While homeowners may covet superior professional-style cooktops, they often overlook the importance of ventilation hoods.

"I've heard people say, 'I really don't need a vent,' " says Christine Shaw, owner of Limited Editions Design in Denver, Colo. "We have to tell them, 'Yes, you do.' "

Powerful wall-mounted and island vent hoods may require complicated ductwork, but knowing how to select and install them properly can mean profits for pros.

"Most builders are indicating to us that kitchens sell homes and that the upgrade packages are the key to getting homes sold," says Blake Woodall, director of sales and marketing for Vent-A-Hood. "Even in the moderately priced homes, we are seeing these [appliance] upgrades go in."

Getting Started

The vent hood should be selected only after the cooktop is chosen, pros say. The hood should be 6 inches wider than the cooktop to effectively catch grease, moisture, and odors. "If you have a 36-inch cooktop, you'd want a 42-inch hood," Shaw says.

This is especially true for hoods mounted above an island, says Marty Troiani, marketing manager for GE Appliances' Monogram brand. "When you go to an island, you lose that back wall, which helps move smoke and steam up it." Greater power also is required, he notes, adding that the company's ZV950 hood offers 750 cfms in the wall-mount version versus 1,050 cfms in the island model.

Cooktop strength also is a key consideration. Standard gas burners might generate 6,000 to 9,000 BTUs, but professional-grade ones crank out 15,000 BTUs or more. Lower-cfm hoods, such as low-profile or combination microwave/venting units, usually aren't appropriate for use with professional-grade products.

Before installing a hood, it's important to install the necessary ductwork, being careful to limit the number of turns. "Every time you make a turn in your ducting, you're cutting down your performance," says Karen Collins, marketing communications manager for Broan-NuTone. "A direct shot is best and limiting the number of turns is all the better."

Pros recommend venting to the outside rather than to the attic or other interior space. Some cities, like Denver, require construction of a secondary make-up air duct to replenish the air sucked up by powerful hoods in tightly built homes.

Hoods should be installed 30 to 36 inches above the cooktop. Although consumers may choose to alter the height–"a pro basketball player might want it higher," says Troiani–the hood's performance declines the farther it is from the heat source.

Contemporary Styling

Starting about 15 years ago, homeowners "wanted to look like chefs," says Woodall. The result was a trend toward large stainless steel hoods to complement pro-style appliances.

Stainless steel hoods still are popular and complement other materials such as easy-to-clean tempered glass. Once primarily used in urban lofts and contemporary homes, they're finding their way into the average single-family dwelling.

This modern feature can include lower-profile, slim-line designs that may feature metal arcs. But, low-profile models cannot adequately capture the enormous amount of heat put out by professional-grade ranges and cooktops, says Frank Paone, vice president of marketing for Abbaka.

While many customers want the look of stainless steel, Kent Eberle of Eberle Remodeling in Sacramento, Calif., says some homeowners are tiring of the metal, which can show fingerprints and can scratch.

While stainless steel is "still very important," Collins says, owners of upscale homes are increasingly turning to other materials such as wood, stone, plaster, or copper to create a softer, less commercial look.

"What's really popular right now is that the homeowner or designer designs their own hood and uses inserts," says Collins. Cabinetry, shelving, stucco, or tile can be used to complement the unit.

Vent-A-Hood began offering metal rustic-look canopies as a custom product about eight years ago, and made them standard offerings five years ago. Since then, the style has gone from 1 percent of the company's sales to more than 40 percent, Woodall says.

To create a rustic elegance, Abbaka offers four antiqued metal finishes: antique copper, antique bronze, blackened stainless, and, new for 2006, hammered aged copper. But good looks aren't cheap; the finishes add $2,500 to $3,000 to a unit's retail cost. "Sure it's the nicest but it's also the most expensive look to achieve," comments Eberle.

Looking Forward

Increasingly, manufacturers include sensors to automatically regulate ventilation, remote controls for easy accessibility, and easy-to-read LCD displays. In the future, industry officials predict that these features will become the norm, along with sleeker, quieter models. "It's not your grandmother's range hood anymore," says Collins.

