10 tips for choosing a kitchen hood

All hoods operate according to the general principle - as a result of forced ventilation, the air is cleaned of particles of fat and burning. In some models, it undergoes a cleaning procedure and again enters the kitchen, in others it is taken out into the street. According to this parameter, all exhaust devices can be divided into two types.

1. Circulating. The air is drawn in, cleaned and fed back into the kitchen. Devices of this type have many advantages - there is no need to mount an air duct, they are easy to install. Circulating hoods operate quietly (up to 40 dB), do not interfere even within a small kitchen.
2. Flowing.The principle of their work is somewhat different - they draw in the kitchen air, partially purify it and take it out of the apartment. In such hoods, coarse filters are usually installed to protect the internal elements of the device from grease. They need to be cleaned from time to time. In very cheap models, there are no such filters, so they need to be cleaned regularly. According to the advice of professionals, it is better to purchase flow hoods, since their performance is much higher. The main disadvantage is the complexity of installation.

Hoods for the kitchen differ not only in the principle of operation, but also in design. Home appliance stores offer a wide variety of models. Our tips will help you understand all this diversity.

1. Traditional. One of the very first, elementary and inexpensive options. The hood is fixed above the stove on the wall. Most of the models operate on the principle of recirculation, but there are also flow devices. Traditional circulating hoods are inexpensive, but they often have to change filters.
2. Embedded. More modern and functional models for embedding in a kitchen set. Many of them have a retractable panel to increase the working area and productivity. They cost a little more than traditional models, but not much, therefore, of these two options, it is better to choose the second one. Built-in hoods mounted in the countertop stand apart. Of the pluses - the best elimination of odors, as they catch them already at the level of the stove, preventing them from rising up, and an interesting design solution. Of the minuses - a higher cost and a reduction in the usable area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe working area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe kitchen.
3. Dome. Very effective in terms of trapping burning and odor. There are several types - fireplace, island and corner. Models of the first type are called so because of the shape, which resembles the exhaust system of a fireplace. They are large, many manufacturers are considering unusual design options. This leads to an increase in price without improving technical characteristics. Corner hoods, as the name implies, are designed to be installed in a corner. It is advisable to use them when there is a shortage of space in the kitchen. But the range of corner hoods is not very large. The last type (island) can be fixed in any part of the kitchen - the wall is not a prerequisite for installation. They are intended mainly for the working areas of an island-type kitchen. The price for them is significantly higher compared to other options, but they significantly benefit in terms of power and design.

In order for the hood to serve you for a long time and properly cope with its functions, it is better to choose a model that has been proven over the years by a well-known manufacturer. There are several well-established brands in the field of traditional and built-in kitchen hoods. Based on the advice of professionals and user reviews, we have compiled a small list of reliable and popular manufacturers.

1. Bosch. Under the German brand, hoods of all the listed types are produced. The manufacturer pays attention not only to the quality and functionality of devices, but also to their design. It provides various mounting methods. The company's product range includes island, built-in, wall-mounted models. All of them have excellent performance, are convenient in operation and are reliable.The brand is not the cheapest, but if you can afford it, you should choose it.
2. Hansa. Among the advice of professionals, there is often an opinion that Hansa hoods deserve no less attention. The origins of the brand begin in Germany, but the equipment is made in Poland. The main advantages of the brand are high performance and durability. Judging by user reviews, the hoods of this brand do a good job with any smells even at low speeds. Many models are complemented by pleasant LED lighting. Often, special sensors are used to automatically turn on in the event of smoke or burning.
3. Elica. An Italian brand that produces models for every taste and budget. They have excellent performance, exquisite design, excellent quality. Users appreciate the manufacturer's products for ease of operation and functionality. Under this brand, some of the first built-in models appeared. Many hoods are complemented by halogen lighting and sound absorption systems.
4. Siemens. The company often uses air pollution sensors for its models, which significantly increases the efficiency of their work. The device quickly absorbs all odors, but is very quiet even at maximum speeds. An additional plus is the built-in LED modules.
5. Gorenje. Hoods of the Slovak production. The manufacturer produces both budget devices and premium models. Most models are productive, convenient, efficient, but if you want to choose a cheap brand hood, first carefully study the reviews. Among the budget models come across not the most successful devices.
6. Hephaestus.The Belarusian company in most ratings undeservedly remains on the sidelines, although in terms of technical characteristics, design and functionality it is not inferior to more expensive foreign brands. The manufacturer offers built-in, wall, ceiling models. Of the advantages, users note ease of management, fairly high performance, convenient backlighting. For most models, the settings are set from the keypad.

The main indicator characterizing the efficiency of the hood is its power. This parameter shows how much polluted air the device can process in a certain unit of time. To choose the right power, you need to know exactly the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe kitchen and some of its features.

The calculations are not very complicated. First, the volume of the kitchen space is calculated - for this, the height of the ceiling is multiplied by the area. The resulting figure is multiplied by 12. In accordance with sanitary standards, this is how many times per hour the air in the kitchen should be updated or cleaned. The result is multiplied again - now by 1.3. This is the safety factor. It turns out that for a small kitchen about 6 m² with a standard ceiling height (2.7 meters) a power (capacity) of about 253 m is needed³/hour. In addition, there is another important rule that must be observed - the optimal distance from the surface of the stove to the hood should be 65-85 cm. If you plan to place it higher, take power with a margin. A small margin of productivity will also be required for a small kitchen, since the concentration of burning and soot in a limited room will be much higher.

