Several years ago while I was working for a cabinet manufacturer I was sent down to a manufacturer of kitchen ventilation systems.  They taught us how ventilating the kitchen not only removes the odor from your kitchen, it also removes heat.  I was fascinated and excited that I had learned some important facts about ventilation.

We redid our kitchen 2 years ago and one of the items that I insisted on was a hood that vented to the outside.  This as it turns out was the best decision that we could have made.  After using the kitchen for two years I think that I have a good feel of how this has worked out.  In the past when my wife would cook in the winter our windows would steam up with condensation.  This no longer happens as the ventilation system takes all the heat and steam away from the cooking area and sends it outside.

When she cooks bacon I can smell it outside but not inside.  In the past when she cooked fish we could smell it for the next day or two, but no longer.  Also as a side benefit I have noticed that the cleaning of the kitchen has become easier.  There is not any grease residue in the house as this also gets exhausted to the outside.   I believe the air quality inside the house is better.

In our modern world of cabinets and appliances, it seems like no one ever exhausts the kitchen fan to the outside.  The space saver microwave used in so many kitchens, is capable of doing this but no-one ever bothers to take the time and expense to run ducting out.

Today’s cabinet manufacturers provide many options that can be used for this purpose. Many wall decorations can be designed behind the range making this an attractive option.  From tile to paint, your imagination is the only limit. In our case we opted for a microwave built into a cabinet and then made the hood a central focal point in the kitchen.    And with this simple addition, I believe our kitchen looks rich and elegant.  I would never have another kitchen that wasn’t vented to the outside.