Tomorrow's vent hoods also could hearken back to decades past. For example, some manufacturers are returning to the bright colors popular in the 1950s such as red or turquoise.

The industry traded enamel for powder-coated colors because they're harder, available in a greater variety of hues, and better for the environment than enamel, says Woodall. Aga ranges, for example, sport such finishes. As decorative trends seem to be cyclical, "that may be a direction the American public leans toward," he adds.

–BUILDING PRODUCTS

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VIKING. The Designer 36-inch glass wall hood offers a dimmer control for custom halogen lighting, a heat sensor, and a delay feature that turns the hood off automatically. The hood features a 1/2-inch-thick glass canopy and a 12-hour timer built into the ventilator controls. Customers may choose from separate interior or exterior ventilator kits. 888-845-4641. www.vikingrange.com.

Viking. The Designer 36-inch glass wall hood offers a dimmer control for custom halogen lighting, a heat sensor, and a delay feature that turns the hood off automatically. The hood features a 1/2-inch-thick glass canopy and a 12-hour timer built into the ventilator controls. Customers may choose from separate interior or exterior ventilator kits. 888-845-4641. www.vikingrange.com.

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KITCHENAID. The KitchenAid Architect series hood liner, which is 36 inches wide and has a stainless steel finish, can be ordered with a 900- or 1,200-cfm rating. It features grease mesh filters, hidden variable speed controls, and halogen lighting. Custom cabinetry can be built around the model to create a unique look. 800-422-1230. www.kitchenaid.com.

KitchenAid. The KitchenAid Architect series hood liner, which is 36 inches wide and has a stainless steel finish, can be ordered with a 900- or 1,200-cfm rating. It features grease mesh filters, hidden variable speed controls, and halogen lighting. Custom cabinetry can be built around the model to create a unique look. 800-422-1230. www.kitchenaid.com.

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ZEPHYR. The Concave vent hood combines a cylindrical satin-finished stainless steel chimney with a sweeping blue-painted aluminum hood. The product features an internal blower with a 600-cfm capacity and halogen lighting to illuminate the cooking area. Designed by David Lewis, the hood relies on a ductless technology that cleans and redistributes the air with carbon fibers. 877-937-4975. www.zephyronline.com.

Zephyr. The Concave vent hood combines a cylindrical satin-finished stainless steel chimney with a sweeping blue-painted aluminum hood. The product features an internal blower with a 600-cfm capacity and halogen lighting to illuminate the cooking area. Designed by David Lewis, the hood relies on a ductless technology that cleans and redistributes the air with carbon fibers. 877-937-4975. www.zephyronline.com.

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GE APPLIANCES. The Monogram professional restaurant-style hood is crafted of hand-buffed stainless steel and operates at a maximum venting capacity of 1,200 cfm. The model features infrared warming lights and halogen lamps for illuminating the cooking surface. 800-626-2000. www.ge.com.

GE Appliances. The Monogram professional restaurant-style hood is crafted of hand-buffed stainless steel and operates at a maximum venting capacity of 1,200 cfm. The model features infrared warming lights and halogen lamps for illuminating the cooking surface. 800-626-2000. www.ge.com.

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DACOR. The Integrated ventilation system can be inserted into a custom canopy hood to maintain a unified kitchen design, says the manufacturer. Shown in a stainless steel finish, the product includes variable blower controls, halogen lights, and dishwasher-friendly filters. A remote blower is required for some models. 800-793-0093. www.dacor.com.

Dacor. The Integrated ventilation system can be inserted into a custom canopy hood to maintain a unified kitchen design, says the manufacturer. Shown in a stainless steel finish, the product includes variable blower controls, halogen lights, and dishwasher-friendly filters. A remote blower is required for some models. 800-793-0093. www.dacor.com.

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BEST BY BROAN. This exclusive F.A. Porsche design features an aluminum, matte-finish skin, dishwasher-safe filters, halogen lighting, and a telescopic flue for 8- or 9-foot ceilings. The model also includes a blue LCD display, a Heat Sentry sensor that automatically adjusts blower speed to high when needed, and optional ducted or non-ducted custom extensions. 800-558-1711. www.bestbybroan.com.

