Wall-Mounted Range Hoods

Commercial-style range hoods work a little better and cost a lot more

Wall-mounted range hoods have been used in commercial kitchens for decades, but they're a relative newcomer to the residential market. Compared to typical under-cabinet models, wall-mounted range hoods are much larger, more powerful and perform a little better. They're also far more expensive -- starting at around $450 and often exceeding $1,000. The main reason for this price difference is that even basic wall-mounted range hoods are almost a luxury product. Features like halogen lighting, touch pad controls and stainless-steel filters are standard, as are high-CFM blowers.

Another major difference between the two types is styling. Under-cabinet range hoods are designed to be as unobtrusive as possible, and many are almost invisible. This isn't possible with a wall-mounted installation, however, because there's no cabinet to hide the canopy and chimney. Instead, most wall-mounted range hoods are designed -- with bold lines and gleaming stainless steel -- to stand out and make a statement: "This is the home of a serious cook."

The GE Profile JV936DSS (*Est. $850) is a 600-CFM range hood that performs well in professional tests and receives a Best Buy award from ConsumerGuide.com. It produces 7 sones on high -- a little better than average for a wall-mounted range hood -- and has four fan speeds and dual halogen lights. While it receives good recommendations and reviewers say the lighting is especially bright, this range hood has a few notable drawbacks. Most wall-mounted hoods include a canopy and chimney, but the GE Profile only includes the canopy portion. You can buy the chimney separately (for about $150) or you can hide the duct behind a soffit or small cabinet near the ceiling. If you want stainless-steel baffle filters you'll have to pay an additional $180. The GE Profile JV936DSS is available in a 30-inch width, and as the GE Profile JV966DSS (*Est. $880) in a 36-inch width. Both have stainless-steel finishes but are also available in white, black and bisque versions.

The bargain-priced Kenmore 50303 (*Est. $510) only draws 270 CFM, but airflow rate doesn't always translate to effectiveness. In fact, this wall-mounted range hood outperformed the 600-CFM GE Profile and several other high-CFM range hoods in smoke removal tests. Kenmore range hood doesn't reveal the sone rating for this model, but lists "quiet" as a feature and owners posting comments to Sears.com agree that it doesn't make a lot of noise. It has an infinite fan speed slider, but uses aluminum mesh filters and incandescent lights. While stainless-steel filters and halogen lights are nice to have, the Kenmore performs remarkably well and has the stylish look of a much more expensive range hood. User feedback for this model is limited, but it does receive a perfect average score in a handful of owner reviews at Sears.com. The 30-inch Kenmore 50303 is available in stainless steel only; the Kenmore 50363 (*Est. $555) is a 36-inch version.

Another inexpensive wall-mounted range hood -- chimney included -- is the Atlas Cavaliere-Euro SV218B230WM (*Est. $450). Like the Kenmore 50303, this range hood looks far more expensive than it is. Considering its price, it has a surprising array of features including halogen lights, six fan settings, delayed shutoff and a filter cleaning reminder. Although it sports a 900-CFM internal blower, it's still fairly quiet, producing 7 sones on the highest setting. At Overstock.com, this range hood earns an average of 4.4 stars (out of five) in about 20 reviews. However, the high overall rating appears to be based on the range hood's price and appearance rather than performance, and several owners remark that it isn't very effective. The Atlas Cavaliere-Euro SV218B230WM is available in stainless steel only, in 30-inch and 36-inch widths.

Custom-built range hoods are showing up in more high-end kitchens, and small companies are popping up on the Internet to meet the demand for unique kitchen ventilation systems. We read both good and bad experiences from owners of custom range hoods at GardenWeb.com's appliance forums. Because each range hood is built to different specifications, it's hard to predict how it will perform under real-world conditions. Seemingly cosmetic changes, like a modification to the shape of the canopy, can have a significant impact on the range hood's ability to trap air rising from the cooktop. If you're considering a custom range hood, be prepared for sticker shock: most cost several thousand dollars and must be ordered (and paid for) several months in advance.

If your budget or time frame won't accommodate a custom range hood, Viking's range hoods offer more options than most. The Viking VCWH3048 (*Est. $1,700) can be fitted with a 300-, 600-, 900- or 1,200-CFM blower. For extra-quiet operation, the blower can be mounted externally (outside of the house) or in-line (inside the walls or roof). This model includes an infinite-speed fan speed control, a heat sensor that automatically adjusts fan speed, halogen lights, stainless-steel baffle filters and heat lamps to keep food warm. Optional accessories include a chimney extension (for vaulted ceilings), warming shelf, accessory rail and backsplash. We haven't seen owner reviews for this model, but it did perform very well in professional tests. The Viking is available in 30-, 36-, 42-, 48-, 54-, 60- and 66-inch widths. Finishes include stainless steel and 23 colors -- from pumpkin to iridescent blue -- with optional brass trim.