How to choose a hood for the kitchen

Everyone knows how difficult it is to clean the walls and ceiling of the kitchen of the greasy soot that inevitably remains after cooking. Mixing with dust, it forms a very unaesthetic coating. It would seem that a repair has recently been made, and here again, everything needs to be repainted and re-glued - otherwise it will be unpleasant to enter the kitchen. However, this situation may occur if you use only a traditional ventilation system to clean the air.

Now, with the invention of the kitchen hood, repairs in the kitchen may not be needed for a long time. The device does not allow fat to settle on walls or cabinets with a ceiling, catches odors and any fumes. The air in the apartment remains clean and fresh. So buying a hood if you do not already have it is definitely worth it. This article will tell you how to choose the hood for the kitchen correctly, without getting lost in the variety of models. In it, we will talk about the main characteristics of hoods and how their various modifications differ from each other.

What the hood is for and how it works

This device works on the principle of forced ventilation. It removes combustion products from the air, as well as unpleasant odors and fumes. But in the kitchen, when you cook, no smells, no splashing fat can be avoided.

Inside the hood is a system of special filters that trap vapors, odors and soot. In addition, it has a forced ventilation system. All this is enclosed in a housing on which there is a control panel, either electronic or mechanical type. Depending on how the air is cleaned, hoods are of the following two types:

1. Recirculation hoods clean the contaminated air with filters and then release it back into the room.

An example of a recirculation hood and the principle of its operation.

2. Flow-type devices suck in dirty air, clean it of grease and soot, and then release it through an external ventilation system.

An example of a flow hood and the principle of its operation.

Hoods are usually mounted on the ceiling or wall above the stove. Sometimes they hide it in a hanging cabinet, open from the bottom - it looks very aesthetically pleasing. The device can be noticed only by specifically looking there.

As for the ceiling and wall hoods, they are made to fit seamlessly into the design of the kitchen. Wall mounted air purifiers can be made in the form of a fireplace or a neat visor. Sometimes in such a visor there is a retractable screen with a filter inside.

What criteria should I choose a hood

So, how to choose the hood for the kitchen and what to pay attention to first of all? Let's answer this question.

Filter system

In devices of recirculation type, the cleaned air passes through two stages of filtration. At the same time, some filters eliminate extraneous odors, while on others, oily particles settle along with soot.

1. The system that filters oily particles can be a removable plastic cassette on which a synthetic winterizer or non-woven is attached. Such a filter is disposable. As it gets dirty, you can pull it out by inserting a new one.

There are also reusable aluminum or steel filters - they are not removed, but are periodically cleaned from dirt.

The photo shows a metal reusable filter.

2. In addition, disposable carbon filters are used with which the neutralization of various odors occurs.

It should be noted that almost every cooker hood can be adapted to the recirculation mode. In this case, you cannot do without a grease filter. But the second stage of filtration is not urgently needed, without it the hood will work quite well in the recirculation mode. If you do not use a grease filter, then all the oil and grease will fall on the fan blades and the internal parts of the exhaust device. And from there to remove sticking fat and soot is a laborious task.

Some budget models of air purifiers work without filters at all - they simply remove contaminated air through external ventilation. At the same time, due to the pressure difference, clean air comes into the place of the removed air from the street. Such devices are on sale rather rarely.

It is better to pay attention to modern models of hoods, which will remove unpleasant odor and fat in 6-8 minutes. Moreover, the air will lose at least 96% of excess impurities. This is especially important in those apartments where the kitchen and dining room are not separated.

Appearance and design of the hood

Now consider what kind of hood to choose for a kitchen, depending on its design. Surely you have already asked yourself this question. After all, these household appliances are hanging, made in the form of a dome, as well as island. There are still models in which the working panel extends. We characterize all these types of devices.

1. Hood type hoods are the cheapest and easiest to install, so they have earned popularity among buyers. Their operating mode is recirculation, while reusable filters are used. They are characterized by low cost and simple installation.

A suspended hood, which is good to use in those rooms where there is no possibility of venting air to the ventilation.

2. Dome hoods in their shape resemble an umbrella. Their second name is mantelpieces. They are also mounted on the wall above the stove, and can work not only in recirculation mode, but also in flow mode.

A hood type hood, connected to the ventilation system of the room and very well cleans the air.

3. When the stove in the kitchen is built-in, it makes sense to use a cooker hood of the built-in type. In this case, in a special hanging cabinet with an open bottom, the exhaust device can be perfectly masked.

Hood built into the kitchen furniture.

4. And if the stove is not located near the wall, but in the middle of the kitchen, they get an island-type hood. The type of work they have is flowing.

In the photo, an island-type hood.

5. The advantage of models with a retractable panel are compact dimensions. At the same time, by pulling out the panel, if necessary, it is possible to process air over the entire surface of the plate.

Retractable hood integrated in kitchen cabinets.

About fans and their power

An exhaust device may contain from one to two fans powered by electric current. When they talk about how to choose the hood power for a kitchen, they mean the power of its fans. The main parameter of the hood, productivity, depends on this value. It determines how much air a device can clean per unit of time. As a rule, the performance of modern exhaust devices ranges from 180 to 700 m3 / h. Fans can operate at two or four speeds.

