in the store too, it seemed pretty quiet there…..
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Ray,
I've just spent the last 2 years researching this, among a million other things, for a new house build we have going on right now.
The quietest option would be to get one with a remote blower option -- the motor will be in your attic. However, this will add to your cost. Both Vent-a-hood and Viking have this option. Perhaps some others as well.
The option we are going with is vent-a-hood without the remote blower. It's very quiet and very easy to clean (important, too!). It won't be so easy to clean if you get the remote blower. We had to compromise on cost and cleaning issues and scratch our desire for the remote. Our last hood fan drove us nuts with it's roar and drove us to look hard for a more acceptable choice.
http://www.ventahood.com/
Good luck!
Doo
Thanks a bunch, there's a dealer about 60 miles from here. We'll check it out this week.
Ray
You don't mention what size fan you have/need--that will make a difference, too.
A remote blower is quieter than an indoor one, and the squirrel-cage design of the Vent-a-hood is also quieter, but there are differing opinions on how easy those are to clean. Most mesh filters just go in the dishwasher, while the squirrel cage must be dissassembled.
Try to minimize bends in the ductwork as well as the length of the run--both contribute to noise.
In the end, if you need a very powerful exhaust fan, you'll have to put up with some noise with it on high. Most likely, you won't need to run it on high very often.
Leigh
I am a domestic goddess! I deserve three ovens (and two dishwashers)! I am a domestic goddess! I deserve three ovens (and two dishwashers)! I am a domestic goddess! I deserve three ovens (and two dishwashers). . .
alot depends on your install... I use to build rest/bars so i have much experience with hoods... I think using commerial parts you could build a simple remote fan hood... check dayton/granger for a smaller roof mount fan... the ductwork needs to be a str8 run from the hood to the fan and needs to be well sealed... very well sealed commerical we were required that they be 100% welded... you only want to remove as much air as it takes so a multi speed fan or switch is good... thats the same air you just paid to heat or cool that you are removing... we always installed a "makeup air system" where we furnished outside air back at the hood so as to only remove as little conditioned air as we could... good filters at the hood will save you from cleaning the fan... all that being said you can do alot to most fans to lessen the noise... different filters will help... balancing the fan blade will really help... a well mounted hood helps... with an extra hour spent on a hood install u can usually cut to noise ALOT every detail helps... even sanding the edges of a fanblade will change how it sounds...
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Thanks for the advice, we were running out of money & picked up a rear-vented hood at HD. Exhaust goes straight thru the wall. I've been considering taking it down & installing rubber tape between the hood & the upper cabinet. I'll give the 'balance the fan' trick a try & let you know what happens.
Last year, I installed a Broan range hood (I don't remember the model, but it was top of the line), and was amazed at how quiet it was. When I put it in and switched it to low speed, I thought I had messed up the wiring........I didn't hear anything. Then, I noticed that the fan light was on and - if I listened closely - I could barely hear it. High speed was a little noisier but not much.
This hood vented straight thru the wall into the garage and the homeowner had someone else finish the ductwork so I don't know if it got noisier, but I doubt if it got much worse.
Whatever you buy, spend the money for a quiet unit. We have a Whirlpool microwave & range hood that we seldom use because of the noise. It's really annoying on low speed and sounds like a jet on takeoff on high.
Thanks, Dave I can identify with the sound of a jet taking off, our range hood is a H-D special. SWMBO just spent a couple of days cleaning the greasy film from all the kitchen cabinets & glass doors. She wants a quiet one. I gave her a set of ear plugs....... that woman has no sense of humor ;-)
You have one of those wives too, huh? Mine just hates the sound of a running fan. When I remodeled the bathrooms a few years ago, she insisted that I rewire the exhaust fans so the lights were switched separately from the fans. I agreed since many situations just need the light without the fan. I also imposed the condition that if she showers without running the fan, I would rewire them. It's worked fairly well so far - lol.