How to choose a hood in the kitchen: professional advice

High-quality and stylish hood in the kitchen - not a luxury, but a real necessity. This technique not only ensures the comfort of cooking, but also prevents the rapid contamination of the finish around the work area. Modern firms offer a wide range of models with different parameters, additional functions. Even a small hood can have pretty good power and fully cope with the task. That is why when choosing a suitable model, you need to focus not only on the ratio of price and quality, but also on the capabilities of specific air cleaners. They can differ not only in external feed, but also in the way of installation, the parameters of work. Having carefully studied our tips and recommendations, you can easily find a decent model for your kitchen. Also, our step-by-step instructions will help you do a proper installation of a regular or built-in hood with your own hands.

What is the hood in the kitchen?

The main task of the kitchen hood is the quick and high-quality removal of polluted air during cooking. Also, in the case of cooking on a gas stove, the removal of the combustion products of household gas becomes its main purpose. The additional functionality of kitchen air cleaners include:

• Minimizing contamination of the cooking zone.

High-quality extracts help remove not only steam, but also water, fat splashes formed during the cooking process. If the block is working properly, they will settle on filters, and not on walls, furniture fronts, or working countertops.

• Removing odors.

Removing odors during cooking will ensure the freshness of the upholstered kitchen furniture used. For studios in which the kitchen is combined with the living room, having a good hood will help to avoid situations where upholstery and upholstered furniture in the hall are soaked with the smells of previously prepared products.

• Creating optimal cooking conditions.

It is important that the fumes emitted during cooking and the constant spraying of fat create uncomfortable conditions for the owners themselves. Continuous operation of the hood while cooking will prevent such negative phenomena.

Materials used in production

Modern air cleaners have metal housings. This feature ensures their reliability, long service life and minimal susceptibility to adverse effects. Also made of metal and railings, which are decorated with the body hoods. As additional materials are used:

• plastic: mainly used for the manufacture of original plates on the metal case, provide eye-catching styling;
• glass: is also an auxiliary material that allows you to make the model more modern and stylish; however, models with glass inserts require more thorough and frequent maintenance;
• wood: wooden inserts on the case are an advantageous addition and a simple way of styling models; they usually do not require special care and endure the negative effects of steam.

The main types of hoods on the type of location and interaction with furniture, their advantages and disadvantages

Choosing a hood that is suitable for the installation method and location features, you should consider the possibility of using a specific model for installation in your kitchen. Some types of technology must be embedded between or under the lockers of the headset or mounted directly in the headset. Each of these features has its own advantages and disadvantages:

• separate location (above the cooking zone): fixing the equipment to the ceiling requires a carefully thought-out project, which will take into account the general view of the equipped room and the subsequent closure of the connected communications;
• embedding in furniture (worktop, cabinet): first of all, you need to take into account the dimensions of the depth and the total free space in the part of the headset being converted; such models provide minimal use of kitchen space;
• arrangement in the composition with furniture (between, under the cabinets): the installed equipment will stand out against the background of the headset, but it will take much more space than a similar embedded model.

Embedded

Built-in hoods are among the most popular (including owners-smokers) because of their convenient and compact location. The upper part (duct) of such models is located inside the hanging cabinet of the kitchen set. The lower part, equipped with a control unit, is located under this cabinet. The main advantages of embedded air cleaners include:

1. Minimal violation of the overall interior by hiding most of the model.
2. Simplicity of embedding in modern headsets (the air duct can be located both in the cabinet with the door opened upwards, and in the cabinet with the usual flaps).
3. A wide range of models (with different sizes and functional characteristics: for example, you can easily choose a built-in telescopic model, whose working area is easily increased by simply pulling out the lower unit with filters).

As for the minuses of the models, they can be attributed to the complexity of the transfer of such equipment and the need for careful selection of the new headset, with which it can be re-installed.

Suspended

Suspended hood is one of the most compact. It is a small unit equipped with filters, a control system. Its fan is mounted directly in the main unit. Therefore, suspended models often have the form of a small parallelepiped. They can be mounted under the cabinets or located on the "empty" wall. Separately to such models, rigid metal or flexible corrugated duct systems are purchased. Due to the compactness of the suspended models can easily fit into the interior of any kitchen. At the same time connecting them to the air ducts is not difficult. Optionally, the installation of add-ons can be carried out above the kitchen set or inside it (by analogy with built-in models). Other important advantages of suspended hoods include budget, insignificant noise during operation and a wide range.

