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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