ᐅ Induction cooktop with downdraft extractor, unducted recirculation – any experiences?

Good evening everyone,

Today the installation of our kitchen was completed. An AEG Flexbridge 2-in-1 induction cooktop with a recirculating extractor hood was installed. Due to the cabinet layout and appliance components, this is set up as an "unguided recirculation" system. My kitchen fitter did not create a slot in the plinth or similar. According to him, the air escapes through the cabinets and so on.
Google tells me that the after-run function is important to keep the area dry after cooking.

Are there any professionals here who can approve this installation situation?
I have attached a photo.

Thanks in advance.
Good luck

Although I personally prefer a ducted recirculation system, the non-ducted version has the advantage of taking up even less space – since your countertop is quite shallow, this is probably a decisive factor.

On this basis, Google is absolutely right – and as far as I know, your cooktop will also have an automatic feature (the after-run starts automatically when you turn off the hob).

However, I would recommend this automatic function even with a ducted recirculation system – the filter will thank you...

For flow dynamics reasons, I would still have a cut-out made in the toe kick.

I’m here because of your post in the thread “Construction costs are currently skyrocketing” ;-)

Am I understanding correctly that your extraction system simply blows the air from the countertop downward into what looks like drawers? If you have a large pot of boiling pasta there, the exhaust air is quite humid, and the filter alone won’t be able to retain all of it. Even if there is a small liquid collection container installed, the moist exhaust air will still condense on everything nearby, or am I mistaken? Besides that, sooner or later it will get greasy, since who cleans the filters thoroughly every few weeks over decades with the same discipline?

In any case, it’s good that you bring up this topic. We haven’t considered that at all for our new kitchen so far and will definitely follow up on it now. It won’t be installed until January 2024.

*Edit:
How do you fully open the window in the kitchen?

hauskauf1987 schrieb:

My kitchen installer didn’t cut a slot in the base or similar. According to him, the air escapes through the cabinets, etc.

That’s true and it works,
but it’s uncontrolled, which means mold could start developing in places you never see.
The installer took the easy way out 😕 and surely nothing will happen during the warranty period.
If after 10 or 20 years a smell appears, I would be suspicious 🙄 .
I would have it changed—I don’t want that stuff turning into a hose over 20 years and spreading inside the cabinets.

Thanks in advance for your answers.
I’ve attached a picture of the components that came with the stove. In my opinion, some parts for installing a ducted exhaust system, which could have been installed if there had been enough space, are missing, right? (Elbows, grilles, or similar)
I’ve also attached a photo of the cabinet (please don’t be confused; the installation was started by a “technician” who unfortunately was not capable. Another installer from the kitchen studio then completed our kitchen).
So, would you recommend cutting a groove through the entire base? I want to avoid mold developing anywhere over time. My installer said he has installed similar systems exactly like this before and hasn’t had any problems so far (well, issues might only show up much later 😀).

@allethewayup The faucet can be “unhooked” when opening the window – company FRANKE Neo Atlas Window (I hadn’t considered this and initially ordered the wrong faucet 🙂 )

You are blowing the moist air under your countertop ideally against the cool exterior wall?

I wouldn’t cut any slots there; I’d either vent the moist air directly outside or install a recirculating hood above the stove.

The air under your kickboard reaches 100% relative humidity within minutes when you cook pasta, and it just drips down there.

What good would slots do? Warm, moist air rises, it doesn’t go down. For proper air circulation, you also need ventilation slots at the top of the countertop. One slot might be enough for the normal room humidity in the kitchen, but not for the tropical climate you’re creating with your exhaust hood under the countertop.