Families spend a lot of time in the kitchen between cooking, cleaning, and eating—depending on the home layout. It makes sense to improve the form and function of your home’s kitchen with a kitchen remodel. However, while thinking about new countertops and appliances, it also pays to consider home performance in a kitchen remodel, such as better ventilation and high-efficiency systems, so your renovations improve your home’s health and comfort and lower utility costs.
Upgrading Your Kitchen Stove Hood & Ductwork
Much like a kitchen island or new cabinetry can add function, installing a new stove hood or upgrading an old one can make your kitchen an easier place to work in. Not only can it help remove odors and smoke from your cooktop and oven, but it can also cut down on humidity from steaming and boiling. The need for more ventilation is a common household issue, but with a better fan and a review of your ductwork, you can have a better-performing kitchen.
Better Air Quality and Humidity Monitoring
Alongside improving ventilation in your kitchen, it’s also a good time to put safeguards in place to monitor indoor air quality, humidity, and other factors that can affect comfort and health, especially for children. Several options can help you monitor these conditions at home, including enhanced thermostats and air quality monitoring devices such as Air Advice Systems.
Getting More Energy Efficient Kitchen Appliances
If you’re upgrading your kitchen, you’re likely looking at new appliances such as ovens, refrigerators, microwaves, and dishwashers. A few things to consider when looking at new kitchen appliances:
- Look for Energy Star Stickers: Appliances with the Energy Star sticker are typically 10% more efficient than comparable models. This means they use less energy, last longer, and operate quieter than other models.
- Invest in Better Ventilated Appliances: Having ovens that have better ventilation, including units that work well with kitchen hoods or have dedicated ducting, means better air quality and less worry about the smoke detector going off.
- Avoid Microwaves with False Hoods: Over-the-range microwaves often have a built-in vent hood, but they have some limitations. They may perform poorly compared to a dedicated hood or have a false hood that doesn’t connect to your ventilation system.
For the best options, make sure to consult a home performance expert. They will have a better understanding of your best options, from ENERGY STAR to local brands, and which have the best ventilation profiles.
Your St. Louis Home Performance Kitchen Remodelers
At Greenmark Home Performance, we know that a kitchen remodel is about meeting all your needs, even the ones you might not be aware of. That’s why, in St. Louis, we offer home performance as part of renovations, every time. We’ll do a complete home evaluation and energy audit to identify issues and incorporate solutions as part of your kitchen renovation. Contact us online or call us at (314) 845-9144 to get started. We also do bathroom remodels and full home renovations with home performance in mind.
