Non-Boating Gas Cook Top Question

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Byrdman

New member
I need help from our gang here on installing a gas cook top instead of an electric cook top in a kitchen in a home...?

Venting the gas?? Is this an issue? Do the gas cook tops have some type of down draft and external vent in a home? I have never had one myself, but love cooking on one.

Thanks

Byrdman....looking at homes in Clarksville TN.....wishing I was on the river...instead of on the road.
 
Byrdman":3lc0ps4v said:
Venting the gas?? Is this an issue? Do the gas cook tops have some type of down draft and external vent in a home? I have never had one myself, but love cooking on one.
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Click to expand...
For gas cooktops, a vented range hood is usually a code requirement. For you, coming from Alabama, it may already be a major issue. 8)
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I installed a 6-burner Dacor cooktop when I renovated my house and vented it with a downdraft system mounted directly behind the cooktop.

In my opinion an overhead hood that vents outdoors is the most effective for removing grease-laden air and heat. I chose the downdraft, however, for architectural reasons and because I like to talk to my guests while I cook and an overhead hood would have blocked the view and broken up the open feel between my kitchen and dining room. My cooktop is in a peninsula and not against an exterior wall. The downdraft vent is a very short run from the countertop to the crawl space and directly out through a hole cut in the center of the rim joist. The Dacor model downdraft system I installed sits flush with the back of the cooktop when not in use; when you turn it on it raised up out of the counter about six inches and starts venting.

If you're in a single story home, I'd look into venting straight up all the way through the roof. The straight shot will vent better than having a bend in the duct. I also prefer not to have the vent cover on the side of the house if possible. If you have a two story home I'd mount the system directly to the wall and vent it outside.

If you have more questions, you can email me and I'll see what I can do.
 
Byrdman":1r4god7g said:
Venting the gas?? Is this an issue? I have never had one myself,.. Thanks

Byrdman....looking at homes in Clarksville TN.....wishing I was on the river...instead of on the road.
Click to expand...

Hey Byrdman, with all your gas, you must surely have a vent, or at least a warning label! :shock: :lol:

When you going to Peru?

Charlie
 
Sneaks":2c8kmu1s said:
For gas cooktops, a vented range hood is usually a code requirement.
Click to expand...

Yup...and even if it isn't required in your area, get one anyway.

Best you can get, IMO...Vent-A-Hood. You'll pay a bit more, but they really suck...in a good way. They're also incredibly easy to clean - just pop a clasp, and everything that needs cleaning drops right out for a quick trip to the dishwasher.

Have you decided on a cooktop? If not...I'll toss another suggestion your way. We did a pretty major remodel of our kitchen several years ago - looked at all the high-end gas cooktops. Plenty of good ones out there, but we've been really impressed with Dynasty - cheaper than some of the better known brands, but built like a tank. Here's a link to their cooktops - we've got a 48" with a grill and a wok burner. The wok burner puts out some serious heat...35,000 BTU's if memory serves. In addition to wok cooking, it's great for boiling that huge pot of water, or my favorite - getting a cast iron pan near red-hot for restaraunt quality blackened cookin'. Just gotta make sure the Vent-A-Hood has all four blowers going on high, or we'll set off every smoke detector in the house... :mrgreen:
 
Pat,

I believe that you are under the IRC code in your area, for One and Two Family Dwellings..

Section G2424.8 (501.8 ) Equipment not required to be vented.

The following appliances shall not be required to be vented:
1. Ranges.
2. Built-in domestic cooking units listed and marked for optional venting.
more....

Where the appliances and equipment listed 1 through 7 above are installed so that the aggregate input rating exceeds 20 Btu per hour per cubic foot of volume of the room or space in which such appliances and equipment are installed, one or more shall be provided with venting systems or other approved means for conveying the vent gases to the outdoor atmosphere so that the aggregate input rating of the remaining unvented appliances and equipment does not exceed the 20 Btu per hour figure.

Now in english----
If the cook top you want to install is listed for installation without a vent, you don't need one, as long as it does not exceed 20 Btu per hour..

To be on the safe side install one--- either a downdraft or an overhead.

(Can we really build to the minimum code requirements?)
 
Byrdman... While I agree that a vent for the smoke, grease and cooking fumes is a good idea, I think your initial question probably meant,"Is there a pressing need to vent the gas burners' fumes?"

Although long term gas burning would certainly leave dangerous fume levels, my experience with traditional gas stove is that you just hook up the gas and turn it on. Most home stoves have no vent/flue setups like a furnace would. you could look it up in a local CABO guide - the building code book. Of course, venting the cooking fumes, smoke and some of the combustion by-products is nice, but I don't think it is required due to the short time stoves are actually lit. In my motorhome, the "vent" is really just a filter and does not move inside, combusted air to the outside.

Most gas stoves come with a warning not to use them as a heat source. I think the Wallas is vented primarily because it is expected to be used as a heat source, i.e., be on for long periods of time.

Good luck on your ventures! John
 
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