Best by Broan. This exclusive F.A. Porsche design features an aluminum, matte-finish skin, dishwasher-safe filters, halogen lighting, and a telescopic flue for 8- or 9-foot ceilings. The model also includes a blue LCD display, a Heat Sentry sensor that automatically adjusts blower speed to high when needed, and optional ducted or non-ducted custom extensions. 800-558-1711. www.bestbybroan.com.

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FANTECH. The company's kitchen ventilation system includes a stainless steel hood liner, a remote fan, and a in-line silencer. The hood liners–which are available in 30-, 36-, 42-, and 48-inch sizes–feature variable speed controls, dimmable halogen lights, and removable aluminum filters, and are pre-wired for use with in-line or exterior-mounted fans. 800-747-1762. www.fantech.com.

Fantech. The company's kitchen ventilation system includes a stainless steel hood liner, a remote fan, and a in-line silencer. The hood liners–which are available in 30-, 36-, 42-, and 48-inch sizes–feature variable speed controls, dimmable halogen lights, and removable aluminum filters, and are pre-wired for use with in-line or exterior-mounted fans. 800-747-1762. www.fantech.com.

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VENT-A-HOOD. Also called the "wedding cake" range hood, the wall-mount model CWJH9 offers a stacked formation with sharp edges and corners to emphasize its modern design.It also can be manufactured as an island hood. The unit is equipped with a patented blower that traps cooking contaminants, liquefies grease vapor, and removes heat-polluted air, says the manufacturer. 800-331-2492. www.ventahood.com.

Vent-A-Hood. Also called the "wedding cake" range hood, the wall-mount model CWJH9 offers a stacked formation with sharp edges and corners to emphasize its modern design.It also can be manufactured as an island hood. The unit is equipped with a patented blower that traps cooking contaminants, liquefies grease vapor, and removes heat-polluted air, says the manufacturer. 800-331-2492. www.ventahood.com.

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ABBAKA. The new hammered aged copper finish, shown on the Gemstone octagonal hood, is one of several antiqued finishes available from the company. This hand-hammered and artificially oxidized finish is sealed to eliminate any staining or tarnishing caused by fingerprints and airborne moisture. The Gemstone hood consists of eight panels (six for a wall-mounted unit) fusion-welded into a solid piece. 800-548-3932. www.abbaka.com.

Abbaka. The new hammered aged copper finish, shown on the Gemstone octagonal hood, is one of several antiqued finishes available from the company. This hand-hammered and artificially oxidized finish is sealed to eliminate any staining or tarnishing caused by fingerprints and airborne moisture. The Gemstone hood consists of eight panels (six for a wall-mounted unit) fusion-welded into a solid piece. 800-548-3932. www.abbaka.com.

On the Range

Combination microwave/vent hood units are popular because they free up countertop space and leave more room for cabinets. But some pros question the safety and functionality of these products and even advise customers not to buy them.

"People could possibly scald themselves" by pulling hot dishes down from higher microwaves, says Dave Mathews of Denver-based Churchill Construction.

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WHIRLPOOL. The Velos SpeedCook oven is an over-the-range combination microwave and ventilation system. It uses a five-speed exhaust fan and multiple filters to draw odors and grease from the range and a heating coil for convection cooking, and has the capability of a traditional microwave. 800-253-3977. www.insideadvantage.com.

Manufacturers refute those concerns. "It's convenient for most people; they don't have to bend over," contends Bob Lewis, assistant vice president of product development for Dacor, who says his company has looked into the safety concerns.

Kent Eberle of Eberle Remodeling in Sacramento, Calif., says the product's dual function makes it a space saver, but cautions customers that "they don't generally function as well" because they don't pack high cfms and are not designed to handle the higher BTUs from pro-style ranges.

That's why Whirlpool designed its 300-cfm Velos model with features like non-metal handles that won't overheat when exposed to high BTUs, notes Melodie Nakhle, brand manager for Whirlpool cooking.

–Monica Soladay