You already know the Hauslane PS18 exists. Maybe it showed up as the top pick in a roundup, or a neighbor pointed at theirs and called it the best kitchen upgrade they made all year. What do you actually get once the marketing language gets set aside? What you want now is the real picture. That means the CFM number that holds up once ductwork and local code get involved, the noise level during an actual cooking session rather than a quick burst, and whether installation is as easy as the product photos suggest.
We pulled verified specifications from Hauslane’s own listings, cross-checked them against popular retailer pages, and read through hundreds of owner reviews to see where the real experience matches the marketing copy and where it doesn’t. This model already topped our under cabinet range hood rankings as Best Overall, and this Hauslane PS18 review goes deeper than that entry had room for. Everything you need to decide is below.
Quick Verdict
Best For: 30 or 36 inch electric or moderate gas cooktops with existing round or rectangular ductwork already in place, in a kitchen where finish choice matters as much as suction.
What We Like
What Could Be Better?
Technical Specs of Hauslane-PS18
Attribute | Value |
Type | Ducted, under cabinet, not convertible to ductless |
Airflow (CFM) | 860 equivalent (mfr); 350 code-capped; 500 per one major retailer |
Noise (Sones) | 1.5 low to 7.0 high |
Duct Size | 6″ round or 3.25″ x 10″ rectangular, top or rear |
Filter | 2x dishwasher-safe baffle, deep-groove |
Fan Speeds | 6 |
Lighting | GU10 LED, 3W, swappable, warm white (2700K to 3000K, varies by listing) |
Control | Buttonless touch panel, digital clock, delay shut-off |
Dimensions | 30″: 29.75″W x 22″D x 8.125″H; 36″: 35.75″W x 22″D x 8.125″H |
Weight | 49 lbs (30″ model) and 55.1 lbs (36″ model) |
Mounting Height | Max 30″ above cooktop (mfr); 24″ to 30″ general guidance |
Warranty | 2-year limited; lifetime on motors |
Included | Foil tape, cloth, oil tray, 2 filters, 3 duct adapters; cord not included |
Colors | Stainless, black stainless, matte black, matte white |
Electrical | Dual motor, 266W |
Our Ratings
Our scoring is based on a careful blend of verified specifications and real user feedback rather than hands-on or lab testing. We evaluate everything in the context of how the PS18 actually performs as a 30- or 36-inch under-cabinet replacement, with the final score reflecting all the categories above.
Dimension | Score | Why |
Airflow and CFM Sizing | 7/10 | Clears a standard electric cooktop with margin, but the marketed 860 CFM figure is a manufacturer equivalent rating with no HVI certification behind it |
Noise Control | 8/10 | 1.5 sones on low is genuinely quiet, though the climb to 7.0 sones on high is a jump owners consistently notice |
Installation | 6/10 | Three duct options solve most compatibility problems, but the missing template and awkward screw access make this a two-person job at minimum |
Filter and Controls | 8/10 | Dishwasher-safe baffle filters and a buttonless touch panel are easy to live with, though the control sequence takes some relearning |
Build Quality and Finish | 8/10 | Four finish options and identical performance at both widths, offset by a slightly wider footprint than the slimmest rivals |
Value for the Price | 7/10 | Mid-range pricing backed by a lifetime motor warranty, though budget for a separate power cord and possibly a professional installer |
Overall | 7.5/10 | A strong all-around pick held back mainly by an unverified airflow claim and a harder-than-average install |
Build Quality and Finish Options
We found the PS18 currently ships in four finishes at identical performance, stainless steel, black stainless steel, matte black, and matte white, the same hood underneath the color rather than a lower tier wearing a different finish. Stainless remains the most common pick among owners, but matte black and matte white let it read as a coordinated kitchen fixture rather than a stainless outlier.
