CIARRA 30 Inch Ductless Range Hood (CAS75918A) Review
The CIARRA CAS75918A is a slim 30 inch under cabinet range hood that runs ducted or ductless at 200 CFM. Ductless use needs an optional carbon filter, so plan to buy it with the hood if you won't vent outside.
On this page (15 sections)
- Does the CIARRA range hood work ducted or ductless?
- What the carbon filter does and how often to change it
- How much airflow and noise to expect
- What CIARRA says and what the specs show
- Lights, filters and what's stored inside
- Size, height and what comes in the box
- Finish and the black version
- Installing it under a cabinet
- How it compares with the COMFEE' and SNDOAS hoods
- What else to buy with it
- What to check before you order
- Who should buy the CIARRA CAS75918A
- Who should skip it
- Our score and what it weighs
- Verdict on the CIARRA range hood
The CIARRA CAS75918A is a slim 30 inch under cabinet range hood that can vent outside or recirculate air. It suits a kitchen that wants 200 CFM of airflow, as long as you buy the carbon filter for recirculating use.
We compared the specs, the ductless setup and the filter needs for this model. For background on how these hoods work, read the ductless range hoods guide.
Does the CIARRA range hood work ducted or ductless?
Yes, the CIARRA CAS75918A is convertible, so you can run it ducted or ductless. The ducted setup uses a top outlet, and the ductless setup needs an optional carbon filter.
Ducted setup through the top outlet
The top outlet is a 4.8 inch round damper. CIARRA says the exhaust pipe isn't included, so you'll need to buy one for a vented install.
CIARRA also says to turn the adjuster on the motor housing to the ducted position. Check your duct size against the 4.8 inch damper before you buy any pipe.
Ductless setup on the CIARRA range hood
For recirculation, install the CACF006 carbon filter, put on the outlet cover and turn the adjuster to the ductless position. The cleaned air then leaves through the front vent, and no exhaust pipe is needed.
In ductless mode, the hood works as a grease and odor filter. It does not remove heat, moisture or combustion gases from the room.
What the carbon filter does and how often to change it
The CACF006 carbon filter handles odors in ductless mode. Its activated charcoal helps trap smells as air passes through, while the aluminum grease filters catch the cooking grease first.
CIARRA says to replace the carbon filter every 2 to 4 months, or more often when you cook a lot. Heavy cooking can shorten that schedule, so check the filter before you assume it's still doing its job.
Fitting it takes no tools, since the filter twists and locks onto the motor.
The same CACF006 also fits the CAS75918B, CAB75918B, CAS75905 and CAB75905 models. That's why the number on your own hood matters, since a similar number isn't the same as a match.
How much airflow and noise to expect
CIARRA rates the CAS75918A at 200 CFM and 6.5 sones at its highest speed. That airflow is double the 100 CFM ratings of the COMFEE' and Broan-NuTone hoods we compared.
Makers usually rate airflow for ducted use, so expect less in recirculation mode. Sones measure loudness on a different scale from dB, so compare hoods in the same unit when you can.
Three speeds and what each is for
The hood has low, medium and high speeds. CIARRA says low is for ventilation with very little noise, medium is for everyday cooking and high is for stir-frying.
The 6.5 sone figure is for the highest speed, so you'll likely hear less noise on the lower settings. The mechanical push buttons control the fan speed and the lights.
What CIARRA says and what the specs show
CIARRA calls the operation quiet, and its one noise number is 6.5 sones at the highest speed. A lower sone figure means a quieter fan, and CIARRA gives no figure for the low and medium speeds.
CIARRA also says the mesh filters keep cooking smells from spreading. The mesh catches grease, and in ductless mode the odor work falls to the CACF006 filter, which is sold separately.
CIARRA pitches the hood as slim and good for condos and apartments, and the 3.94 inch height backs that up. The outlet size, the extra filter and the depth are the details to settle before you buy.
Lights, filters and what's stored inside
The hood has two LED lights, one on each side of the opening, so both sides of the cooktop get light. CIARRA says the LEDs are energy efficient and replaceable.
The grease filters are mesh, and CIARRA describes them as five layers of aluminum. CIARRA doesn't say they're dishwasher safe, so follow the manual's cleaning steps before you put them in one.
Some parts, including the damper and vent cover, sit inside the hood. CIARRA's package note says to remove the mesh filter to take them out.
Size, height and what comes in the box
The hood is 29.76 inches wide and 3.94 inches tall, and its slim height helps it sit under a cabinet. Measure the cabinet gap and the cooktop height before you order.
Depth is the number to confirm: CIARRA gives 13.39 inches for the silver model this review covers and 19.69 for the black one. That gap is wide, so check the depth in the manual before you plan the cabinet space.
The package includes the range hood with a 3-prong plug, a manual, screws, a vent cover and a damper.
Finish and the black version
The CAS75918A has a polished stainless steel finish in silver. CIARRA also sells a matte black version, which it describes with anti-fingerprint painting and a scratch resistant surface.
The black model uses the same CACF006 carbon filter for ductless use, so the filter plan is the same either way. Its depth figure is 19.69 inches against 13.39 for the silver model, so confirm the depth before you choose a finish.
Installing it under a cabinet
CIARRA points to an under cabinet installation video and says basic tools are enough. The package includes the screws and installation kit for the mount, so you won't need to buy those separately.
Read the manual before you start, and check the mounting height it gives for your model. If you're unsure about the plug or the wiring, use a qualified electrician.
