Have you ever walked into someone’s home and been over powered by odors? That could be because they have poor kitchen ventilation or they do not use the ventilation they have. Not only does poor ventilation fill your home with odors, it can actually damage your upholstered furniture and other surfaces as well as cause irritation to your respiratory system.
When you cook with poor ventilation, the heat, smoke, and steam create airborne particles and odors that circulate throughout your home. Eventually the particles will settle onto all your surfaces: walls, ceilings, flooring, countertops, furniture, clothing, etc. As well as filling them with odors, those particles will degrade your upholstery fabrics, causing you to have to replace them more often.
Effective ventilation has many benefits:
- It removes grease particles from the air before they can settle on your surfaces.
- It keeps your kitchen comfortable by removing heat buildup.
- It eliminates odors.
- It eliminates steam and smoke so your smoke detectors do not get activated.
- It saves energy by differentiating between good and bad air. Poor ventilation can remove clean air created by your HVAC system.
- It saves you work because you will not have to clean your surfaces as often, particles are removed instead of settling on surfaces.
But it’s not ALL about function
As more and more people create their dream kitchens, they not only want something functional…they want something that looks good, too. Today there are so many options when it comes to implementing ventilation into good design; some people choose to make it a feature in their kitchens while others want it to blend into the room. Here are some ideas…and a few things you should watch out for.:
Functional and decorative – the focal point in this kitchen makes a bold statement via the black color.
In addition to ventilation, this island hood provides overhead lighting.
The functionality is great, but this appears to offer additional cabinet space over the range. In reality, the cabinet is filled with duct work and offers very little storage.
This vent is part of the microwave’s functionality. It might not be as attractive as some other options, but it’s just as functional and great for small spaces.
Where’s the vent? Inserts are perfect for very clean line, contemporary kitchens where you want your ventilation to disappear or…
…in more traditional kitchens where you want the ventilation to match your cabinets or walls.
Another option when you want your ventilation to disappear is popup downdraft ventilation. However, downdraft ventilation is usually not as powerful or effective as overhead.
To find out more about kitchen ventilation and what might be the right option for you, I encourage you to visit CopperSmith’s site at www.WorldCopperSmith.com.