Anyone with experience with them? Wife doesn't want an overhanging hood but I am a bit apprehensive since their is only 2 gas models available, Jenn air and Kitchenaid.

My in-laws have a Dacor gas cooktop with a downdraft vent. The cooktop works great. The downdraft vent works well.

We had one growing up. In principle, not all that effective. I thought you basically get one if an overhead one is not an option. Maybe they've improved in the last couple decades, but it's hard to beat physics.

This. Downdraft has to redirect whereas an OTR just keeps things moving.

Thank you, I didn't think of that. I was more concerned that of the limited options. Maybe I can convince my wife for a hood or change in plans. Wish me luck.

We have switched to a baffle type overhead vent hood. The baffle system quite evidently shows all the oil captured when running the hood. Fumes, etc. aside, what happens to that oil in a downdraft range?

Some downdrafts work better than others but all of them cannot defeat the physics of flipping a steak/etc. where the steam blasts away like a fast ball pitch from the low vent catcher's mitt. Sometimes the smoke alarms go off!

We recommend a thru-wall vent at least head high to supplement as 2nd catcher's mitt & some can be wired on-off with downdraft action.

EZier & better in some locations is a ceiling vent, one more powerful than whimpy bathroom vents and one that's EZier to clean of eventual grease. Some chefs purchase one with a task light, other bells/whistles. The higher the ceiling, the more vents one might need to avoid smoke alarming.

If you are a really good salesman, the low profile aka shorty vent hoods that can hide behind a shelf's valence would be ideal in that a) catcher mitts work best OVER the problem, b) closer mitts work better than distant ones & possibly c) offer more POWER/suction than other options ... caveat the sone ratings.
Some employ these shorty vents as a downdraft backup as well ... belt & suspenders thinking. I wish I had this backup.

We have a downdraft on our cooktop as it's on the island and it does an adequate enough job. I'd prefer an overhead and will have one in my retirement house, but this will due for now. If that's the way you go, just prepare to have to clean it every couple of months because all sorts of splatter and drippings fall down there, even when not in use.

AggieFactor said:

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We have the Kitchenaid 36" gas stove top with the built-in downdraft. Works reasonably well to get most of the fumes out. There is a big downside though that no sales rep ever tell you about, and that it also drastically reduces the heat from flames. You can see it when it is turned on that all the gas flames immediately shift and start flowing toward the draft. If we had to do it again we would either have gone electric cook tops so there is no heat loss or found a low profile hood that does not obstruct too much of the sight line into the next room since our cooktop is on a peninsula.

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This is 100% accurate. We have a gas stove with downdraft and it pulls the flame sideways. We rarely use it and I'm planning to replace the cooktop with a non-downdraft version. I'm looking at a telescoping downdraft instead but haven't done a ton of research on them.

Have you looked at the retractable ones? I had a KitchenAid 36" in my last house and it worked well. Just make sure you have the cabinet space.

https://www.kitchenaid.com/major-appliances/hoods-and-vents/retractable-downdraft/p.36-retractable-downdraft-ventilation-system.kxd4636yss.html

Yeah, that was our initial idea but was told it would take up significant space in the island.

clobby said:

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Yeah, that was our initial idea but was told it would take up significant space in the island.

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It takes up 1/2 of the base cabinet underneath, but is only about 2-3 inches wide above the countertop.