A modern kitchen is unthinkable without a variety of household appliances. They allow us to make the process of cooking simple and enjoyable, and also save us from many inconveniences. One of the important elements of any kitchen is the hood, which not only makes staying in the kitchen comfortable, but also allows you to extend the life of the finishes and kitchen furniture, ridding the air of an abundance of odors, water vapor and grease. A special place among the variety of these irreplaceable kitchen appliances is occupied by a chimney-type hood. Consider what it is, how it differs from other models and in what cases it should be chosen.
Chimney hoods for the kitchen: what is the device?
Chimney, or domed, hoods got their name due to the shape of a truncated pyramid or cone, reminiscent of a dome. They differ significantly from other types of exhaust equipment both in structure and functionality. The devices are available in various designs and styles. The most common options are:
- metal, having the shape of a pyramid;
- metal with glass, often shaped like an inverted "T";
- classic or "country" - resemble the top of a fireplace or stove, decorated with wood or stucco;
- ultra-modern inclined with surfaces made of metal and dark glass.
The main functional difference of the fireplace type hood is higher productivity and degree of air purification, due to the special shape and internal structure.
How does a fireplace extractor work?
Depending on the type, the principle of operation of this device can vary significantly. According to the method of functioning, there are two main types of fireplace hoods for the kitchen:
Output (flow)
Devices of this type draw and discharge polluted air into the ventilation shaft, or directly to the street. These devices have high performance and allow you to clean the room from polluted air and unpleasant odors in the shortest possible time. They have a built-in grease filter (grease trap), which allows you to qualitatively clean the air from grease and dust. As a rule, it does not need to be changed, it is enough to rinse regularly.
Filtering (circulating)
Circulating hoods do not draw air from the apartment, but pass it through several filters. In such a device, two filters are usually installed - coal and fat. The first refers to consumables, it must be changed periodically. Of course, filtering devices have a lower performance than output ones, but they have a number of advantages.
- Firstly, filter hoods are much cheaper.
- Secondly, they are much easier to install, since they do not require connection to the ventilation shaft.
carbon filter must be replaced every 4-6 months. It is necessary to change it in a timely manner, otherwise the exhaust device will not be able to provide high-quality air purification.
Benefits of a fireplace hood
Chimney hoods are the most popular. This is due to the presence of important advantages, which include:
- Appearance. In the case of purchasing a fireplace-type device, there is no need to hide the device itself and ductinto the cupboard. Such a hood will become a real decoration of the kitchen and will revive the interior. Dome-type devices are available in different styles and colors, so it will not be difficult to match it to your kitchen furniture. Some models have a special shelf that can be used to store useful little things, which is very convenient.
- High efficiency. Chimney hoods are usually much more powerful than other types of appliances.Their high performance is due to the special structure: most models have 2 built-in motors, as well as high-quality grease filters.
- Large price range. This is not to say that a fireplace hood is the cheapest option. However, the cost of such devices varies greatly, you can choose a not too expensive model with wide functionality, which will be an order of magnitude higher than other varieties of this device.
- Easy Installation. This is one of the important points, since embedded devices are often difficult to mount. Chimney hoods are easy to install, they are attached to the wall with self-tapping screws and dowels.
Another important advantage: many fireplace hoods can operate in two modes - both in the exhaust air mode and in the circulation mode. You can choose the appropriate mode for different conditions, which helps to save energy.
How to choose a device by size?
One of the main parameters of the hood is its dimensions. It depends on them how well the air in the kitchen will be cleaned. There is a general rule for determining the required size, which also applies to fireplace-type devices.
To select the size of the appliance, it is necessary to measure the dimensions of the stove. For effective air purification, the width of the hood must be at least as wide as the width of the plate. In extreme cases, they may be the same. However, it is still very desirable that the edges of the hood extend a little beyond the limits of the plate, it is then that maximum performance will be ensured.
Chimney hoods have a standard width of 50, 60 or 90 cm. There are also wider models for larger rooms.
Installation methods
Depending on the configuration of the kitchen, you can choose the appropriate way to install a fireplace hood. There are several types of devices according to installation methods:
- Wall. Suitable for the most common and easiest installation method, when the appliance is mounted on the wall directly above the hob.
- Corner. Corner type devices have a slightly different design, and are used when the stove is located in the corner of the room. This arrangement saves space in the kitchen.
- Island. They are installed if the stove or hob is located in the center of the kitchen, not adjacent to the walls of the room.
Popular manufacturers
Chimney hoods are produced by almost all companies that manufacture kitchen appliances. The most popular of them are:
- Bosch, Siemens, Kuppersberg, Backer (Germany);
- BEST, Zanussi, JetAir, Elica (Italy);
- Cata (Spain);
- ELIKOR, Gefest (Russia);
- Gorenje (Slovenia);
- "Pyramid" (Ukraine-China).
Noise level
Any hood has such an important parameter as the noise level. When buying a device, this factor should be given special attention, since powerful monotonous noise can adversely affect the health and psyche of a person. The noise level during the operation of the hood in standard mode is about 40 dB. This indicator can be compared with ordinary human speech at a distance of 1 meter. If the hood is running at maximum power, the noise figure can reach 60-70 dB.
The best option are hoods, the noise level of which does not exceed 40-50 dB. It will not cause discomfort and discomfort during the operation of the device.
Control
Many people are interested in the issue of managing a chimney hood. There are several types of control mechanism:
- Button control. This is the traditional and therefore the most common option. On the body of the device there are buttons with which you can adjust the operation of the device.
- Touch control. Another fairly common type of control.However, it is not convenient for everyone, since the buttons do not always respond well to touch, it is difficult to press them blindly. Also, devices with this control method are highly susceptible to power surges.
- Slider (slider type). This type is considered not very convenient, since the controls are located at the bottom of the hood. In addition, they often get dirty.
Recently, many models come with a remote control. This is really convenient, since you can control the hood remotely, in addition, there are no fingerprints on the kK shiny surface.
Service
The cleanliness of the air in your kitchen, as well as the life of the hood itself, depends on proper care and maintenance. This is especially affected by filter elements, so their contamination must be removed in time. To understand exactly how to care for your hood, you need to find out which grease filters are installed in it. There are several types of such filters:
- Sintepon, non-woven or paper. These filters are disposable and need to be changed periodically. Through the protective grille of the hood, you can see the signs on the filters. As soon as the signs disappear, the filter should be replaced.
- acrylic filters. They are reusable and should be cleaned with warm soapy water. This procedure should be repeated once a month.
- aluminum filters. These filter elements are reusable. They need to be cleaned once a month with special products. The degreasing composition is best suited for these purposes.
Aluminum filters can be washed in the dishwasher, which is very convenient. However, it is important to remember that they need to be washed separately from the dishes.
With proper care, the fireplace cooker hood will last a long time and will delight you with clean and fresh air in the kitchen, as well as a stylish appearance.
