Buying an extractor hood – short guide
Do you want to get rid of cooking smells in your kitchen? Mount a ventilation hood over your cooker and it will get rid of the problem. there is lots of them available in stores and they come in all colours, shapes, sizes and are equipped with different functions. Below we are describing issues you should consider before buying a hood.
-
Type of extractor hood.
There are four main types of extractor hoods available in stores: canopy cooker hoods, chimney hoods, kitchen island hoods and integrated kitchen hoods (telescopic). The first type is an ideal solution for small and tightly packed kitchens. Canopy cooker hoods are independent units and their price is very attractive. They can be hanged right under the cupboard or mounted on the wall. Chimney hoods (backed onto a wall) are just as much popular as canopy cooker hoods. They are mounted right over the cooker/gas hob and they extract smells into the ventilation shaft. The vertical chimney hides discharge pipe. Usually chimney hoods have simple and geometrical shapes and steel finish. Island hoods are quite similar, but they are attached to the ceiling, not to the wall. They are the most expensive of all extractors available on the market. They are big and have a stylish modern design. They are installed right over the kitchen island. The last type of kitchen extractors, the telescopic hoods are fitted between existing kitchen units on the wall. They have a a big extracting surface and blend perfectly with the rest of the kitchen – the whole mechanism is hidden in the cupboard. They are equipped with a “movable” drawer and their performance is much better compared to canopy cooker hoods.
-
Type of filter.
There are four types of filters used in extractor hoods: grease filters, metal filters, carbon filters and fleece filters. Grease filters are supposed to stop grease particles occurring in water vapor and protect the engine together with interior housing from pollution. Metal filters have the same purpose, but their construction is different. They consist of a dense mesh, which captures the grease. Their main characteristics are long service life and durability. Moreover, these filters can be washed. Carbon filters absorb smells and filter the air before it returns to the kitchen. Fleece filters absorb grease and pollution. They are made of nonwoven fabric, which wears down very fast, so they have to be exchanged quite often.
-
Efficiency.
Efficiency is expressed in m3/h. This value lets you know how much air the device filters in 60 minutes. It’s best to choose an extractor that is capable of circulating kitchen air 6 times in an hour. Of course in case of open kitchens, this parameter should be even higher.