Dual motors sit under extra insulation, the direct reason the PS18 reaches a quiet 1.5 sones on its lowest setting. That insulation adds a small cost, a slightly wider footprint than the slimmest under cabinet hoods, though it doesn’t extend any further into the room. The buttonless touch panel and built-in digital clock keep the front face flush and modern rather than utilitarian.
Fit and Performance Analysis
We cover where the PS18 delivers and where it doesn’t, based on our research into Hauslane’s claims, retailer listings, and owner accounts, ordered so compatibility comes before performance.
Range Hood Type and Kitchen Compatibility
Compatibility comes before performance for a reason. The PS18 is ducted only, with no ductless or recirculating mode built in. If you’re unsure how ducted venting actually works, confirm your kitchen has real exterior duct access before this hood makes your shortlist at all.
Where the PS18 earns its Best Overall placement in our under cabinet range hood rankings is duct flexibility. Three separate configurations, a 6 inch round top vent, or a 3.25 by 10 inch rectangular vent on either the top or the rear, cover the large majority of existing residential duct openings. If you’re replacing an older hood and aren’t certain what’s already cut into the wall or ceiling, that three-way system means the existing ductwork very likely works without modification, cutting, or a call to a contractor.
Both the 30 inch and 36 inch versions share the identical airflow rating and noise range, so sizing up to cover a wider cooktop doesn’t cost you any suction, an inconsistency that shows up on several competing hoods once you compare their published numbers across sizes.
Airflow and CFM Sizing
A standard 30 inch electric or induction cooktop calls for roughly 10 CFM per inch of width, putting the floor around 300 CFM before any duct resistance gets factored in. A gas range in the 30,000 to 40,000 BTU range calls for closer to 300 to 400 CFM using the total burner output divided by 100 guideline. The EPA’s residential ventilation guidance sets a similar floor for general kitchen exhaust needs.
The Hauslane PS18 CFM rating that gets marketed most often is 860, listed as an equivalent airflow figure across Hauslane’s own site and most retailers. That number needs real context before you rely on it. Hauslane builds airflow control directly into the unit, capping real-world output at 350 CFM specifically to avoid the separate make-up air system that many local codes require once a range hood clears roughly 400 CFM.
At least one major retailer lists this same model at 500 CFM instead of 860, closer to what a laboratory airflow figure we found in a manufacturer spec table shows for this unit. No HVI certification backs either number, so both the 860 and the 500 figures remain manufacturer-stated claims rather than independently verified ones.
What that means for your kitchen is simple math rather than marketing math. At 350 CFM capped, the PS18 clears a standard electric cooktop with real margin, and it comfortably covers a moderate gas range too. Push past a high-BTU professional-style range, and you’re relying on a ceiling number that has no third-party verification behind it.
Noise Levels During Real Cooking Sessions
Sone ratings only tell part of the story, since a 20 to 60 minute cooking session feels different from a quick burst on high to clear a single pan of bacon. At 1.5 sones on the lowest setting, the PS18 sits quiet enough to hold a normal conversation nearby, and owners consistently describe the lower speeds as unobtrusive during everyday cooking.
That changes at the top of the six-speed range. At 7.0 sones, several owners describe the highest setting as noticeably loud, climbing to roughly 63 to 64 decibels based on our research into published estimates, about the same volume as a normal conversation held right next to the hood. A few owners also report a low-speed rattle, though more than one attributed it to a non-professional installation rather than the unit itself.
If your kitchen opens directly onto a living or dining space and you expect to run high speed often for heavy frying or searing, plan around that top-end noise rather than the quieter low-speed figure most retailers lead with.
Installation and Duct Requirements
Two to three installers is what Hauslane’s own manual recommends, given the size and weight of either width, and real owner accounts back that up. At 49 pounds for the 30 inch model, this isn’t a unit one person comfortably holds in place while marking mounting points.
The most consistent complaint we found is the missing installation template. Mounting screw locations aren’t easy to access once the unit is in place, and without a template, installers have to hold the hood up, mark the holes by hand, and in a few reported cases, redrill when existing holes from a previous hood didn’t align with the new mounting points. Budget real time for this step rather than assuming a quick swap.
