How to choose the right kitchen hood

The kitchen hood absorbs smoke, fumes and odors that arise during cooking. The more effective the extractor works, the less kitchen processes will affect household appliances and furniture, and not only the kitchen, but also located in other premises of the apartment.

If you do not like clothes soaked in the smells of the kitchen, if you do not like the smoky ceiling and walls in grease spots, and if you just love cleanliness and freshness - the hood should take place as quickly as possible in your kitchen.

Take the choice of hood should be no less responsible than the choice of a plate or refrigerator.

Thinking about how to choose the right kitchen hood for your kitchen, first of all decide what kind of operation this device suits you.

The extractor-air cleaner processes the air above the stove, drawing it from the space above the stove and passing through a special filter, and then returning it to the room, that is, it works in recirculation mode.

The extract, which organizes exhaust ventilation in the kitchen, also sucks air over the stove, but then throws it into the ventilation system through the air duct. If you chose this type of hood, pay attention to the size and location of the ventilation duct and ductwork in your kitchen.

Air extractor hoods are less effective. Filters such extracts can protect the kitchen from soot, but with smells are not struggling too successfully. It is necessary to stop on this type of hood, if the possibility of exhaust ventilation in your house is small or nonexistent - this happens in old houses. However, in this case it is possible to solve the issue individually - to arrange in the kitchen a system of exhaust ventilation with the release of air directly to the street, but this will require considerable time and effort.

In any case, conventional hoods are an option and cheaper, and more convenient and effective. The cost of such devices can vary from $ 20 to $ 200.

Next, you need to solve the issue with the design, because the modern hood should be recognized as an element of the interior, as kitchen furniture, textiles or lamps. You can say a household appliance and a decorative element - two in one. Choose the hood, taking into account the already existing objects in the kitchen and furniture - it should be in harmony with the entire premises. It is recommended to choose the color and style of the hood, which is similar to the appearance of the cooker.

What type of hoods to choose? Manufacturers offer a wide range of flat and dome, as well as built-in hoods.

Please note that among the flat hoods, most operate in recirculation mode, and are equipped with only one-time grease filters. Can be in the kit and disposable carbon, and metal screen filters. Disposable filters will need to be changed about every 4-6 months. Usually, flat hoods are equipped with one or two low-power motors.

Dome hoods are on the market with a wide variety of colors, sizes and shapes. These hoods most often work by throwing air out.

Which management do you prefer? It can be slider (the cheapest), button and touch; there are also models with pseudensensors - in such a control panel it looks like a touch, but in fact under the buttons hidden switches, so that to use such control it will take more than one touch, and some effort. The touch panel looks beautiful and very practical - due to the absence of cracks and depressions, fat and dirt will not accumulate in them. It is very convenient for taking care of it.

The power level controller can have several stages - its presence is mandatory, since it allows you to set the desired power, reducing energy costs and reducing noise levels.

Now there are quite expensive models of hoods with a timer and even with a remote control, as well as temperature sensors that provide "advanced" intelligent control of the power and work time of the hood.

Pay attention to the type and power of the backlight - this can be very handy if the plate has little light. Backlight can provide incandescent bulbs or more modern and more expensive halogen bulbs; recently appeared and very stylish models in the style of Hi-Tech, equipped with LED lighting. When choosing a hood, ask how accessible the replaceable light bulbs are for lighting, as they will have to be replaced at least sometimes even with their high longevity.

And now a little about the numbers.

First, we calculate the productivity of the hood that you need. The norms of SES require updating the air in the kitchen 12 times per hour. Based on this requirement and calculate how much power we need.

We multiply the height of the kitchen by its width and length, getting the volume of the room. Multiplying it by 12 will give you the productivity of the hood, measured in cubic meters per hour.

So, if the length of the kitchen is 3 m, the width is 4 m and the height is 2.5 m, you will need a hood with a productivity of 3х4х2,5х12 = 360 m3 / h.

But it is better to buy it with a reserve of power - in case of intensive preparation of several dishes at once or products with a strong smell, you can quickly refresh the air by turning the hood on full power, while at the same time use it at lower revs.

Determine the size of the hood - based on the width of the plate, under which it is selected. The hood is wider, the higher it can be placed above the stove. The recommended height of the hood is 80 cm above the gas stove or 70 cm above the electric stove.

Optimum for a slab at 60 cm will be a hood with a width of 90 cm. In general, the hood should be at least slightly wider than the slab. Not always a large hood looks cumbersome - modern design solutions have made these appliances elegant and beautiful.

Noise level is important: according to sanitary norms noise level is considered comfortable up to 40 dB, but it is better that it be lower. For comparison - a quiet conversation of people provides noise at 60 dB.

The hoods are completed with short electrical cables, so ensure that the outlet is near the installation site of the hood. The duct from the hood to the vent should pass with a minimum number of turns so as not to lose the drawing efficiency on them.

All asking the question of how to choose the right kitchen hood, it is worth recalling: avoid cheap hoods, it is better to postpone the purchase for a short while in the absence of money. Otherwise, you risk getting a low-performance device with a dubious appearance that will not last long and will not provide the comfort for which you bought it.