How to choose the right hood for the kitchen: tips, reviews

An extractor hood is a kitchen device that is designed to filter the air. Purification of the airspace comes from the fumes, food odors, oily splashes. Hoods are distinguished immediately by several parameters, the main of which is the method of air purification:

• Flowing;
• Recirculation.

Flow hoods clean the air from excess soot and oily fumes. Air contaminants are removed through the external filtration system through the ventilation shaft.

When choosing a flow hood, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the umbrella of the working surface of the device must cover the stove. A powerful motor is also needed to remove excess air pollution. This type of hood has one drawback. They can be installed in those rooms where there is sufficient space for the exit of the ventilation duct.

Recirculation hoods pass polluted air through an internal filter, and then release it back into the room in a purified form. The filters have a carbon composition. Washing and cleaning are not applicable to them. Therefore, after use, the filter is removed and disposed of without requiring extra effort. As a rule, this element is present in flat hoods.

Be aware that filters are present in almost every hood. Including in the flow. The purifier filters particles penetrating inside and protects the ventilation passage from soot.

Attention! On sale there are hoods that are focused on recognizing the smell of burning, the presence of a person, etc. This system is called ARS. As soon as something starts to burn on the stove, the hood motor starts automatically. Also, when a person approaches, the lights on the device begin to shine brighter.

By type of fastening hoods differ:

1. Fireplace or domed. Chimney hoods - have a powerful motor, a large set of additional functions in the form of speed, lighting, control type. Mounted on the wall of the workspace. No filter change required. A wide range of fireplace hoods can be found in any hardware store. This is a fairly common model. But its significant drawback is the need for additional space to accommodate the "dome".
2. Island. Island hoods - have a powerful motor and several modes of operation. Attached to the ceiling. This device has a variety of shapes: round T-shaped, square and others. It should be borne in mind that island hoods are designed for a special design, where it is possible to install a stove in the middle of the kitchen area.
3. Embedded. Built-in hoods - from the name it is clear that they are built into a certain space - kitchen cabinets. They have an exit to the ventilation shaft. This improves the quality of work. For full operation, it is necessary to clean the grate of the hood. As a rule, they are made of metal and have a removable design. These devices have a lot of power. Built-in hood models have more than two modes of operation.
4. Flat. Flat hoods are a separately functioning design. It consists of a medium speed fan, a metal housing and a cleaning filter. An extractor hood is attached above the stove. It has no ventilation outlet. Works from a network. Filters need to be replaced periodically. This hood is relatively inexpensive in cost, but requires updating expensive components.
5. Corner. Corner hoods are very economical structures in terms of space. Built into the corner of the kitchen above the stove. They have several modes of operation and sufficient performance. There are flow and recirculation models.

Attention! The distance from the hood must be strictly observed separately for gas and electric stoves. In the case of gas stoves, the distance must be at least 75 cm, and for electric stoves, the hood must be installed at a distance of at least 65 cm.

Which hood to choose?

If you are going to thoroughly equip the kitchen, then you should not only take care of the design of space and devices, but also select certain parameters. For the hood, you should take into account the power, operating modes, noise level, control method.

Power

Each hood model has power ratings. When buying a hood, this is one of the main facts. Agree, it is better to clean the kitchen from unpleasant odors in 10 minutes than to wait for such an “enlightenment” for half a day. This means that it is not worth taking hoods “for the interior” with low power. But also, one should not make a choice in favor of those hoods that I suck borscht out of the pan. For home use, industrial hoods are not needed. But if you are selecting for a cafe, bar or restaurant, this fact should be taken into account.

For a more precise choice, there is a conditional formula. It helps to calculate the ratio between the volume of the kitchen and productivity. To calculate, consider an example: the length of your kitchen is 4 meters, the width is 3, the ceiling height is 3 meters. The total volume was 36 m³. Now the measure of volume must be multiplied by 10. You get 360 m³ / h. is an indicator of the minimum air productivity.

Important! When buying, keep in mind that the calculated volume of productivity is the minimum indicator. Therefore, figuratively add a few more values ​​\u200b\u200bfor efficiency in air purification.

Working mode

Depending on the manufacturer and model of the hood, the number of operating modes may vary. For some, the switch is fixed in two positions, while for some, the modes are regulated up to 5 programs.

According to the method of control, they also distinguish: push-button, mechanical and touch. Depending on preferences, buyers regulate this issue on their own.

Noise level

The noise level during operation of the hood is influenced by several factors: power and air productivity. The higher the score, the louder the noise from the device will be. But even at low power, depending on the cost and quality of the device, the decibel level may vary. Therefore, if necessary, it is better to check the tone on the spot.

Tip: When choosing, do not forget about the size of the required hood. The minimum size in length is 45 cm.