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Unlike other internet catalog companies and local big box warehouses, TheNaturalHome.com offers a very limited selection of stainless steel appliances. We have sold other brands of kitchen vent hood over the years, but only Kobe Range Hoods have proven themselves over time. They are relatively rare to find locally, likely because side-by-side, specification and cost comparison make higher priced name brands a very tough sell. Over the years, we have painfully learned that manufacturers fail to specify product facts they are not proud of ... big surprise there, eh? Kobe specifies everything: noise level (low sone ratings), stainless steel composition/type (304 or 430 series), metal thickness (18 or 20 gauge), and ACTUAL real-world cubic foot per minute (CFM) ratings. Noise levels are tested in a sound studio with multiple pickup microphones and the unit is installed with two foot vent pipe and an elbow to simulate actual kitchen conditions. Of special note is that some manufacturers quote "blower" CFM ratings, not bothering to tell you that there is a +/- 30% drop once that blower is installed in their hood and air is forced through the vent pipe. Not Kobe ... all Kobe hoods are tested to HVI industry standards in real-world conditions with vent pipe installed to determine the true CFM rating. A 1000 CFM blower rating translates to about 700 CFM when installed in the hood and vent pipe is connected. True performance ratings are what you see listed here, not the blower rating, which is misleading, at best.
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A WORD ABOUT STAINLESS STEEL Three main concerns when shopping for a stainless steel kitchen hood are material thickness, seamless construction and commercial grade. The two main grades (series) used in home appliances are #304 and #430 and both have relatively the same rust "proof-ness". Series 430 is the most commonly used stainless steel in kitchen hoods since it is easier to curve and mold to unique shapes (not just bend). All but one Kobe hood (model CH181) is made with seamless construction. Click here to read more on this subject ... |
Kobe Range Hoods are designed and manufactured by Tosho & Company, Ltd., their Japanese parent company. Tosho & Company, Ltd. has been in the business of selling quality merchandise in Japan and globally since 1966 with such diverse products as machinery parts, luxury automobiles, cleaning supplies for the maintenance industry and, of course, stainless steel range hoods. Kobe has been importing into the United States and Canada for over ten years now and their goal has always been to design stainless steel range hoods that are not only functional, but stylish and economical. The result of their extensive research and development is a series of satin finish seamless stainless steel range hoods that are commercial quality, elegant, powerful and QUIET. Their products (CSA 221547) are certified to Class 3812-01 for Canada and Class 3821-81 for the U.S. This CSA standard meets the requirements of the ANSI/UL 507/705/710 UL507 - Standard for Electric Fans certification. Please note that while units meet the UL710 standard, Kobe markets (and we retail) only residential usage, not commercial oven hoods. Metric widths are rounded to inches for purpose of advertising clarity - consult diagrams for exact metric sizing.
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UNDERSTANDING QUALITY FILTER SYSTEMS As you shop around for a kitchen hood, pay close attention to what happens with the grease. There is an excellent reason why we only retail Kobe hoods: they are engineered to WORK properly. Bargain brands cut many corners, one of which is to install a flimsy set of aluminum mesh screens, in effect allowing heated grease in the filter to drip back onto the stovetop. Without proper filtration, excess grease and moisture also finds its way into your vent pipe and out onto the home's roof. Click here to read more on this subject ... |
The majority of people only use their hood for occasional excessive steam, odor, smoke or grease because their existing hood is too loud to run all the time while cooking. Kobe stainless steel range hoods, with their QuietMode™ feature, are quiet enough to operate continuously AND leave on for a while afterwards to remove residual cooktop heat. As their motto says: QuietMode™ is: "So Quiet, You Won't Believe It's On!" Kobe features multiple speed fan control on all models, so you can get the performance you want, when you need it. Beware of range manufacturer claims that you need a 1000+CFM (cubic feet per minute) hood for any stove - it's a marketing ploy to sell their "commercial" hood with the range. The key to this deception is that unscrupulous hood brands advertise the fan BLOWER rating, not the hood OUTPUT rating. What other manufacturers do not tell you is that the hood output is typically +/- 30 percent lower than the blower rating. Their 1000 CFM blower rating is closer to 700 CFM functional hood output once installed. Kobe laboratory tests their hoods to the most stringent HVI® standards to ensure they are rated for real-world CFM hood output. This involves installing the hood with two feet of vent pipe and an elbow to simulate true operating conditions - something most other manufacturers avoid doing. The industry standard for gas cooktops is 6 CFM of exhaust output per 1000btu of stovetop burner maximum. For instance, a huge six burner 15,000btu range equals 90,000btu total with 6 CFM x 90 equaling a recommended 540 CFM output rating. Local building code naturally has final say, but residential hoods are rarely required to run at higher rates of exhaust unless you are exhausting smoke. And the noise a poorly crafted commerical hood makes at 1000CFM (or even lower speeds) can be overpowering in a home.
