How to install a venting hob

When a traditional cooker hood is inconvenient or tricky to squeeze in, venting hobs offer a clever solution. But installing one isn’t a simple job.

Before rushing off to buy a pricey new venting hob, you need to consider the practicalities of where to locate it, the question of extraction or recirculation, and, of course, installation costs. Here’s everything you need to know before you invest.

Say good riddance to steam and smells with the best venting hobs.

Choosing your venting hob’s location

If you want to have your new hob on a kitchen island, a venting hob could be the ideal purchase. There’s no need for a separate extracting cooker hood, so you have greater flexibility as to where your hob can be positioned.

That said, a venting hob is a bit like an iceberg – most of it is hidden out of sight beneath the surface. The filter, motor and ducting system are all under the worktop. It means that you can’t have a venting hob directly over a built-in oven, and you’ll lose significant cupboard space underneath.

If you’re keen to save as much storage as possible, it’s worth asking your kitchen fitter for sink drawers. These wrap around the motor and are a decent compromise if you need all the space you can get in a busy kitchen.

Venting hobs tend to have a greater surface area than most other hobs, too, accommodating the burner plates together with the vent itself. So you’ll sacrifice some of your worktop space.

The main thing to measure for your new venting hob is the width and depth. Make sure it fits the unit or work surface you’d like to place it on, and that no cupboards hang over the hob.

Choose your perfect model with our expert venting hob reviews.

Air extraction vs air recirculation

When fitting a venting hob, you have a choice between extracting the vapours to the outside or recirculating them back into your kitchen. There are pros and cons to each method.

Air extraction

Pros

• More effective at removing steam, odours and airborne particles.
• No need to regularly clean filters.
• Great at removing humidity and moisture.

Cons

• Requires enough room to run ducting to an exterior wall to expel the air. Ducting starter kits cost from £100 to £200 and you will need additional parts too, potentially adding significantly to the price.
• Installing ducting into an existing kitchen is disruptive and expensive.
• Won’t be effective if badly installed or ducting needs a winding route to the outside.

If you opt for air extraction, you must take care where the dirty air ends up. It can’t be vented onto a neighbour’s land and should not be close enough to cause them a nuisance. But you’ll still want it to protrude far enough away from your own home that the moisture and smell don’t bother you and other inhabitants.

Air recirculation

Pros

• Easier to retrofit into an existing kitchen.
• Can take up less space as no ducting is required to run outside.
• Slightly more energy efficient as it keeps warm air inside the home.

Cons

• Less effective at removing humidity and steam.
• Filters need changing every four months or so (around £5-10 each).
• Odours will linger for longer.

We only test venting hobs in extraction mode, as our survey data suggests that this is by far the more popular option with Which? members. We rate each venting hob on how well it removes steam, grease and smells from our test kitchen.

Find out more about how we test venting hobs

Switching between gas and electric

Venting hobs are almost exclusively electric, and heat by induction. Gas and ceramic electric venting hobs are available but rare. So far, we’ve only tested induction models.

It means that if you currently have a gas hob, you’ll most likely need to consider the implications of changing to electric, including:

• Capping your gas line, and, in most cases, adding a dedicated electrical circuit, which can be disruptive and expensive. You’ll need to employ an electrician as well as a gas installer.
• Splashing out on new induction hob pans if your current ones aren’t compatible.
• The ongoing cost. While induction hobs are more energy efficient than gas, gas is currently still cheaper than electricity.

On the plus side:

• You’ll be moving to a cleaner, safer, more energy efficient hob that’s far easier to clean when you have spills.
• Induction hobs are quicker than gas, too, taking an average of 4.6 minutes to bring a large pan of water to the boil, compared to 12.4 minutes on gas.
• The air pollution in your kitchen will be reduced – there’s evidence that nitrogen dioxide (NO2) produced by gas hobs can cause harm.

If you’re switching from a regular electric hob with a plug to a vented hob, your new unit will be more power-hungry. Not only does that mean potentially higher bills, but also that it will need to be hardwired into the mains. You or an electrician will need to check your consumer unit to make sure it can accommodate the new venting hob.

Thinking of switching? Read out guide - Gas vs induction: which hob type is right for you?

Choosing your hob installer

While most major stores or retailers offer installation as an added extra on regular hobs, we’ve yet to find one offering this service for venting hobs. That’s because the installation process is much more complicated and tailored to your particular kitchen. That's why venting hobs are easiest to install as part of a wider kitchen renovation.

Instead, use a certified fitter who has experience installing venting hobs. This will help to ensure your safety and that you’ll be given all the necessary paperwork. Plus, you’ll have a greater chance of recourse if you are unhappy with the building work they’ve done.

Head over to Which? Trusted Traders to find an electrician near you.

Can I install a venting hob myself?

Hardwiring an electric hob must be carried out by a qualified professional. The ECA (Electrical Contractors' Association) advises that electricians should be Part P registered in order to undertake certain electrical work in homes, such as new circuits and new consumer units.

Engaging a trained fitter should also ensure that you avoid breaching your appliance’s warranty. The terms and conditions of Neff’s warranty document, for example, state that: ‘No warranty liability will be accepted if the defects stem from… improper installation and assembly, improper use… or failure to observe operating or assembly instructions.’

How to find a reputable trader: accredited tradespeople, avoiding rogue traders, dealing with disputes

Moving to a new home that has an existing hob

You won’t often come across a vendor that wants to take their built-in hob with them to the next property, which means you’re likely to be cooking on an existing appliance. Before you exchange, ask them whether there are any certification and instruction manuals available. For full peace of mind, have your own electrician check out the work to satisfy yourself all is in order.

• If the hob is gas, ask your seller whether it has a gas safety certificate. If not, for peace of mind, get a Gas Safe-registered engineer to carry out a safety check and make sure that the hob is not emitting carbon monoxide. This is best done before you move in, if possible.
• If the hob is electric, you should get an electrician to give it the once-over and a safety certificate before you use it.

How much do electricians cost? See how much you can expect to spend