Dome

Models of dome type belong to the budget category. They have an affordable price, are made with a different design and can be complemented by different decor (glass and wooden inserts, roof rails). The design of such hoods is quite simple: they include a dome, equipped with a control unit and complemented by filters in the lower part, and equipped with a duct. Dome models are suitable for equipping ultra-modern kitchens and kitchens with discreet design or without a specific style. Do not belong to the quietest models, but at the same time the noise from them, even when operating at maximum speed, is insignificant. Due to the large working area, they guarantee fast and high-quality removal of polluted air flows. The control unit of models often includes 2-3 speed modes and a light on button. In the newer dome hoods, there may be special timers and sensors for automatic start of the hood.

Domino

Non-standard domino-type hoods (or as they are called chimney-type hoods) are gaining increasing popularity due to the features of their installation. Unlike other types of air purifiers, they are not installed above the stove, but next to it. Usually, the installation of the "domino" hood is carried out parallel to the slab - between the tile and the wall. An important feature of such models is their compactness: household appliances of a sliding type can be easily “removed” into the worktop. To start it, you just need to pull it out from the tabletop and set the desired mode of operation. Domino models are ideal for installation in modern kitchens, decorated in a simple and concise style (modern, minimalism, hi-tech). True, they are unsuitable for installation near ordinary gas stoves. They are often mounted near electrical and induction hobs. Models are made in different sizes and with different parameters, so it is quite easy to pick them up for installation near a small electric stove or a large induction surface. But such a technique has a very high price.

Island

Island-style hoods stand out for their non-standard design and installation method. They can be mounted anywhere in the kitchen, and at the same time are fixed directly to the ceiling. Often attached with special studs or cables. Therefore, visually they seem to hover above the working surface. Such models can often be seen in the kitchens in modern restaurants and in the houses of culinary masters. At the same time, it is quite difficult to find such equipment in a regular store: they are made to order, taking into account the specifics of the equipped kitchen and the interior created in it. Installation of an island hood is quite difficult, since it requires taking into account the peculiarities of electricians leading to it and laying air ducts. Usually the communications supplied to the equipment are located under the ceiling and then closed with tension, plasterboard or other ceilings. That is why such hoods are more suitable for installation in private homes or in apartments with a ceiling height of about 3 meters.

Corner

Non-standard hoods of the angular type are somewhat similar to dome models. They also include at the bottom of a large dome, which provides rapid removal of steam, polluted air flows, and on top include a pipe-duct. The features of such models include the need for angular placement. They will be a practical addition to the kitchen, in which the stove is located in the corner: honey with a headset or between the pedestal and the sink. The disadvantages of this type include the difficulty of connecting to the ventilation system or a separate conclusion to the street. Such a problem can be encountered when installing the hood in a corner away from the window. If desired, the air duct system can be positioned above the headset or laid directly in it (on the upper shelves of the cabinets). True, such a decision will be very problematic: you will need not only to drill holes in the cabinet of the cabinets, but also to donate a headset, which could be used to store utensils and other kitchen tools.

Oblique

Unusual hoods with a tilted working area are in great demand. They give the design of the kitchen a great personality, emphasize the modernity of its equipment. However, such models are quite noisy: they are equipped with powerful fans for instant removal of polluted air and steam. This feature is due to the design of air cleaners, so that the rising flows do not spoil the look and condition of the ceiling. The angle of the working part of such equipment may be different. This characteristic should pay special attention when choosing a model. For the quality of the arrangement of kitchens with conventional gas stoves in standard sizes, it is recommended to select hoods with a small angle of inclination of the working part (for better removal of the combustion products of gas). For electric stoves and induction hobs suitable models with any angle.

Types of hoods on the method of purification

Before choosing a suitable kitchen hood, it is very important to consider not only the peculiarities of its design, but also the method of purifying polluted air. According to this parameter, there is the following classification of air cleaners:

• circulation;

In the absence of the possibility of connecting the installed exhaust to the general ventilation system or to the preparation of a separate (direct) discharge of polluted air to the street, circulation models are the optimal solution. They absorb the polluted streams, clean them up and immediately “return” the air to the room. However, during cooking in a kitchen with a circulating hood, it is recommended to open a window or a window to ensure fresh air.

• flow;

Contaminated air after mechanical cleaning in such models is diverted to the street. They are usually connected to the ventilation system, less often under such exhaust hoods the exhaust to the street is prepared separately.

• combined.

Combine two modes of operation, which allow using the auxiliary valve to block the discharge of polluted streams to the street and to ensure their immediate cleaning and influx into the room.

