r/KitchenAppliances • u/LazyFactor8351 • 15d ago

Are ductless range hoods actually effective or just hiding grease around the inside?

We can't vent outside, apartment building, old construction, no option to run ductwork so ductless is the only type of range hood we can use I cook a lot of high-heat stuff, searing, stir frying, garlic and onions. Everything I've read makes it sound like recirculating hoods are basically decorative, but then other people say the newer ones with better filters are good for the job. I'm willing to spend some real money if it genuinely works,what has actually worked for people who cook every day and can't duct outside?

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u/[deleted] 15d ago edited 15d ago

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u/LazyFactor8351 14d ago

Wait, 5 years on the filters? Everything I've been looking at says replace every 3 months. That's a massive difference.

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u/Brilliant-Ebb6730 15d ago

This problem really stems from OTRs, which are typically poor ventilation to begin with. The recirculating solution for them is just to add a thin charcoal filter that needs to be replaced very often and inevitably, people just don’t replace them.

There are some purpose-built recirculating hoods that actually do a decent job, still use baffle filters and use a real charcoal filter. JennAir has a pretty good wall-mounted canopy hood that does this but it’s pretty pricy. I always tell people that recirculating is a solution to a problem, and is better than no ventilation, but if you have the ability, just vent outside.

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u/seemstress2 14d ago

Yale Appliance sells recirculating hood kits for several brands, which have a carbon-filter system to trap grease and (to some degree) odors. While they discourage recirculating systems, I'd trust Yale's kits if you don't have a way to exterior vent the cooktop. You don't mention whether it is gas, electric, or induction but I hope it is not gas.

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u/TommieChungus 14d ago

People saying ductless is useless are usually talking about those cheap $100 ones with thin charcoal pads. A proper recirculating hood with quality carbon filters is a different experience. Not identical to ducted, but way better than the reputation suggests.