On the duct side, the news is better. The three included adapters, one for a 6 inch round top vent, one for a 3.25 by 10 inch rectangular top vent, and one for the same rectangular size at the rear, cover most residential configurations without a separate reducer purchase. Hauslane’s manual also specifies not exceeding 30 inches of mounting height above the cooktop during operation, tighter than the 24 to 30 inch range you’ll see quoted as general guidance for this class of hood, so measure carefully before you commit to a mounting point.
One detail is easy to miss until the box is already open, since a power cord isn’t included. If you aren’t hardwiring the unit directly, budget for a separate cord and a compatible outlet before installation day.
Filter Type, Lighting, and Controls
Grease capture relies on the two included baffle filters, cut with a deeper groove pattern than a flat mesh design, and both are dishwasher-safe. An included oil tray catches drips before they reach your cooktop, a detail owners called out as a genuine convenience over their previous hood.
Lighting runs on swappable GU10 LED bulbs rated at 3 watts, warm white in color temperature, though Hauslane’s current site lists 3000 Kelvin while several retailer listings still show 2700 Kelvin for the same bulb, a discrepancy that matters if color matching to existing kitchen lighting is a priority for you. Either way, the bulbs are standard GU10s available at any hardware store, so replacing or upgrading them later isn’t a proprietary hassle.
Controls run through a buttonless touch panel, which keeps grease from building up in the seams a physical switch would create, plus a built-in digital clock and a delay auto shut-off timer that keeps clearing residual smoke after you’ve already moved on. The one recurring complaint here is the control sequence itself. Several owners mention needing to press power, then the light, then the fan speed in sequence rather than jumping straight to a setting, and the display reportedly defaults to a mid-range speed rather than remembering your last one.
Cleaning, Maintenance, and Long-Term Durability
Washing the two baffle filters every few weeks is the extent of routine maintenance under normal cooking frequency, and every filter here goes straight into the dishwasher rather than requiring hand scrubbing or periodic replacement, unlike a charcoal filter setup.
Hauslane backs the motor with a lifetime warranty, layered on top of two years of general coverage for the rest of the unit. That structure signals real confidence in the part most likely to fail over a decade of daily use, and it’s a stronger motor commitment than many mid-range competitors offer. Owner ratings collected across retailers consistently land in the 4.6 to 4.7 star range across more than 1,700 ratings apiece, with the large majority recommending the unit to others, a pattern that holds well past the first year of ownership based on reviews we found from owners several months to over a year into use.
The Right Kitchen for This Hood
The PS18 fits best in a kitchen replacing an older under cabinet hood where the existing duct opening is already a known quantity, whether that’s a round 6 inch vent or a rectangular 3.25 by 10 inch opening on the top or rear. If you aren’t certain which one you have, this hood’s three-way system means guessing wrong costs you far less than it would on a single-configuration competitor.
You should also be comfortable with a real installation project rather than a five-minute swap. Budget for two people, some patience around the missing template, and a separate power cord if you aren’t hardwiring directly. A standard 30 or 36 inch electric cooktop, or a gas range in the moderate BTU range, sits comfortably within what the PS18 delivers once you account for the 350 CFM code cap rather than the marketed 860 figure.
Look elsewhere if your local permitting office requires an HVI-certified airflow or sone figure for inspection, since the PS18 doesn’t publish one. A high-BTU professional-style gas range pushing well past 40,000 combined BTU is also outside what this hood’s capped output can confidently handle, and an open-plan kitchen where full-speed noise would carry into a living space deserves a hood with a lower noise ceiling than the PS18’s 7.0 sones at maximum.
How This Hood Compares: Hauslane PS18 vs Cosmo QS75
We put the PS18 against the Cosmo QS75, its closest direct competitor on duct class and price tier.
