The kitchen has a difficult microclimate, while people are often in it. The kitchen area is used for cooking, breakfast, lunch and dinner, spending time with the family. It is important that the air in the kitchen is clean and fresh without unpleasant odors. The hood will help to clean the air masses.
Arguments for and against installation
The need for air purification is established by hygienic requirements, the observance of which is mandatory for the preservation of the health of the residents of the house and apartment. During the cooking process, grease, dirt, and an unpleasant odor appear in the air masses, which are harmful to human health. Extractors are used for efficient cleaning of air streams.
The old-style device takes up a lot of space, which is especially lacking in small apartments in Khrushchev. Modern models are able to complement the design of the room.
The main arguments against installing an exhaust system include:
- Efficiency of cleaning with a ventilation system without the use of additional products.
- Health hazard due to accumulation of grease and dirt on the filters. Such an environment becomes ideal for the multiplication of microbes and pathogenic bacteria. But with timely replacement and cleaning, the hood does not pose a threat to health.
- Noise.
Manufacturers have already eliminated many of the negative properties associated with the technical features of the device (sound, vibration). Noise standards in high-quality devices do not exceed the established values. The aesthetic issue can also be considered solved thanks to a wide range of models of the most diverse in shape and size. Modern hoods can be built into furniture, which is why they practically do not take up space.
Purpose of the device
To understand whether a hood is needed in the kitchen, you need to understand its functions. The main benefit is to remove pollution and unpleasant odors from the air. Thanks to the circulation of air masses, the kitchen will always be fresh, even after cooking greasy dishes.
Modern appliances are equipped with lamps on the bottom surface. This allows you to further illuminate the workspace. In the evening, you do not need to turn on the main lighting in the room.
The range of exhaust systems is wide, so you can find a device suitable for any interior and for any power.
Built-in appliances will not be visible to the eye at normal times. For the duration of the work, the surface is pulled out and effectively performs its functions.
Varieties of hoods
According to the principle of operation, there are two types of hoods - recirculating and flowing. The first type filters the air and cleans it of impurities, and the second brings it out into the street.
Flow-through designs are more efficient and able to cope with a large volume of air per unit of time than recirculated ones. They are recommended for those who often cook fatty foods. Installation is complex and requires a call of a specialist to connect to the ventilation system of the house. It also requires the installation of an anti-return valve so that polluted air flows do not return to the apartment.
Recirculation devices are compact and easy to install.Functional abilities are limited. They cannot save you from an unpleasant odor, as the air passes through the filters and returns back. Also, filters require periodic cleaning and replacement.
The devices differ in design. The main types on the market include:
- Built-in appliances with a pull-out working panel. These are more expensive hoods that are equipped with additional functions. They take up little space, are compact, multifunctional and fit organically into the interior. Due to the installation in the box, they are not visible.
- Suspended. Usually these are recirculation models, flowing ones are less common. They look like a flat panel that is attached to the bottom of the wall cabinet. A limited amount of air is processed. They are compact, therefore they are often used in small kitchens.
- Island. These are the most powerful units that purify the air throughout the house. They can be installed anywhere.
- Dome. Wall or ceiling mounted. Usually flow-through. The height of the dome can be up to 125 cm, which must be taken into account before installing the equipment in the kitchen.
Depending on how the kitchen is used and how much space is in it, a suitable model is chosen.
Advantages and disadvantages
To finally decide on the need for a hood in the kitchen, you need to familiarize yourself with the positive and negative sides. A kitchen without a hood above the stove has the following advantages:
- Stylish laconic design of the room, which is not burdened with unnecessary technology.
- More free space. This is especially true for small apartments.
- No additional noise emitted by a working device.
- Maintenance of additional household device is not required.
- Less electricity costs.
In the absence of a hood, the owner of the house will face the following problems:
- The ventilation duct will not be able to completely remove odors from the kitchen.
- Grease and soot will settle on the ceiling and be absorbed into clothing and furniture. Some odors are difficult to remove.
- It will require constant natural ventilation. In the cold season, opening the window too much can lead to the formation of a draft and the risk of illness for family members. Houseplants will also react to sudden changes in temperature.
- Frequent general cleaning is required to remove any yellow film from furniture, walls and ceilings.
- Rapid contamination of wallpaper, curtains, ceilings.
- No harmful carbon monoxide, which negatively affects human health, is removed.
There are many more disadvantages of the lack of a hood, many of them are associated with a threat to health. Better to sacrifice extra space in the kitchen and interior to keep the air clean.
When you can not use the hood
Despite the importance of such equipment, there are cases when the hood can be omitted. If the kitchen area is not used for cooking, but serves as a dining room, unnecessary vapors and odors are not generated in it. Also, the installation of the hood can be neglected if a powerful fan is installed in the house. It effectively removes all fumes and odors that form when cooking food.
If a modern stove is installed in the house, the operation of which does not emit carbon monoxide, you do not need to install the hood. Regular ventilation or good ventilation is sufficient to remove odors.
Option for small kitchens
The optimal solution for small premises is the use of built-in household appliances. The hood, which is installed in the closet, does not harm the appearance of the room and does not take up much space. The positive qualities of such devices include:
- Compact dimensions.Due to the presence of a retractable working part, free space will be saved at normal times, which is especially important in small studio apartments.
- Due to the integration into the cabinet, a careful selection of the device for the interior is not required.
- Additional functions.
There is only one drawback - cost. It is higher than that of classic pendant models. But the price is justified by the wide functionality and minimal installation dimensions.
