Do all kitchen fans need to vent outside? Does a bathroom fan have to run to the outside?"

If you have read our other articles, you may be wondering if all the fans in the kitchen need to be outside.The answer is no.

It depends on the fan you buy and the best one for your kitchen.Let's find out which fans don't need ducting.

Kitchen hoods are very common in the UK.Through the ducting in the wall, you can extract the air out of your kitchen.There is a hole to be drilled in the wall.

If you have some do-it-yourself knowledge, you can install these on your own.You have to drill a large hole in your kitchen wall.This isn't often practical.

When it is not possible to run ducting through a wall, recirculating hoods are used.In this case, the air is sucked into a hood and then pumped back into the room.If you can't get the air to the outside, these are great.They have drawbacks.

These units are new to the market.A downdraft extractor rises up from behind your cooker and sucks the smells and steam out of your kitchen.They still use the same methods as traditional hoods and fans.Downdraft extractors are really neat and we have a separate article about them.

People think recirculating hood units solve a lot of problems.You don't need to drill a hole or fit the ducting in place to install them.They sound like they do a good job, right?

The air outside is more efficient than the air inside.Vented fans are easier to use than recirculating hoods.Recirculating hoods can be a lot more expensive than the extraction hoods.

To make sure that a recirculating hood does its job, you need to invest some money.The recirculating hoods that are made by the top kitchen appliance manufacturers, like Rangemaster, cost a bit more.

It's the same for downdraft units.These are the newest units on the market and they are very powerful, but they aren't the cheapest solution to your problem.

They are stylish and do work well as they extract the odours and steam out of your home via ducting under the floor.

When they aren't being used to offer a modern style to your kitchen, they are not visible.Downdraft units can be difficult to install yourself.

Which hood should you buy?It depends on what you need in your kitchen and the price you want to pay.Here is a simple equation that you can use to work out your kitchen needs.

If your kitchen is 3 m wide, 2.5 m high and 4 m long, you would need a rate of 300 m3/h.The cooker hood should have a rating of this size.If you can't find a recirculating hood in your price range, you should choose an extraction hood.