The sone of a range hood is a measurement of how loud it can get. Using a kitchen hood reduces the amount of heat, smoke, grease, and odor that spreads throughout your kitchen. Some people tend to not use their range hoods because of how loud they can be.
By not utilizing this piece of equipment, you sacrifice the benefits you would otherwise enjoy, and even possibly your safety, from using your range hoods. In a kitchen, ventilation is incredibly important. It is important that you find a sone rating that works best for your kitchen.
Range Hoods: Safety First!
While sone is important, safety is paramount. Not only should you find a range hood with the ideal sone rating for your kitchen, but it should also be safe for the space you’re putting it in.
Your cooking style will influence the kind of hood you choose, specifically its blower speed, also known as cubic feet per minute, or CFM. The CFM tells you how powerful that range hood is. If you tend to cook more foods that are greasy, or that let off strong odors, or are in the food service industry, you’ll want a higher CFM to clean the air properly.
What You Should Know About CFM
Range hoods run at five sones. This means that five is the maximum noise level at which that range hood will operate. You must consider the level of noise at which you will feel most comfortable, and then buy the appropriate range hood.
Unfortunately, you will have to deal with the noise of a range hood that effectively does its job if you cook mostly greasy, or if you cook on your range frequently. Lower sone levels are better for individuals who do not regularly cook or only heat food on a lower setting.
It’s important to note that you won’t be running your hood at maximum speed at all times. Even if you do have to opt for a hood with a higher sone, you’ll only need to run it at its loudest when you need to clear the room of smoke quickly.
Types of Range Hood Blowers
When it comes to range hoods, there are three types of blowers: remote (or inline) blowers, local blowers, and external blowers. External and remote blowers are best for reducing the amount of noise your range hood makes. External blowers are installed outside and are completely separate from your range hood. As you might expect, these are more expensive.
Inline blowers are installed inside your chimney. They are located further away from local blowers, which install directly inside the hood itself.
Understanding Sone Levels
A 1-sone or 2-sone rating means the range hood is fairly quiet. For instance, 1 sone is equivalent to a working refrigerator, while 2 sones is the sound of your average office setting.
Even a rating as high as 8 sones isn’t exactly what one would call “loud.” It equates to the sound of busy traffic on the highway. Though, of course, that may be a much louder sound when it amplifies in your kitchen.
A normal conversation happens at the 4-sone level, so this is a good midpoint to help you understand how loud this would be in your kitchen. Your range hood helps you cook cleaner and safer, so even if it’s a little louder than you would like, it’s not a negative thing.
Why Sone Levels Matter
Sone levels are important because they enable you to make a proper decision when purchasing your range hood. When picking out the best kitchen hood, many homeowners tend to look at other factors but neglect to check how loud the range hood is.
This judgment is an oversight, because when you have a hood with a loud extractor fan, you will not want to turn it on. This minimizes the point of having a range hood in the first place.
Factors That Affect How Quiet the Range Hood Is
Apart from sone, you need to consider other elements when looking for a quality range hood to purchase. The other factors that affect the quietness of a range hood include:
- The type of installation: Some common installation types include over your island, under a cabinet, and mounted to the wall. Do you want your range hood ducted or ductless?
- Filters: Every filter in a range hood is unique in its own way, and will therefore have different noise levels.
- Size: The larger your range hood, the more the sound it is likely to produce.
- Extra features: A range hood can come with extra features to improve your kitchen experience such as LED lights, sensors, automatic shut off, and timer.
Can’t Find the Right Range Hood for Your Kitchen? Ambient Edge Can Help!
Not only can the right range hood make your kitchen more comfortable, but it can also improve how safe it is. The right range hood will be able to clear your kitchen of smoke and heat quickly. Unfortunately, this may mean you need to select a range hood with a higher sone rating and more power.
Our experts at Ambient Edge can help you with your kitchen hood. We can compare the size of your kitchen to your cooking habits and advise you on which range hood is a good fit, as well as install it for you too. We’re here for you every step of the process. Give us a call today or contact us online, and we’ll be more than happy to help.