Installing a downdraft rangehood is a little complex and we highly recommend hiring a professional tradesperson to complete it as the process involves precise carpentry to get it right. There is also electrical, and ductwork involved.

A downdraft rangehood differs from standard rangehoods as it pulls the steam, smoke and odours across the cooktop and down rather than up and out. It’s the perfect choice for a modern, streamlined kitchen design as the rangehood is incorporated into the benchtop creating a minimalist aesthetic.

Before You Begin

Design & Positioning

• We strongly recommend waiting until you receive your product before you make any cut outs for your installation.
• Pick the right size downdraft to suit your selected cooktop. When in doubt, go for a larger downdraft so you get the extra extraction area, and the cooking surface is completely covered.

• Make sure that where you’re installing, your downdraft is easily accessible. The rangehood must be able to be removed for future servicing if required, so make sure the space above the downdraft has a clearance of around 800mm, with no overhead cupboards or shelves, unless they are able to be removed.
• Don’t install an oven in front of your downdraft as it will limit the access to the downdraft for serviceability.
• Check the measurements from the cooktop to the rangehood are sufficient to allow for optimum extraction. Also note that the cooktop cannot exceed 58.32mj³/h.

• The motor must be accessible for the same reason.
• How you decide to vent your downdraft needs to be considered during the planning stage and prior to construction to ensure you’re allowing for the right setup and allowing for the ducting to be installed at correct time.
• SLAB – if you have a ‘new build’ and are pouring a slab, you can have your rigid ducting installed in the concrete. For this, the ducting needs to be laid out before the concrete is poured.
• There are several ways to duct and vent a downdraft; will it be under the floor, through the wall, within the cabinet, recirculated? This will decide the best type of motor to use as there are multiple motor solutions to choose from, including the front mounted, underkicker, inline, or external wall mounted.

Ducting & Venting

The downdraft has 5 options to vent from - front and rear, side, bottom or side, and different motors are designed for each option.

A front mounted motor (DDFMEL) is attached to the front or back outlet directly on the downdraft (outlet 1 or 2 below).

An inline motor is a motor located in the ducting run of the hood. It is in doors, sometimes under the house, or through neighbouring cabinetry. This can be attached to any of the outlets (1 to 5) on the downdraft depending on which way the ducting needs to run.

An external wall motor is located at end of the ducting, outside of the house, and attached to an external wall. This can be attached to any of the outlets (1 to 5) on the downdraft depending on which way the ducting needs to run.

There is a motor designed to go under the kicker of the cabinetry directly below the downdraft using outlet 5. This is a brushless motor (SEM12ELA). It is quiet and convenient but can only be used on a 58cm and 88cm downdrafts and is not suitable for 118cm units.

The downdraft is best suited, like any rangehood, to be ducted to the atmosphere, in other words, outside of the house. This is because it keeps your living environment clean, fresh and odour free. It’s always recommended where possible to go with this option; you’ll get better performance from the hood with better extraction, and it will be quieter.

Due to the nature of building designs, sometimes we have no choice but to re-circulate the air back into the room. This can be done by adding an extra layer of filtration behind the mesh filters in the cassette (the part that “pops up” out of the bench). The filter reduces the ability to extract air as the air is pulled through an additional layer of material that catches the oil, smoke and smells.

They are easily accessible, and easy to maintain. Simply pull the cover under the light forward to reveal the filter area.

There are multiple solutions for both recirculating and ducted installations.

Recirculated Ducting Solutions

External Ducting Solutions

Installing the Downdraft

Step 1: Prep, Measure & Cut

1. Prepare the space: ensure there’s adequate space inside the cabinet below the countertop to hold the rangehood cassette. Check the product’s specifications for the measurements. Note you may need additional space to allow for a Front Mounted (DDFMEL) motor.
2. Measure twice, cut once: Using the product’s specifications, measure the location for the downdraft unit on the countertop.
3. Make the cut: Carefully cut the opening in the countertop. Ensure any debris, shavings and dust are removed before proceeding. Note: If you’re installing an integrated Le Stelle model, with the top of the hood matching the benchtop, please see the Integrated Installation guide.

Step 2: Ducting

1. Choose your path: Whichever way you decided to duct your downdraft, our Sirius Ducting has all the components you need. Round or rectangular, or combination of both, we have adaptors, connectors, lengths and clamps. We recommend using rigid ducting where possible for the best airflow and 2 meters is the ideal length.
2. Cut the holes: Measure out where your ducting needs to go and cut out any necessary holes, this includes through cabinetry walls, down through the kicker or through an external wall.
3. Assemble: Secure all ducting joints with clamps to prevent air leaks (leaks can decrease efficiency and increase noise). Limit the use of bends as more turns means the motor needs to work harder.
4. Cap it: Don’t forget to cap off the ducting with a vent, either internal (for reciprocate) or external. This will stop unwanted debris and rodents entering the duct work, and with our vents being BAL40 fire rated, you’re also protected from potential exposure to ember attacks, radiant heat and direct flame contact.

Step 3: Putting it Together

1. Position the unit: We recommend this be done with two people. Lower the downdraft unit into the cutout in the countertop. Make sure it’s centred and level. Note: don’t forget to use the supplied vent covers on the exits not being used.
2. Secure the brackets: Attach the fixing brackets to the bottom sides of the downdraft unit and the cabinet base. Wait to fully tighten until the unit is in the perfect position with the countertop. Additional brackets may be required for wider units and are fixed to the top of the unit and to the sides of the cabinet.
3. Flush & level: Use a spirit level to ensure that the unit is perfectly level and plumb with the countertop. For the Le Luce, you want the trim and glass top sitting just on top of the countertop.
4. Adjusting the height: When the unit is in the perfect position, tighten the screws at the bottom of the unit to secure it in place.
5. Connecting the ducting: Using the supplied components, connect your ducting to the unit.

Step 4: Power Connections

1. Power off: Ensure the power is turned off at the mains before you make any connections.
2. Transformer: A separate power transformer is supplied and can be located in the cabinetry beneath the bench. It must be accessible for servicing and be approx. 10cm above the floor level (within the cabinet, not in the kicker). It is strongly recommended you don’t place it close to a heat source i.e. near an oven or cooktop and must be at least 65cm from a gas cooktop.
3. Make the connection: Power supply is via a plug and requires a standard 10AMP GPO. This connects to the transformer. Connect the electrical cables with the matching colours from the transformer into the downdraft, and from the transformer to the external motor (note there is a 7 meter cord supplied).
4. Secure the cords: We advise to secure any loose cables to avoid any potential hazard.

Step 5: Test It

1. Restore power: Turn the power back on at the mains.
2. Test: Turn on the downdraft unit and check for proper ventilation, ensuring the air flows smoothly through the system.

And now you're ready to start cooking with your downdraft rangehood.