Ventless cooktop or Downdraft cooktop?

Question

We are building a new home. In the kitchen is an island. The choice is to have a downdraft cooktop or a ventless cooktop. The builder needs to know now which option. I have found the ventless cooktops at various stores, but not much information. Does anyone know much about them?

Answer 1

Downdraft

They are slightly more expensive but vent less means that all the smoke, steam and other gases that happen when you cook just spread out into your house. This is not a bad thing if you cook bacon for every meal but even boiling water can be a pain with a vent less because the steam will condense above your range and either warp your wood or make your stainless look greasy.

Answer 2

The name "ventless" tells the story. You will not have cooking odors removed from the kitchen. Go with the downdraft.

Answer 3

Ventless  do not work well, I am a builder, downdraft cook tops are the way to go. I have a ventless hood in my home, I wish I didn't.

Answer 4

Ventless hoods don't do a whole lot to remove smoke, odors, and vapors. They suck the steam and smoke through a wire mesh filter that's supposed to trap out airborne grease. But, it's not all that effective. The air is then recirculated back into the kitchen.

With a vented downdraft hood, the steam, smoke, and vapors are pulled down out of the air and physically vented out of the house.

I've had a ventless range hood before and there may as well not have been a hood there at all. Go with the vented downdraft. You'll be very pleased with it.