Filter systems

In modern models, several types of filters can be combined at once, each of which allows for high-quality cleaning of the streams coming to the hood. The most popular filter systems include:

• paper, non-woven;

Are disposable and represent a piece of cloth. As you use this filter accumulates dust and grease. During cleaning, the hoods should be thrown away and replaced with new ones.

• acrylic;

They carry out a rough cleaning and accumulate grease, dust. They need careful cleaning: to remove accumulated fat, you need to soak the filter for a short time in warm, soapy water.

• aluminum;

Refers to reusable models used for coarse cleaning. Their advantage is the ease of washing in the dishwasher.

• coal.

Refers to fine models. Used for accumulation of harmful microparticles, absorption of unpleasant odors. They may have different shapes (square, rectangular, round) depending on the hood for which they are made. Are disposable and require timely replacement.

Size - how to choose the right one

Determine the necessary parameters of the hood is not difficult when taking into account the specifics of the arrangement of the kitchen and the originally allocated space for this technique. The selection of models can be guided by the following tips:

• Width.

It is recommended to select the hood to the size of the plate. So, the width of the air cleaner should be equal to or literally 2-4 cm less than the width of the plate. It is better to take a model with a margin so that its width is greater than the width of the slab. When buying a smaller model to ensure the correct removal of air from the cooking surface will be impossible. In the case of embedding the oven between the headsets you need to focus on the distance between the cabinets, where the equipment should fit.

• Depth.

Telescopic models can be selected with any depth, regardless of the size of the plate. Standard hoods should ideally have the same depth as the stove. It is allowed to select a model with a smaller depth (or replace it with an inclined model), if the depth of the cabinets between which it is located is too small, and the protruding appliances will spoil the look of the kitchen.

Power: calculation of performance, given the size of the kitchen

It is quite easy to select the appropriate extraction power according to the following principle:

1. Calculate the area of ​​the kitchen to be equipped and multiply it by the height of the walls, then multiply by 12 (the standard calculation parameter for removing polluted air in normal cooking). For example, for a room with dimensions of 4 by 5 meters and a height of walls of 2.7 meters, this figure will be 4x5x2.7x12 = 648.
2. It is also necessary to calculate the distance from the hood to the ventilation duct (or a separate air outlet). That is, calculate the length of the ducts. For each meter counted, it will be necessary to add another 10% to the number obtained in the first paragraph. For example, if the length of the ducts is less than 1 meter, the approximate power will remain the same. If the length is from 1 to 2 meters, then the required power will be 648 + 64.8 (10%) = 712.8.
3. For each bend of the duct should also be counted on 10% of the power. If there is one bend, then the resulting figure is increased by the previously calculated 10%: 712.8 + 64.8 = 777.6. Additionally, we consider the reserve capacity of 10-20% (in case of food sticking) 777.6 + 64.8 = 842.4.

The number obtained in the calculations and will be the best indicator of performance. Therefore, for our example, you will need to purchase a hood with a capacity of 840 cubic meters / h.

Type of control: ease of use

From the type and features of the control panel exhaust directly depends on its ease of use. There are the following types of blocks that are equipped with modern models:

• mechanical;

Setting modes and the inclusion of additional options is enabled mechanically. The switches can be ordinary buttons (push-button control) or special sliders (slider control). They are distinguished by ease of use and greater reliability (mechanical blocks rarely fail).

• electronic;

It includes control buttons, but at the same time it is complemented by a LED-display, which allows you to easily select the optimal mode of operation of the hood or to carry out intelligent adjustment of the equipment.

• sensory.

Оснащается панелью, на которой включение режимов или смена параметров работы вытяжки осуществляется без прикосновения - для этого нужно лишь поднести палец к сенсорной кнопке. Такой блок очень удобен в использовании, но сложен в ремонте.

Мелочь, но полезно: дополнительные функции

Selection of a stylish and practical hood must necessarily include consideration of its special functions. A detailed overview of the additional features of the models will help to easily find the best option for an air cleaner from a well-known brand or a new manufacturer of equipment. Useful auxiliary parameters include:

• backlight: in today's market it is difficult to find models without lighting, but when choosing it is recommended to give preference to hoods in which the lamps are additionally protected with plastic or glass (this will prevent dust and grease from accumulating on the illuminators themselves);
• emergency indication of filters: will indicate the need to change or clean the filters used;
• automatic change of speed: due to special sensors, the speed of removal of steam and fat can automatically change, providing the best conditions for cooking and a fast speed of pulling out polluted streams;
• automatic on and off: allows you to start or stop the fans and turn off the equipment according to the time set on the timer;
• "residual stroke": ensures the operation of the exhaust at low speeds for 5-15 minutes after switching off to ensure the highest quality removal of steam and odors.

