Buying guides

A bathroom fan has one job: pull steam and odors out of the room before they settle into drywall, paint and grout. Picking the right one comes down to four things: how much air it moves, how loud it i …

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A ducted hood sends exhaust through a route to the outdoors. A recirculating hood returns filtered air to the room. The choice depends on the building and the exact product configuration; a carbon fil …

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Good measurements help narrow the choice, but they are not a substitute for the installation drawing. Use this checklist to document your kitchen, then compare it with the exact hood model before orde …

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Under-cabinet, wall-mount, island and insert describe installation arrangements. The useful question is which arrangement fits your kitchen and can be supported correctly—not which name sounds m …

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A range hood needs to suit the kitchen around it. Start with the mounting location and the space available, then check the duct route and exact installation requirements. A model name, a nominal width …

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If you are like most homeowners in the U.S., your current central air conditioner is likely a "builder-grade" unit with a rating of around 14 SEER. When it was installed, it was standard. But tod …

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What is your BTU requirement? How many BTU do I need for my new mini split air conditioner? This is probably the first and most important consideration when purchasing a new air conditioner. You …

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What is a ductless mini-split air conditioning system? Mini-split air conditioners have two main components: an outdoor compressor / condenser and an indoor air handling unit. Like central syst …

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Choose a range-hood filter by its job and its exact fit. Baffle and mesh describe grease-filter constructions. Carbon filters serve a different role in supported recirculating configurations. None is …

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