Stovetop Venting?

[Mark Henry]

Downdraft works OK on steam, but it's not good enough for the smoking grill, a boilover will not go down the vent. I've never noticed much of a draft on the flame.
Enzo, if you look that mason jar only catches the grease from the grill.

If I was to stay with downdraft I'd buy a regular cooktop and install a kitchenaid pop-up vent, but they are spendy. Our cooktop is in the island and an hood would be a ugly visual obstruction to our open concept kitchen. That said when I do a remodel I'll most likely ditch the island, cooktop and wall oven for either a basic white stove or a commercial unit.
Unless it's commercial (that looks sexy even when dirty) I think SS is gimmicky and a PITA with kids paw prints.

[PorscheGAL]

Thanks for all the responses. This is the space I am working with. There is no hope of a hood. The path up is blocked by another room above. The only choices I see are down draft, recirculating or no vent. I am just amazed at the difference in price between a stovetop with a vent and without. I also don't love the idea of giving up what small space I have for a vent. I have to be honest: I never use the draft I currently have. I rarely use oil in a quantity that it splashes out of the pan. I do cook everyday: breakfast, lunch and dinner (stay at home mom). My kitchen has 5 windows that can be opened to air out any smells. Thanks again for all the responses.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by look 171

A Vent-A-Hood is one of the quiet and better units out there and they don't cost as much as a viking or Wolf with better performance. You want quiet and effectiveness, get a roof blower to suck the air out. Install muffler(s) to reduce turbulence. Not too many people know about the mufflers, but they are around should you need them. They quiet up about 50% of noise.

Randy,

Do you really want to look at a commercial blower unit on your roof? Still there is a huge amount of air going through the pipe(s). You will hear all the wind noise right at the hood on the inside of your home hauling azz through the ducts. The motors are pretty quiet on most decent units but a roof mounted units are the best way to go if you have the bucks.

I have a flat roof, so it isn't that big a deal. I already have the vent up there so not sure if wind noise would be increased (?)

BTW - they do make mushroom shaped units that don't project outwards much.

P-Gal must first find out what the local code requires and they are not always uniform across the US.

[RWebb]

P-Gal - give us a wide shot of the room - where is the nearest wall?

Consider relocating the cook top...

[look 171]

All you need is under there unless you want to hack up the upper cabinet and the ceiling to run a duct work to the outside. It can be done but.. I wouldn't. Get the down draft unit and be done with it. My sister has her cook top on her island without a vent on top. Her house doesn't really small like grease or food because they don't cook all that much. She can get away with it, for now.

I am not too clear about the new gas cooktop. Does it come with a downdraft unit built into the cook top, or is the down draft unit a separate unit that goes behind the cook top? The ones I have install are separate. That means you might have to cut the counter top to get it to fit in there. It looks like Black Absolute you have there?

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by PorscheGAL

Do I need venting on a gas cooktop?

Here in Michigan that part of the code changed recently, much more strict. Must vent to outside, check your state/local codes.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by RWebb

I have a flat roof, so it isn't that big a deal. I already have the vent up there so not sure if wind noise would be increased (?)

BTW - they do make mushroom shaped units that don't project outwards much.

P-Gal must first find out what the local code requires and they are not always uniform across the US.

Randy,

It is the huge volume of air going through a narrow space, like a standard 6 inch duct in must homes, that makes the most noise. Like a jet engine. Its isn't just installing a big motor that pull lots of air. It will work better then a little motor, but noise level will increase. Most dirty contractors don't understand this, or they don't care. When its done, you have a very loud vent system every time you cook.

Most residential remote mounted units aren't that big unlike commercial one that are belt driven.

[enzo1]

Originally Posted by Mark Henry

Enzo, if you look that mason jar only catches the grease from the grill.

My bad, you are 100% right

[Zeke]

Downdrafts are used in islands a lot. There are a lot of directions the cooking byproducts can go. In PorscheGAL's situation boxed in like that, a downdraft cooktop would be efficient, IMHO. Maybe not as good as a hood, but with her conditions at hand, I'd go with it.

[RWebb]

she just might be forced into a downdraft - but they are just not a good design for fluid flow

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by look 171

Randy,

It is the huge volume of air going through a narrow space, like a standard 6 inch duct in must homes, that makes the most noise. Like a jet engine. Its isn't just installing a big motor that pull lots of air. It will work better then a little motor, but noise level will increase. Most dirty contractors don't understand this, or they don't care. When its done, you have a very loud vent system every time you cook.

Most residential remote mounted units aren't that big unlike commercial one that are belt driven.

Thanks - I understand what you are saying (I study animals and their "issues" with fluid flow...)