How it compares with the COMFEE' and SNDOAS hoods
The CIARRA rates 200 CFM, between the COMFEE' at 100 and the SNDOAS at 700 on its top speed. At 3.94 inches tall it is also the slimmest of the three, against 5.5 for the COMFEE' and 5.9 for the SNDOAS.
All three can run ducted or ductless. Each needs its own separate filter for recirculation: the CACF006 here, the CVU30-F49 for the COMFEE' and the CF-0475 for the SNDOAS.
The SNDOAS adds three vent outlets and dishwasher-safe baffle filters. The CIARRA has one top round damper and mesh grease filters, and its carbon filter is the main recirculation part to plan for.
Pick the CIARRA if the gap under your cabinet is tight and you cook at a moderate pace. Pick the SNDOAS if you have a duct and want the most airflow, and read the SNDOAS 30 inch review for its extra parts.
What else to buy with it
Plan on one extra part, and which one depends on how you vent. Ductless use needs the CACF006 carbon filter, sold as a set of two, while ducted use needs an exhaust pipe that suits the 4.8 inch round damper.
Power needs no extra part, because the hood comes with a 3-prong plug. You still need an outlet within reach of it, so check that spot before you mount the hood.
What to check before you order
Measure the cabinet gap, the cooktop height and your duct before you order. Then work through this list.
- Confirm the space under your cabinet fits 29.76 inches wide and 3.94 inches tall, and check the depth in the manual.
- Decide between ducted and ductless, and check the 4.8 inch top damper against your duct.
- If you plan to recirculate, order the CACF006 filter for your exact model number.
- Read the manual before you mount the hood, and use a qualified electrician if you're unsure about the plug.
- Put the carbon filter swap and the grease filter cleaning on a calendar.
Who should buy the CIARRA CAS75918A
Buy it if you want 200 CFM in a slim under cabinet hood that can run ductless with a filter you add. It suits a condo or apartment kitchen with no outside duct, as long as you plan for the carbon filter from the start.
Its 3.94 inch height is the lowest of the hoods in this set, which helps under a cabinet with little room. For frying or searing, 200 CFM gives you more pull than a 100 CFM hood, though it's a rating and not a promise.
If you want more ductless picks, see the best ductless range hoods and the 30 inch ductless hoods we compared. If a plug-in setup matters most, the plug-in ductless range hoods are worth a look.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you want ductless use without a separate filter, since ductless use depends on the carbon filter. Also skip it if your existing duct doesn't match the 4.8 inch top outlet, because you'd have to solve that connection first.
If you cook on gas most days, a hood that vents outside is the stronger setup, and ductless mode is a compromise there.
If you want a lower-airflow hood that can also run ducted or ductless, the COMFEE' 30 inch review covers one. For a ductless-only hood with two speeds, read the Broan-NuTone 413004 review.
Our score and what it weighs
We compared the specs, install modes and filter needs before we scored it. Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for.
This hood scores 8.5 because it offers 200 CFM in a slim body with a convertible design. It loses points for the separate carbon filter that ductless use needs and for the 4.8 inch top outlet that limits duct choices.
CIARRA gives the two finishes different depths, so confirm that number before you treat them as a direct swap.
CIARRA CAS75918A 30 Inch Range Hood
- 30 inch slim stainless steel under cabinet hood
- Ducted or ductless, with an optional CACF006 carbon filter for ductless use
- 200 CFM with three fan speeds and 6.5 sones at the top speed
- Two LED lights and mesh grease filters
- Comes with a 3-prong plug
A slim 30 inch under cabinet hood with 200 CFM and a convertible design. It suits a kitchen that wants more pull than a basic hood, as long as you buy the carbon filter for recirculation.
Pros
- Rated at 200 CFM, double the 100 CFM of the COMFEE' and Broan-NuTone hoods
- Convertible design gives you ducted or ductless in one hood
- Low profile at 3.94 inches tall
Cons
- Ductless use needs the separate CACF006 carbon filter
- The 4.8 inch top outlet limits duct choices
- CIARRA gives two very different depths across its finishes
Verdict on the CIARRA range hood
Pick the CIARRA range hood if you want 200 CFM in a slim hood and you're ready to add the carbon filter for recirculation. Skip it if you need ductless use without an extra part, or if your duct won't fit the 4.8 inch outlet.
Check your duct size, the model number on the filter and the cabinet gap before you order.
Frequently asked questions
Does the CIARRA CAS75918A need a carbon filter?
For ductless use, yes, since CIARRA says ductless mode needs the optional CACF006 carbon filter. For ducted use, the filter isn't needed, but you'll need to buy the exhaust pipe because it isn't in the package, and the top outlet is a 4.8 inch round damper.
Is the CIARRA CAS75918A plug-in?
Yes, the package includes the range hood with a 3-prong plug, so it plugs into an outlet instead of being wired into the wall. Follow the manual for the install steps, and use a qualified electrician if you're unsure about the outlet or any wiring.
How loud is the CIARRA CAS75918A?
CIARRA rates it at 6.5 sones at its highest speed, and it says the low speed is for ventilation with very little noise. Sones and dB use different scales, so compare hoods in the same unit when you can, and check the noise at the speed you use most.
What carbon filter does the CIARRA CAS75918A need?
The CACF006 carbon filter is made for this model, and it's sold as a set of two. It fits by model number, so check the CAS75918A on the filter's compatible list, and replace it every 2 to 4 months or more often with heavy cooking.
