The Range Hood Industry: Time to Pump the Cesspool I
We have noticed that in the range hood industry, the use of fictional, illusionary, or highly exaggerated performance specifications is growing with the rise of imports. Some brands are promising performances twice as high as seems possible. As consumers can't confirm performance, there is no penalty to the corrupt brands, and in fact corrupt practice, and deceitful marketing has been rewarded with both market share and distributor growth.
To our knowledge, the Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) is the only organization with standardized range hood performance testing and certifications.
In 2000 an ApplianceAdvisor editorial was instrumental in convincing the largest transgressor in coming over from the dark side and HVI certifying their product line in 2003.
Now in 2005, the ApplianceAdvisor is here asking HVI to start a program to confirm by testing the promised performances of all other uncertified brands, and to release the results of this testing to the public, to smite the corrupt, and to reward the honest. To bring balance, and whole grain crunchy holistic stuff to this depraved and unscrupulous industry.
I have a dream......smaller than most perhaps, but a dream nonetheless.
UPDATE: July 17:
The following brands are HVI certified for performance, meaning that these brands have a tested performance that matches their promised marketing performance.
- Air King (undercabinet)
- GE Profile
- Universal Industries
- Broan, Nutone, Best, Venmar
- Fuji and Panasonic
- Artech USA (certification nearing completion)
For full HVI directory, go to the HVI page and click on "HVI Certified Products Directory" link on the left side of the page
UPDATE: Sept 28: The HVI is acting on the ApplianceAdvisor's request.

