Is Your Rangehood Externally Vented? Here’s Why It Matters in Melbourne
When you’re cooking up a storm in the kitchen, your rangehood quietly works in the background, removing steam, smoke, and cooking odours. But did you know that the way your rangehood is vented makes a huge difference to the air quality in your home — and that in Victoria, it’s now a regulation that new builds and renovations must have an externally vented system?
Recirculating vs. Externally Vented Rangehoods
- Recirculating rangehoods filter air through carbon filters and push it back into your kitchen. While convenient, they don’t completely remove moisture or fine particles.
- Externally vented rangehoods extract air outside your home through ducting, which means steam, smoke, and cooking byproducts are properly removed.
Why External Venting Matters in Melbourne
- It’s Victorian Regulation
As of recent updates to building codes, new kitchens in Victoria must have externally vented rangehoods. This is part of broader efforts to improve indoor air quality and energy efficiency in homes. If you’re planning a renovation or building a new home in Melbourne, ensuring your rangehood is ducted to the outside isn’t just best practice — it’s the law. - Moisture Control
Melbourne’s climate is famously unpredictable — often humid in summer and damp in winter. Extra indoor moisture from cooking can lead to condensation, mould growth, and damage to walls or cabinetry. External venting ensures this moisture is expelled outside, not recirculated indoors. - Better Indoor Air Quality
Gas cooktops in particular produce not just steam and odours but also nitrogen dioxide and other pollutants. Without external venting, these linger in your home. Proper ducting significantly improves indoor air quality and helps your family breathe easier. - Odour Removal
Love cooking garlic, seafood, or curry? Without an externally vented rangehood, strong odours can hang around for hours or even days. External venting clears the air quickly and effectively. - Property Value & Compliance
Many modern Melbourne builds — especially apartments and townhouses — now require externally vented systems for compliance. Having one already installed can add to your property’s value and ensure you won’t face regulatory issues.
Final Thoughts
If you’re renovating or building in Melbourne, an externally vented rangehood is no longer optional — it’s required under Victorian building regulations. Beyond compliance, it makes your home healthier, fresher, and more comfortable.
Your lungs (and your walls) will thank you.
