Brands

Range hoods come in four basic configurations, each designed for a specific application: under cabinet (vented and nonvented), wall chimney, downdraft, and island location. They range from 33- to 66-inch widths. Features to look for include high cubic-foot-per-minute capacity, electronic controls, auto start/speed heat sensor, food-warming capabilities, auto extend and retract, filter-maintenance indicators, and halogen lights. Use these profiles to compare range hoods by brand.

Broan/Nutone

The biggest brands in the industry are owned by Notek and have about a 40 percent market share. They make range hoods in all configurations and types, with prices starting in the midrange. Nutone products tend to be lower priced while Best by Broan is the high-end line. You'll find them in Home Depot, Lowe's, Sears, and independent appliance stores.

GE

GE's Profile and Monogram range hoods cover the entire gamut of the category in terms of configuration, features, and price. GE range hoods are sold at Home Depot, Lowe's, Sears, and regional appliance stores.

Kenmore

The majority of the Kenmore's products are in the under-cabinet and wall-chimney configurations, with some downdraft models. Most models are in the low to midrange price categories; the Elite line features more-expensive models. You'll find Kenmore range hoods at Sears and Kmart stores.

Whirlpool

Most Whirlpool range hoods come in under-cabinet and wall-chimney configurations, with a few models in the downdraft category. Whirlpool range hoods are low-to-midpriced and are sold at Lowe's, Sears, and independent appliance dealers.

Other Brands

Vent-A-Hood, Viking, Wolf, and Zephyr sell products in the high end of the market, including 36- and 48-inch range hoods that match pro-style ranges.

See also:

Ranges

Cooktops & wall ovens

Microwave ovens

Humidifiers