Often, the most practical way to vent
an island or peninsula cooktop is with a
downdraft vent. Downdraft vents that
have intakes flush with the surface of
the burners have been built into ranges
and cooktops for years, but several
manufacturers now make pop-up units
that can be installed behind virtually
any drop-in cooktop. Some are also
made to fit behind drop-in ranges, and
at least one manufacturer makes a line
of cooking appliances with built-in
pop-up ventilators.
Features differ from manufacturer to
manufacturer (see "Pop-Up Vent Specs
and Features," facing page), but the
main idea is the same. A narrow intake
housing, usually located at the rear of
the cooktop and matching its width,
sits flush with the