Today's range hoods are good-looking

A little embarrassed that you burned dinner again tonight? It's time to turn on the range hood to suck out the bad smell, one of the obvious signs of your kitchen misadventure.

But if the odor still lingers hours later, maybe it's time to take a look at your range hood and see if a new one might be better.

Range hoods remove bad odors and steam from the kitchen. Without hoods, the steam, grease and grime caused by cooking can eventually damage nearby cabinetry.

The hood you choose depends on whether you're starting a remodeling project or a newly constructed kitchen. Range hoods nowadays can be basic or sleek in style with fancy features.

The most basic and often least expensive are under-cabinet hoods, which are attached beneath the cabinets above ranges.

The ductwork is hidden in the cabinets. Basic hoods sell for less than $60 at some appliance stores. It's what you might put in rentals or for economic reasons, says Anh Truong, appliance manager at Fresno Distributing in Fresno, Calif.

Similar in concept are microwave-range hood combinations.

"Generally speaking, they're a little bit of a compromise," says Farshid Assemi, co-owner of Central Distributing. "The problem with them is with the microwave. It can be too high for people to reach. The advantage is space efficiency." They can start at about $125.

Wall-chimney range hoods don't have any cabinets above them to hide the ductwork. Instead, they have covers that conceal the ducts. Island range hoods, which are suspended above island ranges, also have covers that go around the duct. The covers often are metal and match the rest of the hood.

Wall-chimney and island hoods can cost $500 to $5,000, with higher-end models starting at about $2,000.

One trend that's growing, particularly in custom-built homes, is to cover the range hood with a decorative facade.

"I noticed the change about four or five years ago," says Janet Tafoya-Gilchrist, co-owner of Bilsten's Appliance Galleries in Fresno.

The price of these ranges largely depends on the material used for the facade.

Alternatives to these above-range hoods are downdraft units, which are typically in the center of ranges, or retractable telescoping hoods located behind the stove top.

You often see either of these types in island configurations, Tafoya-Gilchrist says. You might pick these if you don't have room for the duct above, she says, or if you don't want anything overhead to obstruct your view. Either of these types costs between $1,500 and $1,700.

However, "these aren't always recommended," she says. "The natural order of things is that steam and smoke go up, and you're forcing it to go down. The better way to go is to go with an updraft" range hood.

Range hoods often come in black, white, stainless steel or sometimes almond colors. However, stainless steel seems to be the popular choice, several appliance experts say. "The majority of remodels -- they're doing stainless steel," Truong says.

Hoods typically have lights -- some newer models may have LED ones -- and several fan speeds. Optional features, often on higher-end hoods, can include heating lamps and automatic venting settings.

Most range hoods have blowers to remove the air. The blowers can be part of the range hood or be separate -- usually either in the attic or on the roof. The external blowers tend to be quieter, but hoods with internal blowers can be easier to work on or to replace.

Hood filters should be cleaned or changed every few months. If you cook a lot, then clean them more often. Many of the filters can be put in the dishwasher.

If you've ever tried to hold a conversation while a hood is on full speed, you know it can be difficult to hear over the whirl. "A lot of people don't like to use kitchen hoods because of the noise," Assemi says.

However, he and several other appliance experts recommend you not only have one, but use it.

"It'll keep your kitchen cleaner," Tafoya-Gilchrist says. "When you're cooking, you're getting smoke and steam into the air. If you have a good ventilation system, they'll go up the flue, and you'll be done with them."

You'll also spend less time scrubbing grease or grime off of the surrounding cabinets and walls.

(Nzong Xiong can be reached at nzxiong(at)fresnobee.com. For more stories, visit scrippsnews.com.)