Feature | Hauslane PS18 | Cosmo QS75 |
Airflow (CFM) | 860 equivalent, 350 code-capped | 500 rated, no cap |
Noise (Sones) | 1.5 low to 7.0 high | 1 low (optimal conditions) to 3 high |
Duct Size | 6″ round or 3.25″ x 10″ rectangular, three-way | 7.5″ round only |
Ductless Option | None | Yes, via separate Carbon Filter Kit |
Fan Speeds | 6 | 4 |
Warranty | 2-year limited plus lifetime motor | 5-year limited |
Check Price |
The PS18 wins on duct flexibility and speed control. The QS75 wins on warranty length and noise ceiling.
What to Confirm Before You Buy the PS18
We’d flag five details worth confirming against your own kitchen before you order.
Our under cabinet buying guide covers the rest of the sizing math in more depth if you’re still narrowing down width or CFM.
FAQs
What is the real PS18 CFM rating?
Hauslane markets the PS18 at 860 CFM equivalent airflow, but the unit’s own built-in airflow control caps real-world output at 350 CFM to avoid a separate make-up air requirement. At least one major retailer lists the same model at 500 CFM instead, and neither number carries HVI certification.
Is the PS18 HVI certified?
No. Hauslane doesn’t publish HVI certification for the PS18’s airflow or sone ratings across its own site or the retailers we reviewed. Both figures are manufacturer-stated.
Does the PS18 need a makeup air system?
Not typically, since Hauslane’s built-in cap keeps output at 350 CFM, under the roughly 400 CFM threshold that triggers make-up air requirements in many local codes. Confirm the exact threshold with your local building department, since requirements vary by jurisdiction.
How difficult is PS18 installation?
More demanding than a simple swap. Hauslane’s own manual recommends two to three installers given the unit’s size and weight, and owners consistently report that the missing installation template makes marking mounting holes more time consuming than expected.
Should I choose the 30 inch or 36 inch PS18?
Match the width to your cooktop rather than choosing based on airflow, since both sizes share the identical 860 CFM equivalent rating and the same 1.5 to 7.0 sone noise range. Going wider doesn’t buy you any extra suction.
How loud is the PS18 at full speed?
The top of its six-speed range reaches 7.0 sones, roughly 63 to 64 decibels based on published estimates, noticeably louder than the 1.5 sone low-speed figure most retailers lead with. Plan around that top-end figure if your kitchen opens onto a living space.
Is the PS18 worth it?
For a kitchen replacing an older under cabinet hood with existing ductwork already in place, we think it is, given the duct flexibility, finish choice, and motor warranty on offer. If you specifically need an HVI-certified airflow figure for permitting, or a quieter ceiling at full speed, weigh that against the PS18’s real strengths before deciding.
Can the PS18 run ductless?
No. The PS18 is a ducted-only hood with no charcoal filter or recirculating mode available, so confirm exterior duct access before adding it to your shortlist.
The Final Call
The Hauslane PS18 earns its Best Overall placement across our under cabinet range hood coverage on real strengths. Three duct configurations solve most compatibility problems outright, the low-speed setting is genuinely quiet, four finish options carry identical performance, and the motor warranty signals real confidence in the part most likely to fail over time.
That said, treat the marketed 860 CFM figure as a ceiling claim rather than a certified number, plan for a real two-person installation rather than a quick swap, and expect the top of its noise range to be a genuine jump from the quiet low end. For a standard 30 or 36 inch kitchen with existing ductwork and a cook who runs the fan across its full speed range only occasionally, those factors balance out reasonably well against what the PS18 delivers.
If your local code requires an HVI-certified airflow figure, or your range regularly pushes past a moderate gas cooktop’s BTU output, look further before committing. For nearly everyone else replacing a tired under cabinet hood, this is a genuinely solid place to start, and the full ducted range hood lineup we reviewed covers where it stands against wall mount, island, and insert alternatives if your installation type differs.
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