8 Best Quiet Range Hoods in 2022 - Mealprepify.com

Meal Prepify Best Value Pick – Awoco Super Quiet Split Insert Range Hood

Even though Awoco is newer than some of the other brands in the Meal Prepify review, they’re finally starting to make a name for themselves thanks to their range of high-quality, feature-packed kitchen products.

This fan is built to be installed into a pre-existing “chimney-style” range hood cover. If your old fan has finally given up the ghost, then picking up one of Awoco’s replacements could be your easiest and most affordable solution.

The range hood comes in three different sizes. Each version is built to the same high standard with top-quality stainless steel parts. The device feels extremely solid and durable when you hold it, which is always a good sign that it’s going to last for a long time.

Considering this range hood has a slim, minimal design, we were surprised to discover that it can produce an incredible 800 CFM of suction power. It most cases, you probably won’t need this kind of power. Thankfully, Awoco has included 4 different speed settings for you to cycle between.

The noise output ranges from 40 dB at low power to just 50 dB at the 800 CFM maximum. It’s not the quietest range hood on this list, but these are still very impressive numbers. You’re extremely unlikely to be disturbed or distracted by the fan when it’s in action.

The range hood features two bright LED lights on the underside, which heat up the cooking space below. Everything is controlled via a convenient control panel on the front of the device. The buttons are all backlit too, so you know exactly how fast the fan is going at any time.

There are loads of fantastic ultra-quiet range hood options on this list, and we apologize for adding another into the mix! We couldn’t have not included this Awoco range hood though, which is a super versatile and powerful option. It’s one of the quietest powerful range hood options!

Pros:

• Fantastic stainless steel finish – Stainless steel parts give this range hood a premium feel.
• High power – 800 CFM from a device of this size is certainly impressive. One of the most powerful range hoods we’ve featured here.
• Low noise output for the power – Despite the high power, Awoco have managed to keep noise production to a minimum.

Four Types of Kitchen Range Hoods

Before you think about what to look for in a range hood, it’s important to recognize what types of kitchen range hoods exist. 

There are four main types of vent hoods you’ll find:

1. Under cabinet
2. Wall mount
3. Island
4. Hood insert

1. Under cabinet

An under cabinet range hood sits under a set of cabinets. Complicated, right?

These are often smaller or sleeker. They tend to take up less space so if you have a small kitchen, this is likely what you’ve got. 

Walk in your kitchen. If your range hood is sitting under some cabinets, then this is the kind of range hood you need. 

The good news is that they’ve still got all the power of other range hood types and they tend to be cheaper. 

2. Wall mount

A wall mount range hood sits above a stovetop and is mounted on the entire wall with no cabinets above it. These are typically longer and will have a duct running up to the ceiling.

You tend to find these in medium-large sized kitchens. They take up valuable cabinet space that smaller kitchens can’t afford to give up. 

The downside of a wall mount is that they tend to be a bit more expensive.

3. Island

If your kitchen has an island with a stovetop, then you’ll have to buy an island range hood. These drop down from the ceiling and are positioned directly above the island. 

It’s important to know that just because you’re bougie and have an island in your kitchen, that doesn’t mean you’ll need an island range hood. You only need one of these if your stovetop is part of your kitchen island. 

These are much less common. They also tend to be more expensive and harder to install.

4. Hood insert

A range hood insert is a unique product.

Some kitchens have a built-in structure for the range hood with ductwork already in place. These are most common in luxury kitchens that have a decorative build-out for the range hood where the insert can just slip in. 

The hood insert is exactly what it sounds like. It’s just the vent hood portion of the range hood that you insert. 

The good news is that these tend to be cheaper. 

Our favorite range hood insert is the last one on our list: the Awoco Super Quiet Split hood. This can be inserted into an undercabinet or wall-mount setup.

Ductless vs Ducted Range Hoods

The main difference between ducted and ductless range hoods is where the air travels. Ductless hoods clean the air and return it into your kitchen after being filtered. Ducted hoods send the air and particles outside. 

Ducted hoods

A ducted hood has an air duct that connects to the range hood and runs outside. As the range hood sucks up air and particles, it shoots it all outside. 

Ductless hoods

These hoods don’t draw in air and it gets sucked through a filter. Once the air is “cleaned” it gets returned back into the kitchen. 

