Choosing a kitchen hood is not the easiest thing to do. It is necessary to take into account many nuances and details. Now on sale there are various types of kitchen hoods. They differ in many ways, from appearance to performance. To understand what is worth stopping at, you need to find out what this or that characteristic of the device means.
Why is it important to clean the air in the kitchen?
Many housewives, especially the old school, often ask this question. They simply do not see the need and advantages in the hood over the stove, they believe that simple ventilation is enough. However, this is not quite true.
During cooking, a huge amount of substances that are not always beneficial for the body are released into the air from a hot stove. These can be small particles of food, steam, combustion products, soot (if something is burnt), volatile substances, and even mold spores. All this is in the air of the kitchen, settles on the walls, is transferred to other rooms. As a result, substances accumulate both in the kitchen itself (which is why a characteristic unpleasant odor forms in rooms with poor ventilation), and in the body of the hostess. Often the cause of ill health, rapid fatigue, and even various allergic reactions are just food particles.
When airing through the window, most of the volatile substances disappear, but a significant part still remains in the kitchen. The hood works much more efficiently, because it captures air just above the stove. As a result, the particles do not have time to spread in the room, stay on the walls, etc., and this is its great advantage.
What types of extracts are there?
There are 2 main types of hoods:
- Flowing (or exhaust air).
- Recirculation.
During operation, they use various methods of air purification. In the first case, the hood is connected to the main duct or equipped with its own separate hood. Polluted air passes through a filter system and is expelled outside.
In the second case, after purification, the gas mixture enters the room back. This "walking in circles" is called recycling.
Types of filters for hoods
There are various types of inline filters. First, they are:
- disposable;
- reusable.
Disposable filters in the hood change as it gets dirty. Most often they use coal as an absorbent. They have a plastic case, some porous material is attached to it, for example, synthetic winterizer. Charcoal filters are arranged according to the same principle. They need to be changed as they get dirty.
Reusable hood filters can be cleaned and returned to their place. They are made of steel or aluminum. A mesh material is attached to the body, which can be cleaned with a brush.
Filters are also divided according to the type of substances captured from the air into:
- Oil-fat, i.e., trapping particles of soot, fat and oil. They are also called coarse filters.
- Filters for odor elimination or fine cleaning.
Both types of filters are used in recirculation hoods. In flow - oil-fatty. Some manufacturers save money and do not always install cleaning systems in this type of hood. However, if the air is not cleaned, oily particles from the stove will eventually settle on the walls of the device, on the fan blades, and on other internal elements. It is extremely difficult to remove dirt from these places, especially if the hood is not disassembled. And in a very short time, the device may fail, cease to effectively purify the air, and even break down.
What type of control to choose?
It all depends on the personal preferences of the user, which control method seems more convenient, and that should stop. Various mechanisms are used in kitchen hoods:
- Push-button. That is, the choice of mode, the intensity of air circulation, on / off - all this is regulated by pressing the convex keys.
- Touch. In this case, the control panel is made flat, and the device reacts to touching the sensor.
- Slider. In this case, a mechanical switch is used.
Design features and appearance
There are many options for the location and external design of hoods. The following varieties are distinguished:
- traditional (classical, suspended);
- angular;
- island (ceiling);
- built-in (telescopic);
- dome (fireplace);
- design.
Which option to choose - the buyer decides. However, each type of kitchen air purifier has its own characteristics that must be considered.
Traditional and corner appliances
The traditional hood has a familiar appearance to many. It is even sometimes called a classic. Such devices are installed under kitchen cabinets directly above the stove. Most often they are used in recirculation mode. Disposable filters are installed in them, which are changed as needed. Some models may be equipped with a corrugated air outlet pipe.
Corner hoods belong to the same type. They are simply designed to mount in a corner and have the appropriate shape.
Built-in and telescopic hoods
Built-in and telescopic devices are installed in the hanging box itself, which is located above the stove. Such hoods are almost invisible. Telescopic, unlike conventional built-in ones, are equipped with an additional panel that slides out when the device is turned on. Due to this, the area on which polluted air is captured increases. When the hood is off, the panel can be removed.
They cost not much more than conventional built-in units, but they work very efficiently, because they install multi-layer filters, and at the same time they take up less space. They are often flowing.
Dome type appliances
Dome hoods got their name because of their appearance: a dome hangs over the stove, from which a rectangular pipe extends, drawing air from the stove, resembling a chimney by a fireplace. These devices are most often of the flow type, but can also operate in recirculation mode. In fireplace hoods, the dome resembles the top of a fireplace.
Island hoods
Island (or ceiling) appliances are used if the stove is not against the wall, but in the center of the room. The hood in this case is attached to the ceiling and does not come into contact with other elements of the island-type kitchen. It is equipped with an additional air duct to connect to the main ventilation or window. Most often it can work in 2 modes: recirculation and flow.
Designer hoods
Designer products are called so due to the original appearance. As a rule, their design is developed together with the overall interior of the kitchen. Often made to order.
How to choose the size of the hood?
Of great importance is the size of the hood. It is necessary to choose it correctly. This parameter depends entirely on the size of the plate. The size of the catching surface cannot be less than that of the working surface. That is, if the plate is 60 cm wide, the hood must also be selected 60 cm or more, for example 90 cm. Otherwise, the air will not be cleaned properly. So, for 2-burner narrow cooking surfaces, kitchen hoods 50 cm wide, sometimes 60 cm wide, are used. For standard stoves, the 90 cm option is preferable, and for wide ones - 120 cm.
For overall stoves, it is better to choose built-in or telescopic hoods. This will help make them less bulky, make the room lighter. It will also be possible to hide the air duct (which has an increased size for wide models) inside the drawer.
The height at which the hood will be installed will also be of great importance. Here you need to choose, focusing on your own comfort. The height of 65–75 cm is considered optimal, at least 60 cm. The hood will capture pollutants with high quality, but will not create a fire hazard. If the distance is less than 60 cm, then it will be inconvenient to work: you will have to constantly bend over to get to the stove. And if the oil-fat filter is dirty, the risk of fire increases significantly.
Power/Performance
The last technical characteristic that you need to pay attention to is performance. This parameter shows how efficiently the device works, how much air it can clean in a certain time. The most commonly used value is the cube. m/hour. To choose the right appliance, you need to know the size of the kitchen, its cubic capacity. A suitable hood will have time to drive all the air through itself 10-12 times in an hour. The formula for calculating the optimal device performance is:
(length x width x height) x 10.
Length, width and height are measured in meters.
If the hood is located at a height of more than 85 cm from the working surface of the stove, then you need to choose a more powerful hood. The volume of the kitchen (cubic meters) must be multiplied by 12.
What are the additional options for?
There are several other specifications that can be selected optionally. For example, the presence of a timer or an automatic on / off function. You can pay attention to the noise level. Well, if this parameter is not higher than 50 dB. Then, during cooking, the sounds will not interfere and distract. Another nice bonus is the backlight. But here, too, everyone decides on their own whether additional recessed lamps are needed. You can choose the best options only based on your own wishes and common sense.