On sale you can find hoods of various sizes - for standard and non-standard stoves. The device should have the same width as the stove or a little more. For example, for a standard stove 60 cm wide, you should choose a 60 cm or 90 cm hood. The second option is possible if the design of the furniture and the kitchen area allow it. Manufacturers offer models of very different widths, but 60 cm is the most common size. You can find large hoods, but there are very few compact models on sale - this is not the most popular option.

A little safety advice. The distance from the work surface to the hood above the electric stove must be at least 65 cm, above the gas model - from 75 cm.

An extractor hood is one of the few kitchen devices whose cost varies in such a wide range. If you are limited in funds, then you may well fit a budget model from 2,000 rubles. A lot of economy class hoods are offered by the Russian company ELIKOR. Despite the low cost, the devices quite cope with their intended purpose, although they cannot boast of increased functionality. Having on hand an amount of up to 5,000 rubles, you can also consider budget models of brands such as Gefest, Darina, Hansa, MBS, Kronasteel with a capacity of up to 500 m³/hour.

With an amount over 5,000 rubles, the choice is much greater. It is already quite possible to choose not only a productive, but also a functional model of such well-known brands as Gorenje, BEKO, Bosch, Indesit, more advanced devices from Hansa.Models worth over 15,000 are already offered by almost all well-known manufacturers. In this price category, you can look not only at the performance and functionality of the models, but also choose the most suitable design.

Depending on the type, principle of operation, extraction modes, different filters are used. In some models, filter elements are completely absent, but judging by the advice of experts, you should not purchase such devices. Fat will settle on the engine, which will gradually lead to its failure - even regulatory washing of the hood will not help. Therefore, it is better not to buy very cheap models. Filters are of different types.

• Rough cleaning. These are metal meshes that trap fat particles. They are part of the device, not a consumable, so they are used throughout the entire period of operation. Manufacturers make them removable for ease of maintenance. Periodically, the mesh must be removed, thoroughly cleaned of fat deposits and reinstalled. The main purpose of such a filter is to protect the engine from grease.
• Synthetic nets. Used in flow models to improve the quality of air purification. Synthetic meshes are subject to periodic replacement.
• Coal fine filters. Often installed in circulating hoods to quickly neutralize odors. They work effectively, but they need to be changed regularly.

Sometimes hoods are equipped with an alarm system - it itself tells the user when to clean or replace the filter. This is done using a light indicator. In simple, cheap hoods, an alarm is not provided.

There are three ways to control - standard buttons, slider buttons (move to the side) and from the touch panel. Each method has both pros and cons. The most easy to use models with buttons. With their help, the hood turns on and off, operating modes are set. Of the advantages - ease of control, the absence of thin complex electronics, which often fails, the low cost of models. On the other hand, the functionality of such models is severely limited.

More expensive touch models open up new possibilities for users. They are equipped with a small display that shows the operating modes of the device at the current time. It also sets the necessary settings. Electronic hoods are equipped with a timer, automatic shutdown and mode switching. The most advanced models independently, without the user's command, change the operating mode, speed, depending on the humidity and temperature indicators, and automatically turn on when they are caught by smoke sensors.

Noise in the hood is created mainly by running fans. In kitchens combined with a living room or with frequent use of the device, it is better to give preference to the quietest models, the volume level of which does not exceed 45 dB. The maximum is 50 dB. If the hood runs louder, it will be very difficult to stay in the room. Therefore, no matter which model you choose, which manufacturer, always pay attention not only to power, but also to the noise level.

Taking into account the wishes of users, manufacturers are trying to reduce the volume of hoods to a minimum. For this, different methods are used - instead of one powerful fan, several smaller ones are installed. Noise in them is reduced by reducing the speed during rotation. Anti-vibration pads separating the motor from the body help to make the device quieter. There are also expensive, but completely silent models - their motor is installed at the outlet of the ventilation duct, located outside the kitchen.

The hoods of the medium and high price range are equipped with additional options, most of which are very useful - they not only simplify the operation of the device, but also ensure that the air in the kitchen is always kept clean.

• Remaining fan run. After being turned off by the user, the hood runs for some time to remove all foreign matter from the air.
• Interval inclusion. The device can be set to turn on for several minutes at regular intervals. This ensures constant air purification, maintaining its freshness.
• Timer. You can set the exact time after which the hood should turn itself off.
• Intensive mode. In total, up to 15 modes (speeds) of operation are provided in modern hoods. Some also have an intensive setting that can be used to remove particularly strong odors.
• Remote control. Some electronic models can be controlled with a remote control. The operation of especially expensive and functional hoods is controlled using a special application on a tablet or smartphone.The user can monitor the operation of the device, change settings, even if at that moment he is far from home. It is convenient that alerts come about increased smoke and the need to replace filters.