A ducted vent is a ventilation system that directs air, such as smoke, steam, or odors, from inside a building to the outside using a series of pipes or channels called ductwork.
In the context of kitchen appliances like range hoods, ducted venting is a highly effective method for clearing the air. As described for ducted range hoods, which are sometimes called external venting hoods, they rely on external venting that pushes smoke through ductwork and out of your home. This system physically removes contaminants from your indoor air and expels them outdoors, providing a cleaner and fresher kitchen environment.
How Ducted Venting Works
The operation of a ducted vent system is straightforward:
- Capture: The vent hood or fan unit captures smoke, steam, grease particles, and odors produced during cooking.
- Transport: This captured air is pulled or pushed by a motor or fan through the connected ductwork.
- Expel: The ductwork terminates at an exterior wall or roof, allowing the polluted air to be released outside the building.
This process ensures that pollutants are permanently removed from your home, rather than being filtered and recirculated.
Ducted vs. Ductless Venting
Understanding the difference between ducted and ductless systems is key.
- Ducted Venting: As mentioned, this system pushes smoke through ductwork and out of your home, providing true external exhaust.
- Ductless Venting: Also known as recirculating venting, this system operates differently. It filters air and recirculates it in your kitchen rather than expelling it outside. While filtering can help remove grease and odors, it does not remove heat, humidity, or all pollutants from the air.
| Feature | Ducted Venting | Ductless Venting |
|---|---|---|
| Airflow | Expels air outside | Filters air and recirculates it indoors |
| Air Quality | Removes heat, humidity, pollutants permanently | Filters grease/odors, leaves heat/humidity/some pollutants |
| Installation | Requires ductwork installation/access to exterior | Easier to install, no external access needed |
| Effectiveness | Generally more effective for pollutant removal | Less effective for humidity/heat removal |
Ducted venting is typically the preferred method when possible due to its superior ability to remove airborne contaminants completely from the home.