How do I know if my range hood is ducted or ductless?

The easiest way to find out if your range hood is ducted or ductless is to look in the cabinet above it. If you see a duct, then you have a ducted system. Most wall mounts and island hoods are ducted, but if you see a return vent near the top of the hood then it may be ductless. 

You can also look at the exterior wall of your house by your kitchen. You’ll likely see a return vent where the air gets sent outside. 

Range Hood Sizes

Range hoods come in a variety of sizes. If you buy the wrong one, then it won’t fit in your kitchen so it’s critical to get the right size.

The most common range hood sizes are 30 and 36 inches, but some can get up to 42 or even 48 inches. 

How Do I Know What Size Range Hood I Need?

If you’re trying to figure out what size your quiet range hood should be, then we’ve got you covered. 

Range hoods should extend a few inches past the width of your cooking space. This is so they can catch air as it drifts up and out from your stovetop. The standard sizes are 30 and 36 inches.

If you have an under cabinet or wall mount, then you really can’t go bigger or smaller than what you already have in place. The easiest thing to do is just measure your current range hood and buy the same size. 

If you’re designing a kitchen, then you’ll want to add about 3 inches to your stovetop length. 

If your stovetop measures 30 1/2 inches like mine, then you’d want to buy a 36 inch range hood. 

If you have a bigger stovetop like a 5 burner, then you’d need to get a bigger range hood, like a 40 or 48in. These will obviously be more expensive.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Quiet Vent Hood for your Kitchen

There are a few factors that you need to think about before buying a quiet range hood. 

1. Power (CFM)
2. Noise level (Decibels or sones)
3. Price
4. Filter types

Noise level (decibels)

If you’re trying to find the best quiet range hood, then your noise level is going to be the most important factor. Range hoods are usually measured in decibels, but sometimes you’ll see one that is measured in sones. 

We went ahead and converted them all to decibels so we can compare apples to apples.  These are the different range hood sound levels. 

In our opinion, anything under 65 decibels is considered a quiet range hood. 

Power (CFM)

The more powerful your range hood, the better it will suck out dirty air while you’re cooking. If you’ve ever been in a kitchen where the range hood doesn’t actually do its job–that’s probably because it’s a weak range hood. 

Power = getting the job done.

The “power factor” is measured in CFM, which is the cubic feet per minute of air that the hood will suck out of your kitchen. The higher the CFM, the more air it can pull and the cleaner your kitchen will be. 

Here’s a breakdown of each unit we reviewed and what their CFMs are.

The tricky part though is that the more powerful your range hood, the louder it tends to be. Power and noise level are correlated.

The Awoco might be the most balanced at 800 CFM with only 40-50 decibels.

As your CFMs go up, so do your decibels.

The key is to buy a range hood that has various power levels.

This means that when you’re home by yourself or cooking a meal with lots of smoke, you can crank it up to full speed.

But when you have friends over or want to run it on the quietest setting, you can have it humming along in the background. 

Price

While the relationship of noise level to power is the most important, price still matters. 

You want to get the best bang for your buck. Prices change from time to time, but right now, here’s our list in order of pricing. 

• Best value: The Awoco 11-3/4″D Super Quiet range hood might be the best value purchase. It has multiple settings so you can get as low as 38 decibels or if you need to crank it on full speed, you can hit 800 CFM. Depending on what you need, this one can be the second strongest or the second quietest. It’s also well priced. 

Filters

Most range hoods require filters that actually filter the air that gets sucked into the range hood. This is how the air actually gets cleaned out. 

If you’re buying a ductless hood, then the quality and effectiveness of the filter is extremely important. Some ductless hoods will have multiple filters to best purify the air.

There are several different kinds of filters. 

1. Baffle Filters – Very popular because they do the best job filtering out cooking grease without being clogged up. They don’t need to be cleaned as often and they minimize risk of fire. 
2. Mesh filters – Typically made of metal such as carbon or magnesium. 
3. Charcoal filters – Not reusable so they have to be replaced each time. They are effective at filtering out grease and other particles. 
4. Aluminum filters – Tend to be less expensive and easier to clean because many kinds are dishwasher safe. These are reusable!
5. Stainless steel – More durable and rust-resistant.