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SIZING and PLACEMENT of a RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN VENT HOOD Most people purchase the same width hood as the range, but interior designers are increasingly pairing larger hoods with smaller ovens. The extra expanse of stainless steel lends a more "serious" commercial flare to any design. Smoke and steam plume as they come off the cooktop, so installing a wider hood makes perfect functional sense, allowing lower fan speeds to be more effective. The same can be said for installation height: 27 to 30 inches off range top is optimal for performance. Read more on this subject ... |
Dampers (back draft preventers) are generally not installed on Kobe hoods. Back draft preventers (when desired by client) are best installed at the vent cap where they can be easily cleaned and are more effective. The most common type is the "flapper" style used on dryer vents. It is considered an engineering weakness to install dampers above the fan where they are extremely inconvenient to replace and impossible to clean regularly. At best, dirty dampers restrict air flow ... at worst, corrosion and grease buildup eventually renders them inoperable. In practice, back draft preventers provide very little effectiveness - air is hard pressed to find its way through the vent cap/grate, down the pipe, around the fan, and out the filter screens. We do not sell vent pipe, caps, dampers, or related pipe fittings as they are commonly available at any local plumbing supply store.
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GENERAL NOTES ON VENTING EXHAUST HOODS All Kobe hoods include at least one internal fan blower, so they do not require any additional parts. The client does provide their own vent pipe and terminus cap on roof or outer wall. Unless local code requires otherwise, single wall, 6 or 7 inch round galvanized vent pipe is available at any local plumbing supply store. Four Kobe models CH122 , CH179 , CH27 and CH77 are unique in that they feature a 3-1/4" by 10" rectangular vent knockout on the back (often seen in remodels). Click here to read more on this subject ... |
Japanese engineering pride shines with twin squirrel cage fans for longevity: one squirrel cage on each side of shaft/axle maintains balance and prevents premature bearing failure. Cheap hoods from other manufacturers have a single squirrel cage hanging off the end of the shaft and that stresses the bearings terribly. Other models of Kobe feature vertically mounted twin turbine fans for centrifugal filtration - an advanced, low energy high efficiency approach. While some manufacturers have a single fan system for all of their hoods, Kobe engineers the fan system to match the needs of the hood body. Tight construction, quiet blowers, seamless stainless steel, and very functional, easy to clean grease filtration systems make the Kobe line unique. You won't see non-functional, cheap aluminum mesh filters or pathetic bladed fans on a Kobe. Kobe kitchen exhaust systems are very stylish too, with a wide selection of body styles to suit nearly any aesthetic design concern. We trust you will agree with us that Kobe stainless steel range hoods are of the finest quality, making them the most cost effective kitchen chimney hood on the market today. You can find a copy of the Kobe Range Hood TWO YEAR manufacturer warranty, return policy, service and shipping information at this page: Kobe Range Hood warranty. As a manufacturer, they have always been exceptionally professional, keeping parts in stock and reacting quickly to customer needs. One of the high points of the Kobe warranty - and unique amongst hood manufacturers - is they provide on site service calls as part of their warranty. Kobe range hoods are typically always in stock and will normally ship within two to three business days unless otherwise notified (red letter announcement at shopping cart button). After your new hood is in transit, we automatically alert you with tracking number via email so you can begin tracing.
