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there are a lot more people on this board then the kitchen one, so I was hoping someone might be able to offer some advice.

Does anyone have a 30" electric downdraft cooktop? I am replacing mine and I just want to hear some opinions.

We HAVE to keep the downdraft because it would be too expensive to move the vents to the ceiling and have a hood, especially since this is in our island.

I just want to hear what everyone else has and if you like it.

I do not have one myself, but have had some installed in my kitchen remodeling (and new kitchen) installs. It depends on the application. We put in a powerful one for a high end stove and when we turned it on for the first time, we laughed because our hair moved! We made a joke with the client (whom we knew had a great sense of humor) not to wear a toupee because the vent would pull it into the vent! LOL

For anyone not having an overhead fan exhaust option, this is a great solution. Just need to match the power with the stove output to have maximum performance.

I have a 30" jenn air stove since 91 and am still in love with it.

I don't understand what you are asking , just the cooktop and the oven somewhere else or a whole stove, do you want to know if 30" in enough room to cook with a lot of pots or what?

Wanda

My parents have a 1990 electric Jenn-Air stove top with downdraft venting that's very ineffective.

I have a Jenn-aire stove/cook top and we love it. We installed it in 1976/7 when our kitchen caught fire from the pilot light on the gas stove. We have had no problems with it and would buy another.

I also have a 30" Jenn-Air, new in '94 or so (before we owned the house). I never use the grill part, but I can put the downdraft fan on and chop onions without tears.

Thanks everyone. Gmvj - yes, we have a cooktop and a seperate wall oven (which we're replacing too). I was asking for brands and recommendations that people might have.

The appliance lady recommended the GE profile but I want to know what else is out there.

I almost hesitated to post this picture, because - Hello Cocok, could you wipe down the front of your oven and maybe sweep the floor - but I'm among friends - right.

Anyway, I have a Viking cook top, and under counter ovens in my island. I used a Viking down draft. I absolutely love this set up. My family can sit at the island across from me and we can talk as I cook. It works perfectly for us.

Before I redid my kitchen 7 or 8 years ago I had a Jen Air cook top with down draft in the same spot, and I liked that brand too.

THanks Cocok - I didn't even notice a mess. I never considered Viking because I just figured it was out of my price range but I just saw a 30" Viking cooktop for only $100 more then the GE one, so that's hopeful.

I also checked out a few Jenn Air's and there is one I really like. Here's a picture

Does anyone have a downdraft system like this one? If so, do you like it?

Or do you have this type of downdraft? This is how my current cooktop is and it's a real mess to clean. It seem like if my pot boils over, it goes down the middle since it's so close.

quote:

Originally posted by Forensicmom:

We HAVE to keep the downdraft because it would be too expensive to move the vents to the ceiling and have a hood, especially since this is in our island.

I just want to hear what everyone else has and if you like it.

Hi FM,

Are you redoing the rest of the kitchen or just an upgrade for your cooktop?

Is it possible to move the cooktop to a counter area instead of the island? Then you could add the additional hood. Just a thought if you are renovating to update the layout also.

Have you looked at induction? I am considering one for the next upgrade. The jenn-air looks nice with the extra burner/warmer unit. I put plates on my warmer unit to warm them before serving.

Good luck on your decision.

quote:

Originally posted by Forensicmom:
Does anyone have a downdraft system like this one? If so, do you like it?

I had one like it and did not like it! Got dirty/stained and would NOT come clean...ugh! I've had several JennAir, both gas and electric and liked them, including the one I currently have. I've also had a GE and did not like it...the downdraft worked fine, but the overall quality was poor and it was very expensive.

Beau's Rose - We are just updating a few things (new cooktop, new wall oven, painting cabinets and new countertops). Unfortunately there is NO other spot to move the cooktop to and the venting is already installed in the island, so a range hood would cost more to install. At first I considered the induction kind, but they're more expensive and I can't use my current cookware on it. So I decided against it.

Belstone - Did you have the downdraft with the vent in the middle of the cooktop or with the seperate kind in the back? That's what I want to switch to.

I was quoting your post re:separate in back...hated it! Every time I used it I had to look at the ugly stained filters. Mine was not cheap (sorry, can't remember the brand) and it was difficult to work. Maybe they've improved since I bought mine in 2005? Now, I have a JennAir dual fuel pro-style range (with downdraft) and I like everything except the knobs...plastic!

quote:

Originally posted by Forensicmom:
Does anyone have a downdraft system like this one? If so, do you like it?

Yes, my down draft is like that. I press a button and it rises up. I like it.

Thanks everyone. I'm meeting with the appliance lady tomorrow. Can't wait.