Hello everyone,
We are currently building a new energy-efficient house and are considering whether to have a core drill hole installed for kitchen exhaust ventilation. Our chosen range hood can operate either as exhaust or recirculation. The project manager recommended using the hood in recirculation mode with activated carbon filters. However, the kitchen installer advises exhaust mode, as only this option supposedly eliminates odors and similar issues effectively.
We are now conflicted and thinking about having the core drill hole made but initially not using it, operating the hood in recirculation mode instead. The core drill hole would be fitted with an external grille cover and internally closed off with a cap. If needed later, we could connect the hood with a duct and have the setup ready for that.
From your point of view, is this a sensible approach, or am I missing something? What would you recommend? Should we have the core drill hole made or rather not?
Thanks in advance and best regards
We are currently building a new energy-efficient house and are considering whether to have a core drill hole installed for kitchen exhaust ventilation. Our chosen range hood can operate either as exhaust or recirculation. The project manager recommended using the hood in recirculation mode with activated carbon filters. However, the kitchen installer advises exhaust mode, as only this option supposedly eliminates odors and similar issues effectively.
We are now conflicted and thinking about having the core drill hole made but initially not using it, operating the hood in recirculation mode instead. The core drill hole would be fitted with an external grille cover and internally closed off with a cap. If needed later, we could connect the hood with a duct and have the setup ready for that.
From your point of view, is this a sensible approach, or am I missing something? What would you recommend? Should we have the core drill hole made or rather not?
Thanks in advance and best regards
N
nordanney19 Mar 2026 07:56Tolentino schrieb:
@nordanney I think he is referring to controlled residential ventilation with heat recovery. You can't really sugarcoat that, it should be fine. An exhaust vent in the kitchen is standard after all. Then it would be fine.
I think I once read that mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (exhaust fans are supposed to be used only in windowless rooms)... meaning that mechanical ventilation already extracts air, and if an additional exhaust hood also does this, the air quality in the room can no longer be maintained. You then have to open windows to get enough fresh air.
Without my building advisor or structural engineer, I wouldn’t install my home’s technical systems in an inefficient and uncomfortable way just because an exhaust hood is considered absolutely essential by a kitchen installer.
Anyone who installs mechanical ventilation in their house places their exhaust opening right next to the stove.
Without my building advisor or structural engineer, I wouldn’t install my home’s technical systems in an inefficient and uncomfortable way just because an exhaust hood is considered absolutely essential by a kitchen installer.
Anyone who installs mechanical ventilation in their house places their exhaust opening right next to the stove.
After careful consideration, we have decided to go with a vented exhaust solution. Our chosen range hood has a vent connection with a diameter of 150 mm (6 inches). We had originally planned a core drill hole of 130 mm (5 inches), but our kitchen installer thinks this might be too small. Currently, a core drill hole of 160 mm (6.3 inches) is planned. I have two questions regarding this:
Thank you very much in advance!
- Is a core drill hole of 160 mm (6.3 inches) necessary in our case, or would a diameter of 130 mm (5 inches) possibly be sufficient?
- Which wall vent box would you recommend to avoid any issues regarding energy efficiency, especially considering KfW funding requirements?
Thank you very much in advance!
N
nordanney20 Mar 2026 21:34Haus2626 schrieb:
Is a core drill hole of 160 mm necessary in our case, or would a diameter of 130 mm possibly be sufficient? Haus2626 schrieb:
Our chosen range hood has an exhaust outlet with a diameter of 150 mm. Thank you, you just answered your own question. A 150 mm (6 inch) duct will not fit through a 130 mm (5 inch) hole.
Haus2626 schrieb:
Which wall box would you recommend to avoid any issues regarding energy efficiency in relation to KfW funding? A properly certified one.
The good ones are suitable even for passive houses. Brand does not matter. In my experience, Naber products have worked well.
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