The hood for the kitchen is an effective device for removing combustion products of gas, steam, fat and oil vapors from the room. Thanks to this household appliance, an optimal microclimate is maintained in the apartment, there is no unpleasant smell, the cleanliness of the surfaces of the ceiling and walls is maintained. The modern market is saturated with products of this type. To choose the right hood for the kitchen over the stove, you should study the range of products on sale, familiarize yourself with their features, characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, installation and operation rules.
Varieties of hoods
Cooker hoods are designed to remove polluted air that is generated during cooking on the stove. This can be done in various ways, depending on the layout of the room and its design.
There are such types of cleaning equipment:
- Direct-flow. In this case, an air duct is connected to the outlet of the device, which is output to the ventilation system of the house. If this is not possible, the conclusion is made on the street. In this case, the cut of the channel is protected from moisture by a mosquito net and a cap. This option is the most effective, since by-products are removed completely, but there are some subtleties here too. The pipe may not fit into the interior of the room, which is why you will have to spend energy and money to decorate it. Too long duct is expensive, and turns on it reduce traction in the duct.
- Recirculating. In this case, the air passes through the cleaning system, after which it returns back to the room. The advantage of this solution is that there is no need to install a bulky air duct and drill walls. After installation and connection, the product is immediately ready for use, the kitchen will look neater. There are also disadvantages to this design. Fats, moisture and odors are not completely absorbed, as they pass through the filters too quickly. In addition, hot air enters the kitchen space again, which does not contribute to the comfort of the hostess. The condition of the filters also requires attention. They have their own resource, products require regular replacement.
Choosing a hood for a kitchen with a gas stove is necessary taking into account many criteria, applying them to a specific situation.
Hood types by mounting method
Modern electric hoods are distinguished by a variety of designs and appearance. The choice should be made based not only on aesthetic properties. Professionals recommend giving preference to practicality and efficiency.
You can find and select the following types of products:
- Suspended. Appliances are attached to the wall above the electric stove. They can have their own filtration system or direct removal. In the second case, it becomes possible to hang a small cabinet above the equipment, inside which it is easy to build an air duct. The limited size does not allow installing a sufficiently powerful motor, as a result of which these models do not differ in efficiency.
- Embedded. A great option for small spaces where you need to save every centimeter. The products are rectangular so they can be built into standard sized furniture.A wide range of color solutions allows you to choose the right shade of equipment for almost any headset. The appliance is equipped with a thin pull-out panel that retains and directs the evaporations coming from the stove to the fan.
- Dome. It is analogous to fireplace ventilation. It has a rigid structure, inside which there is a powerful motor with a turbine. The wide spigot and strong traction ensure almost complete absorption of all emissions from the slab. Wall mount, while the air is discharged through channels made of iron, plastic or aluminum corrugation. Due to the rigid construction, the dome-type units do not have the vibration typical of pendant and built-in models.
- Island. Outwardly, the device resembles the variety described above, but this is where the similarity ends. The main difference lies in the attachment point. Island models are fixed to the ceiling, and suspended or tension systems are used to mask the duct. Strong and thick steel is used in the manufacture. The size of the case allows the installation of expensive silent motors. The perimeter of the lower part of the device can be equipped with shelves for dishes. Some models have a function for switching the zones of the fence.
- Dominoes. This is an innovative piece of equipment that can be built into both the worktop and the hob. The hood consists of several modules, used together or separately. The product removes heat directly from the surface of the stove, while the upper zone is responsible for absorbing odors and vapors. The only drawback of such structures is the high cost.
- Inclined. Products of this type appeared on the market relatively recently, but managed to gain popularity due to their presentability and performance. The original appearance is combined with a simple device and ease of use. Air is sucked in through a small opening, but if necessary, the lid is opened and transferred to a vertical position.
When making a purchase decision, you should carefully evaluate all the qualities of the product. The advice of an experienced salesperson can help.
Exterior design
It is necessary to select a hood for the kitchen taking into account the design of the headset, the layout and the size of the room. To make it look beautiful and harmonious, the technique must fit into the interior so as not to be conspicuous, complement it, in some cases be the center of attention if the style of execution is worth it.
Color and decor options are as follows:
- white;
- the black;
- brown;
- beige;
- light green;
- metal (stainless steel, nickel, chrome);
- mosaic;
- dominoes;
- gzhel;
- khokhloma.
