I want a new range hood, how many CFM (Cubic feet per minute), would i need for mostly Asian/stir fry cooking?

We just moved into our condo, and I want to replace the combination microwave/range hood with just a cabinet mounted exhaust. I was wondering how much CFM (cubic feet/minute) I would need if I mainly cooked Asian style stir frys and the like? I know more CFM's are better, but is there such thing as over kill? Right now the current range hood is only 300 CFM, which is woefully inadequate for even just boiling water.

Any suggestions on CFM's and perhaps features that are helpful? I am currently shopping on Amazon.com and the Tatsumaki brand has caught my eye. The CFM's range from 750 to 950, depending on the model. Any input on the subject would be most appreciated.

equipment exhaust

Best Answer

Use these as personal experiences and not as guidelines for construction or for code-compliant renovations.

You can use the commercial kitchen code as a guideline: for every square foot of hood codes suggest between 50 to 100 CFM (cubic foot per minute) of exhaust capacity. With those guidelines, a hood covering a 36 by 20 inch cooking surface (720 sq. in. or 5 sq. feet) should require 5 time 75 (the average) or 375 CFM.

Now the problem. While many hoods will provide more capacity than that my experience is that they are not enough. Unlike commercial kitchens, home kitchen are missing the blowers that pumps air in. The code for commercial kitchens suggests an in blower at about 90% of the exhaust capacity. If weather permits you can open doors or windows, but that is never like having the air coming in right next to the stove.

This question has also been asked in the DIY Stackexchange as "How many CFM for a range hood do I REALLY need?"

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How much CFM do I need for Chinese cooking?

For every 10\u201d of stove width, roughly 100 CFM is necessary. With frequent Asian cooking, though, you will be emitting more fumes than your average home does.

What is the best CFM for a range hood?

To power your range hood, you need at least 100 CFM for every 10,000 BTUs of your stovetop. For example, a 100,000 BTU stove needs at least a 1000 CFM range hood. For electric stoves, multiply the stove width by 10. So, for a 42\u201d electric stove you want a range hood with at least 420 CFM.

How much CFM do I need for Indian cooking?

How many CFM do I need? For gas cooktops or ranges, you should aim for a minimum ventilation level of 100 CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) per 10,000 BTUs of your cooktop's maximum output. For electric, you should have 100 CFM for every 10 in. of cooktop width.

How do you calculate CFM for a kitchen hood?

If your kitchen is 12' x 15' and 10' high, that equals 1,800 cubic feet. To find the size of fan needed, multiply the cubic feet x the # of air exchanges (15) then divide by 60 (minutes in an hour). In our example that would be: 1,800 x 15 = 27,000 divided by 60 = 450. You need 450 CFM minimum for this size of kitchen.

Range Hood Basics: How Much CFM Do I Need?

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Molly Champion, Klaus Nielsen, Klaus Nielsen, Klaus Nielsen