Why you need a chimney/hood?

Did you think about the kitchen extractor or chimney when you were designing your last kitchen? Most people don’t really consider it. Why is an extractor important? 4 reasons why you really need a cooker hood.

  • Oil from shallow frying, deep frying or wok cooking can be deposited on your cabinets making it difficult to keep your kitchen clean. A kitchen extractor will remove grease from air in the kitchen by filtering the air through the grease filters.
  • Isn’t it awful when you come down for breakfast in the morning and the whole kitchen (and maybe the living room) still smells like the curry you made yesterday? A kitchen extractor will remove smells from your kitchen – especially if you leave the hood switched on for a while after you finish cooking.
  • Cooking creates lots of steam and condensation. In the worst case this can create mould in your kitchen. If your extractor is ducted out and used correctly it will remove steam and condensation from your kitchen.
  • A kitchen extractor can add to the overall look of your kitchen. Extractor designs have evolved in recent years and there are many styles to choose from now.

How to select a chimney/hood?

With the designer cooker hoods range from BEST offering a choice of contemporary hoods to suit all tastes and budgets, you can be assured of getting the look you want. But if you’re not sure where to start when it comes to the practicalities or installation, here’s our expert advice to take you through the basics…

  • Duct-out or recycled? Wherever possible, it’s best to duct-out, which means that steam and odours are expelled outside. Not only does this method of extraction circulate at least 30% more air than hoods on recycled mode, but the ducted-out models also don’t require the charcoal filters that need to be changed every two to three months if the air is being recycled. Furthermore, while hoods used on recycling mode will help reduce cooking odours, they will not reduce steam or condensation as a ducted-out hood can.Think about the practicalities – when choosing an island hood, ensure that the ceiling is sound and that it has adequate strength to accept the weight of the hood.
  • Consider the route of your ducting – you will also need to consider the route for the ducting, and if your ceiling has joists, check the direction in which they run. To maximise the efficiency of your hood, try to keep the number of bends to a minimum and avoid using reducers (i.e. ducting with a smaller diameter) as these will also dramatically reduce performance and increase noise levels.
  • Maximise extraction – if you are having a canopy housing constructed, it’s a good idea to incorporate a recess into the underside of the housing, which holds and contains fumes and vapours before the canopy motor extracts them away.
  • Think about the noise – if you have an open-plan kitchen/diner or enjoy entertaining in your kitchen, it really does pay to opt for a quieter hood. BEST’s Silent Tech, for instance, ensures that some of its hoods operate at just 49dB when set to the lowest setting, which means that it won’t interrupt the flow of your conversation.
  • Know how to get the best from your hood – to remove cooking odours most efficiently, remember to turn on your hood before you start cooking and then leave it running on the lowest speed for a few extra minutes once you’ve finished. Many of the BEST cooker hoods are fitted with a useful timer function that can be set to switch the hood off five minutes after you’ve finished cooking.
  • Let your hood do the thinking for you – some of BEST’s island hoods feature Advanced Sensor Control, whereby the hood senses odours and steam and switches itself on automatically, meaning you can keep your hands free and focus on cooking and entertaining your guests

What are the different Types of Chimneys?

In recent years new cooker hood concepts have entered the market. At hindware we offer the most effective and efficient cooker hood options based on the Indian Cooking Habits.

  • Canopy hoods
    As the name suggests, these cooker hoods are fitted in the base of canopy housing or overhead cupboards and are not really visible. Canopy hoods are also known as built-in or built-under cooker hoods. BEST canopy hoods are available in 52cm or 70cm wide. These hoods are fitted with ASC (Advanced Sensor Control) – which means that you can operate them fully automatically. No hassle with bending over the hob to find the on/off switch! Canopy hoods are suitable for ducting out or recycling.
  • Chimney hoods or wall-mounted hoods:
    These are installed against a wall and are not suitable for kitchen islands. The most well-known chimney hood has a pyramid shape, but BEST offers a wide selection of different styles. A “vertical hood” is a new kind of chimney hood that sits horizontally against the wall and angles outwards from the base to the top of the hood. This is ideal if the cook is tall and doesn’t want head height restrictions. Wall-mounted hoods are available for recycling and ducting out. Please check the individual product pages as to whether a chimney kit is required if you are ducting out.
  • Island cooker hoods
    An island hood is an obvious choice when you are having a cooking island installed in your kitchen. Most island hoods are available for ducting out and recycling. Island hoods come in different shapes and colours.

How to measure the correct Suction Power required?

To calculate the appropriate airflow level for your kitchen, you should multiply the volume of your kitchen by 10. Forexample: If your kitchen is 3 metres wide, 5 metres long and 2.7 metres high, your calculation will be: (3x5x2.7)x10=405 This means that a hood with an extraction rate of 400 m3/h should achieve efficient ventilation of the room.

