A range hood is a standard part of most kitchens, but what does it do? Why is it important to have? The range hood actually fills several roles in your kitchen, whether you know it or not. Therefore, it's important to be well-educated about what it does and where to get a good one.

Ventilation

Image via Flickr by lemonhalf

Range hoods offer much-needed ventilation in the kitchen. Heat, smoke, and oil particles, and even other, more dangerous substances, can be safely taken in and vented outside by a range hood. These are all substances that can make your cooking experience less than optimal, and as such, a range hood helps improve the safety of your kitchen.

Lighting

Most range hoods have lighting underneath that helps to illuminate your stove top workspace. Not 100 percent sure if that cut of meat or those vegetables have the right level of char on them? Switch on your range hood light and check! With just the press of a button, you can make sure your food is cooked to perfection.

Cleanliness

An added benefit to the range hood pulling smoke and grease out of the air is that it won't settle on your surfaces. A properly working range hood means less time spent scrubbing countertops and kitchen cabinets, and cooking up a few pieces of fish won't leave a greasy film on every flat surface in your kitchen. A bonus element of the range hood is that those pieces of fish won't smell up your whole house, either. Strong scents don't seem as strong when you're venting them all away.

These are just some of the basic benefits of getting a range hood for your home. It's also nice to know that they come in a variety of shapes and finishes, and you can almost always find one at a price that won't break the bank.