ever used one?

The wifey really wants her cooktop out on the kitchen island/bar. I had first thought about building a vent for it, and piping it out the roof using the same stove pipe that I'll be using for the wood stove, but saw these downdraft units on some DIY show the other day. They seemed to really like them on TV, but I'm sure they like the sponsorship dollars more...

Here's a built in one I found on Lowe's website. I'd prefer to use the built in kind, but... Black and electric are the only restrictions we have on a cooktop right now...

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...KBB&lpage=none

 

Unless you go with a higher end model, the vent will not pull hardly anything away. They are more used to meet building codes that say you need a vent, just don't say where or how well it works. I've used a couple of these and you don't want to put anything that smokes on the stove, it doesn't pull anything off. IMO you'd be better off putting in a very nice looking vent hanging down from the cieling.

 

I'd have to agree with jbporter. Don't go cheap. JennAir, I believe is a good brand.

I think these things are pretty cool. The only problem I've ever seen is with the installation of the vent. We recently did a kitchen remodel where they used one of these. The blower motor underneath was too close to the (inside, front of the) cabinate. It took some fancy work to get it piped down. Also, make sure that there is enough room in the basement to run the venting to the sill (to the outside). If your doing new construction this should be easier than if your remodeling.

I personally have never used a down draft unit. Many of our customers have them and say they like them.

 

We have one on our Modern Maid (no longer in business, sold out to Maytag). It's a gas cooktop with a grill on one side, two burners on the other and a downdraft vent in the middle. Ours works fantastic. If you stand to close to it you're in danger of being inhaled!!! When you have the gas on and turn on the vent it sucks the flame sideways. Maybe Modern Maid is a higher end model, I don't know but I do know that it works.

 

So, is it the built in ones that don't work as well, or is just a quality thing. I like the idea of the built in one - one less thing to try to mount in the counter top... I still haven't ruled out building a hood, but...

 

jenn-aire works well for a good quality, easily obtainable brand...there are more options in high$$ stuff

fwiw, i've lived in houses with the jenn-aire that are almost 20 years old, and they still work great

 

You'll be ok with the Jenn-air model. They are made by Maytag and are very good products. I used to work for Lowe's as a delivery driver and delivered a ton of Jenn-air appliances. I can't remember anyone ever complaining about them.

 

Thanks all...

I'll check into the jenn-aire models... I think the wife is really liking the idea of a built in unit as opposed to hanging a vent from the vaulted ceiling...

EDIT: Found this one at Lowe's and ebay... I'll see what the wife says...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MakeTrack=true
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...BDB&lpage=none