Heating Auto Clean Advantages

No Water Inlet required

  • For water auto clean, there is a hole on the main glass for water inlet.
  • Whereas in Heating Auto Clean, there is no such hole giving it a cleaner, aesthetically better one piece finish!

Water Pump v/s Heating Coil

  • In a Water Auto clean Cooker hood, a water pump is provided.
  • With reference to its Heating auto clean counterpart, the pump is replaced by a heating coil which sticks to the blower housing. This reduces the effective weight of the chimney and makes the product compact.

What is the difference between extraction and recirculation mode?

  • EXTRACTION MODE (DUCTED OUTSIDE):
    The fan draws the vapors produced during cooking into the hood, where they pass through the grease filter and into the open air. The grease filter absorbs the grease contained in the vapours produced during cooking keeping the kitchen almost totally free from grease and odours.
  • RECIRCULATION MODE:
    Where it is not possible to vent the hood to the outside, the hood can operate in the recirculation mode. The fan draws the vapours produced during cooking into the hood, where they pass through the grease filter and then through the carbon filter before the clean air is discharged back into the kitchen. The grease filter absorbs the grease while the activated carbon filter absorbs any odours. To operate the hood in this mode it is necessary to install an activated carbon filter.
  • Hindware Recommendation:
    If possible, we recommend you have your hood ducted out. A ducted hood will perform slightly better than a ductless (or recycling) hood. Moreover, a ducted hood removes steam and condensation from your kitchen. A ducted hood traps dirt and fats in a grease filter before removing the air from your kitchen. Most grease filters can be cleaned in a dishwasher to prevent dirt building up and reducing extraction performance. Charcoal filters need to be replaced on a regular basis. A hood used in recirculation mode has charcoal filters in addition to a grease filter. The charcoal filter absorbs cooking odours. A hood in recirculation mode recycles the air back into your kitchen after the filters have purified the air. This means that steam is recycled back into your kitchen.

How to choose the correct size of the chimney?

Chimneys or Extractor hoods can be wall or Ceiling hung. Based on the size and style of the kitchen design one has to choose the option of straight line, conical etc. They are available is various sizes. Commonly used sizes are :

  • Wall Hung – 60cms, 120cms.
  • Island (Ceiling Mounted) – 60cms, 120cms.

However, while choosing the size of the chimney one needs to consider the size of the hob. If space permits then it is highly advised to have a bigger chimney / extractor hood for better suction and to avoid and stickiness happening on the either side of the cabinets. In areas where space is a constraint it is advised to have the cabinets little away from the chimney. This will save the cabinet from direct heat and fumes and avoid any damage to the cabinetry.

What are the Installation Guidelines that one should follow?

The minimum safety distance between the bottom of the hood and the top of the cooking hob must be between 65 cm – 75cms. For optimum suction. Smaller or Higher distances must be previously authorized by the manufacturer as it may affect the suction power of the chimney. Many hoods can be used for both filtering and suction. When the filtering function is operating, i.e. with air recycle, carbon filters must be used. When the suction function is operating, i.e. exhausting the filtered air on the outside, a suitable compensation system must be used according to current standards in force. The diameter of the fume exhaust pipe must be the same or greater than the diameter of the hood pipe union. There must be sufficient ventilation in the room where the hood is installed, to allow the simultaneous use of other EN – 6 appliances that use gas or other fuel.

How to reduce the noise made by your extractor hood?

  • Change the way you use your extractor fan
    At lower settings extractors are quieter. If you turn the hood on at its lowest setting before you start cooking, you will control steam and odour levels more efficiently. You probably don’t need to increase the power unless you burn something! To clear residual smells, leave the extractor on after cooking for about 5 to 10 minutes. Some extractors even have convenient run-on timers so that they switch off automatically after a pre-set time.
  • Use the correct ducting
    Good installation of the cooker hood is important – not only for its performance, but also for its noise level. Choose the ducting recommended by the manufacturer. BEST hoods should be installed using 150mm (6in) smooth rigid ducting. Smaller, ribbed or flexible ducting can cause problems with free air flow and thereby create more noise. Ensure the hood is positioned so that the shortest and straightest ducting run possible is used. This again will improve air flow and reduce noise.

How far can I run my ductwork to exhaust my hood?

For maximum performance keep the duct straight and short. Use the shortest route with the fewest turns possible. 45 degree turns are better than 90 degree turns. Be sure to use an external roof or wall cap. If in doubt, consult a qualified installer and ensure the guidelines in the installation manual are followed. Please note each bends reduces the suction up to 60 – 75 m3/hr. Under Indian cooking standards the ducting should not be more than 12 – 14 rft with maximum of 2 bends. You should never exhaust air into spaces within walls, ceilings, attics, or garages. The humidity and grease collect in the space and present a huge fire danger.