High performance also has its flip side: a very noticeable noise is heard during the operation of the device. And it is not usually required to work to the limit. Unless sometimes you need to turn on the hood to the maximum - for example, when the food is burnt out or the milk runs away. And if something is warming up quietly under a closed lid, then fans with a small capacity can handle it.

There are sanitary standards, according to which, the air in the kitchen must be replaced 10 to 12 times per hour. We make a calculation: we calculate the volume of the kitchen, subtract the volume of all furniture from it, and then multiply by 10.As a result, we get a number that determines the desired performance of the device.

Control Panel - which is better?

On the outside of the hood, there is a control panel. It can be a button, touch or slider type.

1. Touch control is convenient in that it is enough just to touch the desired sector of the panel with your finger. The LED will light up immediately, and the device will complete the task.

2. The slider type control panel allows you to select the desired mode using a mechanical slider that moves along the plane.

3. Buttons are simple - each button on the panel corresponds to a particular device mode.

The hood may also have such useful functions as a sleep timer after a specified time, an ultrasonic humidity sensor and an electronic type speed switch. Such a switch can increase the fan speed if the smoke content exceeds a predetermined value.

When choosing, you can focus on touch control, it is certainly convenient but the cost of these hoods is greater.

Hood dimensions

Choose an exhaust device in accordance with the size of the stove. Remember the basic rule: get a hood with dimensions no smaller than the hob.

The standard width of the plates for the kitchen is from 60 to 90 centimeters. If at the same time you choose a hood for the kitchen 50 cm wide, then a good result will not be achieved. It is better to let the stove be covered by an air purifier than vice versa. And then the greasy and unpleasant smelling air, and look, even penetrate into the bedroom.

Now a little about the mounting height of this device. According to the rules, it is necessary to hang an extract above the gas stove not lower than at a distance of 75 centimeters from the surface. For electric stoves, this distance is less - 65 centimeters. If you neglect this rule, then you can accidentally set up a fire. After all, the hood in this case will be very hot, which can lead to ignition of the fat accumulated on its walls.

Communication Connection

For the air purifier to work well, it must be properly connected to the ventilation system. For connection you need to use short nozzles. The more bends the duct has, the lower the hood performance. The calculation is simple - each bend gives a 5 percent reduction in performance.

The smoother the duct wall and the larger its diameter, the better the device will work. But the corrugated hoses, which are so easy to install, on the contrary, reduce its productivity.

Additional "gadgets"

In models of hoods of the highest price category, additionally quite useful functions may be present. This, in particular, “interval switching on” and “residual stroke” of the fan.

The periodic inclusion of an exhaust device with an interval of one hour ensures a constant flow of fresh air into the apartment. At the same time, the fan runs at the slowest speed, and air from the room is immediately taken to the street.

The "residual stroke" suggests that after turning off the hood for 5, 10 or 15 minutes, its fan will quietly work. So you can achieve almost perfect purification of kitchen air, which may still remain for some time after cooking.

Which lighting is preferable

When you cook, you want the dishes to look as natural as possible. Therefore, it is best to use halogen type lamps above the surface of the plate. They are not cheap, but they last a long time, and products in their light will look appetizing and natural. But luminescent lighting should not be used - it will distort the shades. And incandescent lamps will not transmit, as it should, blue, yellow and red colors.

About the cost of cooker hoods

In our country, in stores, both budget options for exhaust devices and models of medium and higher price categories are widely represented. When deciding how to choose a cooker hood for your kitchen, first decide how much money you are willing to spend on it. And how models of different price categories differ, read on.

1. The most inexpensive hoods are made of plastic with the addition of metal parts. They are controlled by buttons or a slider, the fan has no more than three speeds, performance does not exceed 450 m3 / h. Two incandescent lamps serve as lighting devices.

2. Models of the average price are made of stainless steel, aluminum and tempered glass. The panel can be not only push-button or slide, but also touch. Sometimes there is a panel on the panel. As incandescent lamps, either incandescent lamps or halogen lamps can be used. Productivity of the device is up to 650 m3 / h.

3. The highest performance for expensive models of hoods. Its value can reach 1300 m3 / h. As their decoration can be used valuable wood. There is a remote control, touch panel, as well as many sensors (humidity, smoke, temperature, filter pollution) that activate the device at the right time. There is a shutdown timer, and only halogen lamps are used for lighting.

Summary table of features and recommendations

Video: Choosing a hood for the kitchen

You will be interested

LIEBHERR refrigerators: the best models, product line and technical solutions

The 14 quietest and most reliable refrigerators - model overview and selection tips

Bosch refrigerators: the best models, lineup and technical solutions

Side-by-Side Refrigerators - The Best Models and Tips for Choosing

The best brands of refrigerators - an overview of companies, their technical solutions and model range

How to choose a gas stove with a good oven

How to choose an induction hob

6 best single-chamber and two-chamber built-in refrigerators

11 best gas stoves with gas oven