Kobe stainless steel range hoods with QuietMode ™
We keep all Kobe hoods in stock for quick shipment, always leaving in 1-3 business days
when hoods are out of stock, red lettered notice will appear above shopping cart button
5% cash discount for payment other than credit card - cashier's check or US Postal money order
Email natural@colorado.net with Kobe model, your name, phone and shipping address for an invoice
Questions? Concerns? Price Matching? Email us at natural@colorado.net or call us at 800-563-9720
CONTRACTORS - DESIGNERS - ARCHITECTS are eligible for a $50 professional rebate with copy of business license on file
hoods are to be paid for by you, the professional, not the client, and we ship to you at your business address - no exceptions
Ceiling Mount Island Hoods - FREE shipping! Sorry, no APO/FPO, HI, AK, PR, or Canada
Three of the Kobe ceiling mount island hoods are available in a ductless recirculating version
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Left click on any picture for pricing and details on that particular model
Wall Mount Chimney Hoods - FREE shipping! Sorry, no APO/FPO, HI, AK, PR, or Canada
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Left click on any picture for pricing and details on that particular model
Under Cabinet Vent Hoods - FREE shipping! Sorry, no APO/FPO, HI, AK, PR, or Canada
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Recirculating Ductless Hoods - FREE shipping! Sorry, no APO/FPO, HI, AK, PR, or Canada
Three island hoods are available in ductless recirculating, PLUS these wall mount and under cabinet Kobe:
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Insert Hoods mount inside cabinet - FREE shipping! Sorry, no APO/FPO, HI, AK, PR, or Canada
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Accessories FREE shipping WITH hood only - backsplashes are not shipped separate
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We keep all Kobe hoods in stock for quick shipment, always leaving in 1-3 business days
when hoods are out of stock, red lettered notice will appear above shopping cart button
5% cash discount for payment other than credit card - cashier's check or US Postal money order
Email natural@colorado.net with Kobe model, your name, phone and shipping address for an invoice
Questions? Concerns? Price Matching? Email us at natural@colorado.net or call us at 800-563-9720
CONTRACTORS - DESIGNERS - ARCHITECTS are eligible for a $50 professional rebate with copy of business license on file
hoods are to be paid for by you, the professional, not the client, and we ship to you at your business address - no exceptions
We have been very happy with Kobe's engineering, craftsmanship, and customer service. While we could retail any and all brand of stainless steel hood, we have chosen to sell only Kobe Range Hoods for several years now. Unlike the big impersonal catalog companies, we sell no other for a very good reason: we firmly believe Kobe is the most dependable, easiest to maintain, by far more quiet, and the best value, so why sell another? Their engineering is absolutely impeccable, materials and manufacturing excellent, parts always available should you ever need them, and pricing superior when compared apples to apples with any other professional quality hood on the market today. You will find a copy of the Kobe Range Hood TWO YEAR manufacturer warranty, return policy, service and shipping information at this page: Kobe Range Hood warranty. As a manufacturer, they have always been exceptionally professional, keeping parts in stock and reacting quickly to customer needs. One of the high points of the Kobe warranty - and unique amongst hood manufacturers - is they provide on site service calls as part of their warranty. Kobe range hoods typically ship within two business days. If a model is out of stock, notice is posted in bold red text near shopping cart button for that unit. After your new hood is in transit, we automatically email tracking number with estimated delivery date and contact information for the trucking company so you can anticipate arrival. Here's our full Terms of Service Agreement. We have always enjoyed working with Kobe and trust you will also find their customer service very helpful, should you ever need it.
We are not retailing any stainless steel, professional style residental gas ranges at the moment. Product quality, sturdy shipment crating, wide distributor service networks and kind wholesale pricing have proven elusive (as a package) in Residential Rated stainless steel stoves. FYI - if your local building department and home mortgage insurance carrier will allow it, install a Commercial Rated range. Generally speaking, any commercial gas oven ("Restaurant Range") is going to be much heavier duty, have better standard features, and come with a much lighter price tag. Residential rated ranges often claim to be fully insulated with a zero-clearance rating, but take those claims with a grain of salt. You should always box-in around a gas range with fire-proof materials and allow plenty of clearance - always - irregardless of the rating.
Here's several rules-of-thumb to consider when shopping for a professional kitchen range:
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PRIVACY STATEMENT - We will never release your name, contact information or purchase history to anyone!
The use of this internet site and purchase of Architerra Enterprises, Inc. (d.b.a. TheNaturalHome.com) products and services are governed by this Terms of Service Agreement and Disclaimer.
By using this internet site, you acknowledge that you have read this Terms of Service Agreement and Disclaimer and that you accept and will be bound by the terms thereof.
TheNaturalHome.com has long specialized in sustainable design, high thermal mass, do-it-yourself, passive solar home consultation.
Our website retails a select assortment of hand-picked professional style stainless steel residential kitchen vent chimney hoods by Kobe Range Hoods and soon again ... professional duty stainless steel gas kitchen ranges.
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