About our test

The 7 rangehoods were installed above a 90cm ceramic cooktop and ducted to the outside. We then set them to work, looking at how well they removed steam from the room – first with 2 saucepans of simmering water and then with 4. We tested with the fan on high and on low settings.

All these rangehoods can be used without being ducted to the outside: they can be set up so that they re-circulate the air in the kitchen. But we don’t think that’s a good idea. In re-circulating mode they use a carbon filter to remove smells and then push damp air back into the kitchen, possibly contributing to condensation. Re-circulating the air should only be considered if you can’t duct to the outside.

We tested with ducting – so our performance results don’t apply to re-circulating mode.

Noise levels were measured at a high and a low setting. We checked how easy it was to get at and clean the mesh filter, to replace a carbon filter, to use the controls and to clean exterior surfaces. We also measured how well each rangehood lit the stovetop.

See the Test results for details of how all the rangehoods performed.