The surface of the devices is made in matte and glossy, smooth and embossed design. Products may vary in shape. The built-in appliances are made rectangular to adapt to the parameters of the cabinets. Separately installed appliances are domed, trapezoidal, semicircular, round and oval. The choice of the installation site is determined by the kitchen layout and the type of hood. Most often it is a wall, but the center and corner of the room is also not uncommon.
Principle of operation
The principle of operation of the device is based on the occurrence of air draft between areas of high and low pressure. If it is almost impossible to influence the volume of the kitchen, then it is quite simple to create a kind of vacuum inside the device. For this, a fan or turbine is used, driven by an electric motor. The difference lies in speed, performance, and noise generated by the rotating elements. Turbines have shorter blades, so they spin faster and are less noisy.
To protect the fan and motor from grease contamination, a thick stainless steel filter is installed on the front of the appliance. Then the partially cleaned air is captured by the fan and fed under pressure to the outlet.Depending on the type of removal, it passes through a filter or enters the duct.
Most of the hoods are designed to work in both modes. The outlet pipe has connectors for connecting filters. Using a variety of adapters, they can be connected to round, square and rectangular pipes.
Dimensions and power of the device
If food is cooked frequently and in large quantities, you should pay attention to the power of the motor when buying. The efficiency of the hood is directly proportional to this parameter. It varies between 400-800 watts. If you put an insufficiently powerful product, some of the fumes will pass by it, settling on the ceiling, walls, furniture and windows.
In addition, the size of the device matters. Its width and depth must be equal to or greater than the parameters of the hob.
Filtration system
Filters are used in units of recirculation or combined type. Their task is to retain moisture, fatty fumes and odors.
The hood is equipped with the following types of filters:
- Metallic. They are durable, but they only catch a part of the vapors, the smell and heat do not go anywhere.
- Synthetic. The filler is felt and polymer fiber. More effective, but also does not eliminate odors.
- Coal. They perfectly clean the air from all secretions, including unwanted aromas.
Replaceable filters need to be replaced regularly, as they become sources of infection when heavily contaminated.
Material for making hoods for the kitchen
Since the hoods are made to work in high temperature conditions, heat-resistant materials are used for their manufacture, which do not change their properties even with strong heating.
The body is made of aluminum, stainless steel or enamelled black iron. In modern models, touch panels are made of colored tempered glass. Plastic is used at joints and as a decorative finish.
Device control type
Depending on the model, the device is controlled using the following organs:
- Mechanical buttons. By pressing and switching, the operating modes and lighting are set. The system is simple, inexpensive, but the buttons wear out over time.
- Touchpad. The keys are carried out behind the display or are part of it, indicating the set operating parameters.
Modern models are equipped with timers that turn on and stop the device at a given time. The best products are able to automatically change the mode of operation depending on the degree of pollution of the vapors.
Installing a cooker hood in the kitchen
The correct operation of the hood largely depends on the correct installation. First of all, you need to determine the height of the appliance above the hob. The optimal distance is considered to be 60 cm for an electric stove and 70 cm for a gas stove.
Installation is carried out in the following sequence:
- Marking.
- Installation of the attachment device (bar, hooks, anchors).
- Duct assembly or filter attachment.
- Network connection.
To prevent the cable from spoiling the interior of the kitchen, it can be placed in a plastic box decorated to match the wall.
Model rating
The rating of the best kitchen hoods is as follows.
Embedded:
- Siemens LI 67 SA 680 IX;
- Krona Kamilla Sensor 600;
- Elikor Integra 60.
Suspended:
- Midea MH 60T;
- Krona Jessika slim PB 600;
- Shindo ITEA 60 W.
Dome:
- ELIKOR Fireplace Edge 600;
- Simfer 8662 SM;
- Shindo REYA 60 W.
Inclined:
- Asko CD4934G;
- Bosch DWK065G60R;
- MAUNFELD Tower C 60.
Island:
- Elica NAKED URBAN ZINC / F / 25 MAUNFELD;
- Lee Light 35;
- Kronasteel Jessica slim PB 500.
Dominoes:
- Elica PANDORA IX / F / 90 INOX;
- Faber HOO-B BK / A A52;
- LEX Touch 600.
You should buy equipment from trusted sellers, preferably at branded retail outlets.