Hood in the interior of kitchens of different styles

Having carefully studied the characteristics, rating and features of different types of hoods, you should pay attention to the stylistic presentation, color of models. Selecting such a technique for different styles of kitchens is easy, using the following hint in the directions:

• hi-tech, modern: the modern gray and black models of the inclined, built-in type and "domino" ideally complement the styles, complemented by glass inserts and equipped with electronic or touch control units;
• classic, provence: dome and corner models in white will be the best solution (wood inserts are permissible);
• minimalism: the strict island, recessed, suspended and oblique models will be appropriate in this style, will fit well into the design and "domino" in black color;
• loft: the best option would be the dome, inclined models in a light brown color and a suspended model in a beige color scheme;
• modern, urban: fit silver and dark gray models of suspended, domed or built-in type.

Features self-installing exhaust with air duct

Mounting the hood with an air duct is not difficult. But before you install the technique, you need to consider the following features:

1. The hood should be positioned above the electric stove at a distance of at least 70 cm; the distance between the gas stove and the hood should be about 80 cm or more.
2. Mark the location of fasteners must be below the level. It is important to bear in mind that the plate itself, due to the unevenness of the floor, may stand at a slight inclination.
3. To output the duct with poor-quality ventilation system will need to prepare a special hole in the wall (for air exhaust to the street). It is necessary to carefully consider how the air duct will be brought to it, and how it will lie relative to the headset. It is advisable to make as few bends as possible and not to change the diameter of the duct so as not to reduce the speed and quality of the discharge of polluted air.

Required materials and tools

For self-installation hood will be required:

1. Screws and dowels (for fixing the technology itself).
2. Corrugation or plastic box (the corrugation can produce a lot of noise when the hood operates at maximum power).
3. Clamps or screws (for fixing ducts).
4. Screwdriver or drill.
5. Level (for proper marking of the place of attachment of equipment and air ducts).
6. Concrete crown (if necessary, prepare a separate hole for removal of combustion products to the street).
7. Roulette.
8. Hacksaw (when used as duct corrugations).
9. Knife, nippers and insulating tape (for safe connection of equipment to the mains).

Additional winding materials (such as FUM tape) may be needed. They will allow you to tightly connect the mounted duct to the hood itself.

Stages of work

Direct installation of the hood with the air duct is carried out according to the following instructions:

1. Mark the places of fastening of the hood (taking into account the optimum height for the operation of the hood and its operation), the preparation of fasteners and fixing equipment.
2. Preparation of the duct connection. Also preparation of the place where the exhaust will display the products of combustion. To remove the duct to the ventilation valve, you can use a special sleeve (it will fit tightly and securely in the channel). It can also be used to connect the duct to a separate hole in the wall. It is necessary to lay the duct with a minimum length and with virtually no bends.
3. Connecting equipment to the mains. To do this, you will need to remove the wire from the junction box in advance and carefully lay it to the hood. Such work should be carried out only after a power outage in the apartment. Also, you should not engage in connecting equipment to the mains in the absence of skills of such work.

Independent installation of built-in hood

The difference in the installation of conventional and built-in hoods (of any brands and with any cubic capacity) is significant: the latter are mounted in the cabinet itself, and therefore do not need to be mounted on the wall. The work is carried out according to the following instructions:

1. The hood is fitted to the cabinet (which has not yet been hung on the wall), fixing points are noted.
2. The cabinet is being assembled (if necessary). The hood is installed. Mounted base under the duct. The cabinet is fixed to the wall.
3. The air duct is connected to the hood, the equipment is connected to the power supply network.
4. Mounted protective box (on top of the duct), checked the operation of technology.
5. When the air cleaner works correctly, the doors are installed on the cabinet.

Conclusion

After studying useful tips, recommendations, and familiarizing yourself with the features of different types of hoods, finding the right model for your home is easy. When choosing a technique, it is necessary to take into account its size, functionality and, of course, the specifics of the installation. Additionally, you should be familiar with the rules for selecting models for performance, technical characteristics. If you need to choose the hood for the kitchen, decorated in a particular stylistic direction, check out our simple hint, allowing you to find the optimal hood for a specific interior. Also, owners who prefer to carry out repairs or home improvement with their own hands, will benefit from our instructions for installing hoods with air ducts and installing embedded models. Accurately following the step-by-step instructions, you can easily carry out high-quality and reliable installation of the product.