downdraft cooktops : eBay Guides

I have also had a JennAir gas downdraft cooktop (4 burners) for the past 12 years. I'm redoing my countertops and want to change from white to black. But options are quite limited if you want a built-in downdraft. JennAir is currently the only option. The cooktop is great (other than the difficulty of keeping my grey colored racks clean); ergo the change to black. I found that the downdraft is barely adequate so I checked out my girlfriend's pop-up style downdraft vent. It's a Broan Eclipse model which sits at the back of the cooktop. The advantage to this style is that you can pick any cooktop becauset the popup is an add-on. Apparently this was "entry-level" and more expensive—and hopefully more effective—ones are available. Personally, it's 6 of one and half-a-dozen of the other. The pop-up style is higher so it catches steam/grease from higher pots but it's at the back so it's not very effective for the front burners. The built-in center style that JennAir makes is central so it effects all burners equally but it's low so it doesn't catch as much from higher pots (if it at all). Both were reasonably quiet but you have to adjust your pot placement to remain central on the heat because the fan pulls the flame towards itself and has a tendency to go out at simmering levels. The JennAir has a variable speed but the Broan didn't.

Personally, if you have the option, a stylish range hood that doesn't sound like a jet engine is the most effective by far. But since I opted for a large skylight over my island, a hood is not to be. If I did it over again I would have had the skylight installed over farther to make room and have a more attractive updraft hood installed. Good thing I don't do a lot of cooking or I'd have been really frustrated. So far my ceiling is still white!