How to Choose a Kitchen Range Hood For Your Kitchen

Author : Sean Jordan


If you don't understand the different range hoods available for your kitchen, you could end up buying one that is incompatible with the kitchen layout. Most people tend to shop for a hood that they like the look of without thinking about whether it will fit into their kitchen.

Many stoves and cook tops are attached to an internal kitchen wall. If your kitchen has this layout then you need to buy a ventless range hood which essentially cleans the cooking air before blowing it back into the kitchen. These hoods have two filters inside that traps food and grease particles, as well as odor before the cooking steam is blown back into the kitchen. If you wish to have the air extracted outside of your home, you will need to a have ducting installed within the ceiling cavity in order to move the air outside.




Some ventless hoods can be bought with a ventilation kit at a later stage should you wish to install a duct system. This is a good idea if you need a range hood now, but you know in the near future you will be redecorating your kitchen. You do have to make sure that the ceiling cavity has the capacity to hold these ducts though.




An important function of any kitchen hood is to effectively extract the steam when cooking. It is advisable to buy a hood that comes with at least three fan speeds and has a CFM of at least 600. The more hobs you have on your stove, the more powerful the fans motor needs to be. You need to balance the motor speed with the amount of noise that is produced. It is recommended that you find a manufacturer that specifies the amount of noise their range hoods make when in use.

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Kitchen Chimney

Author : Kathy Mercado

 
Kitchen chimney clears smoke, odors and smells from the cooking area. They absorb vapors quickly pushing them out through a vent. Kitchen chimneys with high suction capacity work well for those foods which involve a lot of steaming and frying.
 
 

 
Kitchen chimney is an asset to any kitchen and are available in various sizes and models. They contain charcoal filters as the main component which aids odor absorbing process.
 
Residue and smoke emanating from cooking area are hazardous to health. Kitchen chimney installation ensures a pleasant smelling and smoke free space. They are divided into four basic types, namely, vented range hoods, ducted hoods, ductless hoods and convertible range hoods.
 
 
Ductless Chimney

Ductless kitchen chimney hoods are the second most popular option amongst homeowners. They not only eliminate hot and steamy kitchen vapor, but also provide fresh air, offering you a healthy cooking experience.



Ductless chimneys are manufactured to match the style of any kitchen. Their operating sound levels vary based on the models selected.


Steel Chimney V/s Cooker Hoods

Stainless steel chimneys are designed for long term ceiling installations and are set up on island tops. They are available in both ducted and ductless versions and of varying widths to cover the differing cooktop sizes.




On the other hand, cooker hoods contain a canopy to capture smells and steam. They are usually large sized and are attached just over the hob or cooker. They not only make your kitchen attractive, but also add to its overall value.

The noise level of cooker hoods depend on the fan's operating speed. Kitchen chimney makes cooking fun and enjoyable.



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Top Tips For Choosing Cooker Hoods

Author : Katherine J Owen


In days gone by cooker hoods were little more than an afterthought when adding a new cooking appliance to the kitchen. There were limited designs available and so cooker hoods came in one of two fashions - the canopy, or the chimney.



Today the range of cooker hoods is far more extensive. Materials used to manufacture the product range from glass to stainless steel and their design can make or break the theme of your kitchen. The humble cooker hood can no longer be neglected, or left until the last minute.

Electrolux for example, sells a range of cooker hoods ranging from the inconspicuous to all-singing all-dancing, each of which would look the part in a stylish contemporary kitchen




The stainless steel and glass cooker hoods meld seamlessly into a modern cooking environment and come in a range of styles, with halogen lights, touch screen controls, indicator lights for grease and charcoal filter saturation.


What to look for when you're choosing a cooker hood

Before you fall in love with a design make sure to measure the appliance. An oversized cooker hood will not fit whilst too small an appliance would look silly in a large space.

Check whether the appliance is suitable for the size of your kitchen. Remember the primary function of the cooker hood is to filter cooking smells and gases from the air. Retailers will often display the size of the kitchen the cooker hood model can cope with in their brochures.



Take into account the colour of your other appliances. A stainless steel hood over a white cooker won't give your kitchen the sleek design you desire. Black kitchen appliances are "in" at the moment so do you need a black cooker hood to compliment your appliances. Additionally, if you are intending on replacing the cooker in the near future it is an idea to think ahead - what colour do you anticipate your appliance will be? It may even be worthwhile to wait and change both at the same time.

Where will your cooker hood be located? This is an important point to think about if you're planning on having an "island" style cooking station. Then your cooker hood will need to go in the centre of the room.


Different types of cooker hood

Traditional hoods: fit neatly underneath a wall cupboard.
Integrated cooker hoods: can be pulled out when required, otherwise they appear to be part of the kitchen furnishings, hidden behind the door.




Island hoods: designed to be suspended over a central cooking island. These hoods, combined with the cooking island create a dramatic focal point.




Chimney hoods: provide a visual focus above the cooker. Come in many different styles and widths.




Telescopic hoods: perform well but remain out of sight when necessary. Telescopic hoods can be fitted into the wall cupboard and pulled out of the wall when necessary.




Canopy cooker hoods: save space and are relatively discreet. Canopy cooker hoods can be fitted under a decorative canopy, kitchen unit or wall-mounted cupboard.






So when you're looking to complete your kitchen, choose a stylish cooker hood. There is so much choice nowadays, you're certain to find what you're looking for.


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Cooker Hoods - Things You Need to Know Before You Buy

Author : Phil Martins


First, you will need to calculate the appropriate extraction rate for your cooker hood. The first step is to calculate the volume of your kitchen volume in cubic meters by multiplying the room's height, width, and length. Take the cubic volume and multiply that number by 8, 10, or 12, depending on how many air changes per hour you want to achieve. The higher the number, the more air changes will be completed per hour, and the more effective the cooker hoods will be. It is important to have a powerful enough extraction rate for any kitchen, but it is even more important if you have an open plan design for your kitchen. At best, if you do not use a powerful enough cooking hood, your cooking odours will seep throughout your house. At worst, you will have wet walls or even mould from steam that is not properly removed.



There are several models of hoods to choose from. The most effective is the ducted model because it draws any steam and cooking odours through a charcoal filter, expels them outside, then returns clean air back into the kitchen. However, you will need an external wall for the vent if you choose this type of cooker hood, so if you live in a flat or do not have access to an exterior wall, you will have to re-circulate the air instead. Remember that your filter will need to be replaced or washed about once a year. If the grease filter is made of paper, simply replace it. If it is metal, you can wash it.





If you cannot use a ducted model, such as in a flat or if the cooker hood is located on an inside wall, you will need to use a re-circulation cooker hood. This type of cooker hood draws the odours through a grease filter, then a charcoal filter, then returns the air to the kitchen. Because the odours and steam are not actually removed to the outside, these cooker hoods are not quite as effective as ducted ones.




Finally, consider the noise level of the cooker hoods, which is calculated in decibels. There are cooker hoods available that measure below 60dB, which is extremely quiet. The standard is between 60dB and 65dB. Once you purchase the cooker hood, make sure you position it at least 65cm above a gas hob, or 43cm above an electric hob.

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