Do you really need a cooker hood?
Cooker hoods haven’t always been commonplace in kitchens. In fact, they used to be the exception rather than the rule. That’s why it isn’t uncommon to see older kitchens, especially ones that haven’t had an overhaul in a while, without a kitchen extractor fan.As they’ve proven themselves to be a valuable addition, they’ve become the norm in most modern kitchens. This can lead to some confusion if a cooker hood is just a modern convenience or an actual legal requirement.
Is it a legal requirement to have an extractor fan in the kitchen?
Whether or not you need kitchen ventilation will depend on a few things:UK building regulations state that “if you carry out any building work, and there is an existing extract fan, or a cooker hood, extracting to outside in the kitchen, you should retain or replace it. However, if there is no existing ventilation system, you need not provide one.”
The reason there are exceptions in place is to help preserve listed properties as they have protections surrounding aesthetic and structural changes to preserve the historical architecture.
New builds, kitchen extensions and properties do require kitchen some form of kitchen ventilation.
Is a vent hood required by code?
While new builds and extensions require ventilation, it doesn’t need to be a traditional cooker hood. Most people will still choose a cooker hood because they’re purpose-built for kitchen ventilation, making it the simplest way to meet code requirements.If you are refurbishing an existing kitchen that doesn’t currently have an extraction fan, you don’t need to install one. It is still highly recommended though as without proper ventilation you can soon find problems with mould due to condensation from steam.
If you’re refurbishing a kitchen that does have a fitted kitchen extractor fan, you need to keep it or replace it with an equally effective extraction method.
How do you ventilate a kitchen without a cooker hood?
In kitchens without a kitchen extractor fan, there are alternatives to create ventilation. The most common is a wall-mounted fan which directs airflow outside or a window fan.Neither of these methods is specifically designed to deal with steam, grease and odours from your cooker so you’ll find they’re not as effective as kitchen extractor fans.
What does a cooker hood do to help ventilate your kitchen?
If a cooker hood isn’t a legal requirement, why have they become such a common kitchen appliance? It’s really down to how effective they are at not only keeping mould away but minimising grease build-up and ensuring food smells don’t linger around after cooking.Most forms of cooking create some kind of steam, even when you open the oven door you’ll find steam escapes. Kitchen extractor fans ventilate the steam, either outside or through a filter that is then recirculated back into the kitchen. If the steam isn’t extracted, it will build up as condensation. This creates the perfect environment for mould which carries a wide range of health issues.
Kitchen extractor fans also help remove grease, making it much easier to keep the kitchen clean as it minimises build-up across your cooker and work surfaces. Cooker hoods with charcoal filters are also especially good at neutralising cooking odours.
There are two main types of extraction methods cooker hoods use to achieve this which we discuss in more detail in our guide on how to choose a cooker hood.
Ducting extraction fan
Ducting is fitted to your kitchen extractor fan which leads outside your home. These are more powerful than recirculation extraction fans as they don’t need to filter the air. They simply push the air outside through the ducting using a motor fan.Recirculation extraction fan
Ducting is not always practical, or possible, so recirculation is another ventilation option. Recirculation hoods don’t extract air to the outside and instead, they filter the air, grease and cooking odours through a charcoal filter before recycling it back into the kitchen.These filters need to be replaced every so often, you can find more handy tips in our guide on how to clean an extractor fan.
Are cooker hoods necessary for every type of cooker?
As we’ve discussed, legally, you don’t need to use a cooker hood for ventilation but you do need ventilation. As kitchen extractor fans are purpose-built to provide ventilation for your kitchen they are, by far, the easiest way.One concern is if you are able to fit a cooker hood for a cooker that isn’t installed on an outside wall. We discuss this in our guide to installing extractor fans. It is a misconception though, as island extractor fans, downdraft extractors and ceiling extractor fans can all be fitted away from walls – giving you multiple options to choose from.
If you’re using a recirculating cooker hood, you’ll also find you don’t need an outside wall as you’re not ventilating the air outside.
What type of ventilation can be used for your extractor fan?
How your cooker is powered will impact the type of ventilation you can use. Open-vented fossil fuel burning stoves, like a log-fire stove, aren’t able to use ducted extractor fans for safety reasons.It’s also a legal requirement that cooker hoods are positioned at least 75cm above a gas hob (65cm for an electric hob) for safety reasons.
All of CDA’s extractor fans can be ducted or recirculated, so you don’t have to compromise on the style of extractor fan that best suits your needs.
Do you need a cooker hood for an electric oven or an induction cooktop?
The purpose of an extractor fan is to remove steam, grease and cooking odour which occur whatever style of cooker or hob you have, so ventilation is required regardless.What is the best extractor fan for a kitchen?
The best extractor fan for your kitchen will entirely depend on where your cooker or hob is placed and if you want something streamlined or a statement piece.If you have an island hob, you wouldn’t be able to use a chimney cooker hood as it needs to be wall-mounted, but you could use an island extractor fan or ceiling extractor.
We have information on all the types of kitchen extractor fans to make sure you can find the right one for your home in our handy cooker hood guide.