We installed this hood ourselves. Due to the configuration of our cabinets we did have to rethink how we installed this. With an old home built in 1930 you never know till you start. We ended up running the vent out the soffit. After looking at the options it really was the best way. We like the look of the hood over our stove and the lighting is excellent. It is a quiet hood on level 1 and 2. If you go up to 3 it is quiet a bit louder but that was expected. This was a middle of the road hood. To get one that was a very quiet sound would have cost hundreds more. We were sticker shocked by the price of the range hoods really. We could still hear the damper rattling once we taped the piping together. We finally removed the damper because of it. The outside vent has a damper. Unfortunately it was the only way to stop the annoying rattling.