Top ten things to consider when designing kitchen ventilation for homes

Specifying the right kitchen ventilation is essential for a more comfortable home. Whether one is whipping up quick meals or entertaining in an open-plan space, the right ventilation can dramatically improve air quality, reduce lingering odours, and extend the life of home furnishings and finishes.

‍In this guide, we'll discuss the top ten things to consider when designing kitchen ventilation. With expert insights and smart solutions from Schweigen, you’ll be equipped with all you need to help your client make the best choice for their kitchen and lifestyle.

1. Silent rangehoods

Traditional rangehoods can be very noisy, disrupting conversations and entertainment in any kitchen. Schweigen Silent rangehoods eliminate this issue with externally mounted Isodrive® motors that offer powerful yet near-silent air extraction – perfect for modern kitchens.

2. Ducted Vs recirculating rangehoods

Choosing between ducted and recirculating rangehoods depends on ventilation needs. Ducted systems from Schweigen expel cooking exhaust outdoors for superior odour, grease and steam removal. Recirculating models filter and return air inside, do not mitigate moisture from steam, and may require more frequent filter maintenance.

3. Offboard Vs onboard rangehoods

Cooking odours can linger if ventilation is weak. Schweigen’s powerful offboard rangehoods outperform onboard models – with external motors that silently and efficiently extract airborne grease, smoke and cooking smells to the outdoors, ensuring fresher air indoors.

4. Push Vs pull air extraction

Most rangehoods pull air into the canopy, and then push it through ducting to the outside – creating turbulence and noise during the process. Schweigen’s Silent rangehoods extract air in one seamless energy-efficient pull from outside the home with offboard Isodrive® motors – ensuring smoother airflow, better efficiency, and ultra-quiet air extraction where cooking happens.

5. Best rangehood for open-plan kitchens

Open-plan kitchens require ventilation that removes smoke and odours without excessive noise. Schweigen’s Silent rangehoods are ideal, ensuring powerful air extraction without noise pollution – thanks to the innovative German-made Isodrive® external motor system.

6. Induction cooking ventilation

Induction cooktops generate a lot of steam, heat and airborne grease quickly. Schweigen Silent rangehoods are designed to handle induction cooking with powerful yet efficient extraction to ensure a cleaner and fresher kitchen environment.

7. ‍BAL-40 (Bushfire Attack Level 40) compliance

For homes in bushfire-prone areas, rangehood ducting must comply with BAL-40 standards to withstand extreme conditions. Schweigen Silent rangehoods are built using fire-rated materials, and powered by BAL-40 Isodrive® motors certified by the CSIRO to help prevent airborne embers from entering homes.

8. Indoor air quality in kitchens

Cooking releases grease, smoke, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that affect indoor air quality. Schweigen’s advanced rangehoods are designed to efficiently extract pollutants and airborne contaminants to maintain a healthier home environment.

9. Ducting considerations for rangehoods

Rangehood performance relies heavily on quality ducting that is installed correctly. Only Schweigen Silent rangehoods come with free high-performance Schweigen SteelFlex™ safety ducting to optimise airflow and reduce noise. Antimicrobial treated, thermally insulated and acoustically dampened, it is also fireproof as well as pest- and crush-proof to help keep pests and rodents out.

10. Cooking steam and moisture control

‍Excess steam and moisture in the kitchen can condense on cold surfaces, triggering mould and mildew growth, and providing perfect conditions for dust mites. Apart from damaging cabinetry over time, these can also exacerbate health problems. Schweigen’s powerful rangehoods provide effective steam extraction to help combat moisture issues, and protect homes and the wellbeing of its occupants.