8 Kitchen Ventilation Ideas and Solutions For Cleaner Air

Last Updated: 6/5/2023

Author: James Zhao, Sr. Tech Specialist & Alex Park, Product Specialist

Every time you cook on your stove, food odors, grease, smoke, and harmful contaminants are released into the air. Fortunately, ventilating your kitchen properly can keep you safe from these pollutants and make for a cooler, more comfortable cooking experience.

While the best way to protect yourself from airborne contaminants is to install a range hood in your kitchen, that may not always be an option, especially if you rent. This article covers eight kitchen ventilation ideas to bring fresh, clean air flow into your kitchen as you cook.

FOTILE has created functional and innovative kitchen appliances for families for over 25 years. Our line of range hoods was designed to remove harmful fumes caused by cooking and improve kitchen environments.

Shop our world-leading range hoods today to enjoy a healthy, happy cooking experience and rest easy knowing that your family is protected.

How to Tell if Your Kitchen Has Poor Ventilation

One of the first signs of poor ventilation in your kitchen will be residue and grease buildup on your appliances, cabinets, and countertops. You may also notice allergies or respiratory problems that only occur inside your home, mold or mildew growth from unescaped steam, or high electricity bills from overworked fans or HVAC systems.

The Effects of Poor Kitchen Ventilation

Without the proper kitchen ventilation systems in place, such as a range hood, exhaust fan, or air purifier, your kitchen and dining room, as well as the rest of your home, could be exposed to cooking smells and harmful chemicals such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.

Exposure to these pollutants can lead to respiratory issues, allergy-like symptoms, skin irritations and rashes, and in some cases, even hospitalization. They can also have an effect on your sleep quality and overall mood.

8 Tips for Improving Kitchen Ventilation

1. Install a Range Hood

Range hoods are the most effective way to improve kitchen ventilation. They are designed to quickly remove dirty and contaminated air from your home and either push it to the outside through a vent or recirculate it after filtering it through a carbon charcoal filter.

There are several types of range hoods that you can choose from depending on your personal style, budget, cooking habits, and space in your kitchen. You can choose between ducted or vent hoods, ductless hoods, or downdraft hoods, and they can be mounted on the wall above your stove, under a cabinet or microwave, or suspended over an island cooktop.

The proper range hood will be about the width of your cooktop and have a powerful enough CFM (cubic feet per minute) to effectively clear the air in your kitchen.

2. Open Windows While You Cook

If you do not have a range hood, try to keep your windows open while you cook. Opening multiple windows will create a draft that can push pollutants out of your home and bring in fresh air. If you have a window fan with an exhaust feature, turn it on to remove additional contaminants and improve airflow.

3. Use Your Stove’s Vent

Many stoves come with built-in downdraft vents or exhaust systems. A downdraft vent is great for small kitchens, as it can eliminate the need for an overhead vent hood. Many of these vents and fans are ductless, meaning they use a filter to remove particles from the air before recirculating clean air into your home.

4. Use an Air Purifier

Investing in an air purifier with a HEPA filter can remove more than 99% of harmful pollutants and particles from the air, including those created by cooking. However, you will have to regularly change the filter for optimal results.

5. Clean Your Stove’s Fan Filter

If you have a stove with a ventilation system or exhaust fans, be sure to clean the filter often. Recirculating fans will typically come with a charcoal filter to remove contaminants, but they will lose effectiveness over time as they become clogged with grease or other particles. Follow your stove’s user manual to routinely clean or replace your filters.

6. Use a Splatter Screen

If you do a lot of high-heat cooking with oil, use a splatter screen over your pans. Grease creates many airborne particles and unpleasant cooking odors, but a splatter screen with a carbon liner can minimize these pollutants and keep your kitchen clean.

7. Turn on Your Ceiling Fan

In addition to opening your windows, turning on your ceiling fan can circulate clean air into your kitchen. While this may not be the most effective option, your ceiling fan can still remove some cooking smells and polluted air if you don't have a range hood or exhaust fan.

8. Add Some Air Purifying Plants to Your Kitchen

Certain plants, such as snake plants, English ivy, and spider plants, are able to detoxify the air in your home. Not only do they add a pop of color to your kitchen, but plants can effectively remove airborne toxins, dust, and germs.

Contact Us At FOTILE For Additional Kitchen Ventilation Support

More than 30 million families worldwide have trusted FOTILE's range hoods to remove polluted air from their homes and protect them from harmful cooking chemicals and airborne particles. FOTILE focuses on safety, innovation, and energy efficiency so that you can rest easy as you bring your family together for meals.

Learn more about our range hoods and other thoughtfully designed kitchen appliances by heading to our Range Hood Collection page.