When you are in the kitchen, you want to breathe clean air, and not fumes from pots and pans, which can even be harmful.
Exactly for this? All kitchens should be equipped with hoods that, absorbing unpleasant odors, will fill the room with fresh air.
However, you should carefully consider the choice of such a device; it must have sufficient power to provide the kitchen area, its dimensions must correspond to the required dimensions, and it is also important to decide whether to install it yourself or whether it is better to invite a professional for this difficult task.
Arguments for ventilation
Housewives in kitchens without ventilation face a number of problems that need to be corrected:
- Odors accumulate in the room. Over time, one overlaps with the other;
- Moisture concentration increases;
- The amount of oxygen decreases and carbon dioxide increases;
- Interior items become covered with a greasy coating.
This is a small list of troubles. But all misfortunes can be avoided if you properly organize the removal of dirty air. In other words, a ventilation system is installed in the kitchen.
Beneficial features
High-quality built-in ventilation for the kitchen has a number of advantages, including a reduction in the following influencing factors:
- Unpleasant child.
- Evaporation of water.
- Removing odors.
Most dishes require a process of cooking or stewing, which introduces moisture into the air. The steam gradually settles in the room and turns into water droplets, which, in turn, fall on the walls and window slopes.
If left unchecked, mold or mildew will develop and your wood furniture may deteriorate or last much less time. When heated, oils and fat release certain substances and settle on the floor and textiles, and if this happens in all rooms at once, disastrous consequences cannot be avoided.
Ventilation requirements for apartments and houses
The arrangement of the ventilation system should not be carried out arbitrarily. There are sanitary and hygienic requirements:
- In the bathroom and kitchen, ventilation systems are not interrupted so that the air flow of one room does not interfere with the air movement from another room.
- Ventilation for the bathroom, toilet, and kitchen is not connected to the general ventilation scheme for the living area.
- The air outlet from the toilet and kitchen to the street is designed through ventilation shafts in apartments, and through the roof in private housing construction.
- In the kitchen, air is reused without harming health after it passes through the recirculating hood.
- The ventilation opening in the kitchen must not be closed. This is often done with a kitchen hood pipe with an outlet into the ventilation system.
- An influx of fresh air is organized in the kitchen.
How to choose an exhaust system: tips and recommendations (55 photos)
For a long time now, few people have been satisfied with the standard system in apartment buildings and private buildings. Ventilation for the kitchen is a separate item here, since the one installed along with the construction of the house has rather low efficiency.
This happens because natural or forced ventilation can fully function if certain conditions are met: fresh air must flow continuously, and exhaust air must be removed unhindered. In other words, the volumes of air entering the kitchen and the amount removed from the room must be equal.
But this happens extremely rarely - this process can be hampered by a banal wind, tightly closed windows, littered ventilation shafts, and so on. The reverse draft, which all residents of high-rise buildings are familiar with, will also be a big nuisance - this is when you know what your neighbors in the ventilation riser are preparing. Not much pleasant.
Ventilation system design
A project for private housing construction or an apartment building without organizing a natural ventilation system will not be accepted by the relevant organizations.
To remove accumulated moisture, heat flow, and unpleasant odors, ventilation exhaust ducts are planned.
The flow of fresh air is carried out naturally, or through organized channels near the window.
Undeniable disadvantages
Such silent ventilation for the kitchen is not entirely ideal; with the onset of heat, the system noticeably slows down and does not work at full capacity due to the normalization of temperatures. If you do not open the windows, then the opposite effect may occur; air will flow from the exit into the apartment, and not vice versa.
Removing steam and soot cannot be called the most productive; some elements go away, but not all. If you use the entire cooking surface, the negative impact cannot be avoided; only moderate use of pans and pots can be done by the natural system.
Ventilation system in the kitchen with a gas stove
In the kitchen with a gas stove, carbon monoxide accumulates. It is odorless and lighter than air. Therefore, a person cannot determine its accumulation under the ceiling.
The ventilation system in this case is designed to remove carbon monoxide.
Important:
- If the system is contaminated with debris and dust, then the gas is released slowly.
- In addition, if the ventilation outlet from the kitchen hood mounted above the stove completely closes the ventilation hole, then the natural ventilation of the room is also reduced significantly. Exhaust air accumulates.
For a kitchen with a gas stove, mixed ventilation is recommended. The natural removal of exhaust air is combined with local forced removal.
How to calculate the required power
Extraction power is one of the parameters that is indicated in the equipment description. This indicator tells you how much air the hood can suck in within 1 hour while in exhaust mode. An approximate figure here: 10-15 times per hour. To perfectly accurately calculate the suitable power for a particular kitchen, you need to multiply the area of the room by its height, and multiply the resulting result by 12. To the final figure you need to add reserve power, which will be useful in emergency cases (for example, when the food burns).
The performance of the hood is reduced due to bends in the air duct, and the important figure here is not the degree of pipe bending, but the number of angles. Thus, one bend of 900 is preferable to two angles of 450. Each meter of air duct and each bend reduces productivity by 5-10%. Recirculation mode reduces productivity by 25%.
The following example will demonstrate how the calculation is performed:
- If the kitchen area is 15 m3, and its height is 2.7 m, then when these numbers are multiplied by 12, the result is 486.
- If the air duct is straight and its length does not exceed 0.5 meters, then in this case there is no loss of performance.
- For these conditions, a capacity of 580 m3/hour is suitable.
The power required for any kitchen is calculated in this way.
What parts does a kitchen hood consist of? In fact, everything is not as difficult as it seems.
The principle of filtration at the hood without venting into ventilation ducts
The stove in the kitchen can be mounted at such a distance from the ventilation opening that it is inconvenient to connect outlets to it. You can solve the problem by using a kitchen hood without venting to the ventilation.
The operation of such an installation is based on the filtration of dirty exhaust air. After this, it can be reused without harm to health.
The main design detail is the filters. They are used to clean the air from fat, moisture accumulation, and reduce the concentration of unpleasant odors.
There are two types of filters:
- Grilles made of plastic or metal clean the incoming air flow from grease, oil, dust, and moisture. These coarse filters are used repeatedly.
- Carbon filters with adsorbing properties purify the air more thoroughly. They work more efficiently if they are changed frequently (at least once a month). If this is not done, the air flow will be reduced.
The clean air flow is drawn from the recirculation hood by a powerful fan, which is equipped with the kitchen unit.
Manufacturers produce flat, built-in, suspended and inclined hoods for kitchens without ventilation according to their design. The built-in model is chosen for a kitchen with an original design. I like the hanging ones for their small dimensions. The inclined model is considered more effective.
Recommendations for placement
To increase the efficiency of the hood, you must firstly choose it correctly, and secondly, install it correctly. Regardless of the shape, choose one that is wider than the width of the slab. This is the key to clean air. The depth, on the contrary, should be a little less - otherwise you will constantly hit your head on it.
Many people believe that the hood should be located directly above the apron - that is, at a height of 60 cm. But this belief is incorrect. The height of the location varies depending on the type of slab:
- 65-75 over electric;
- 75-85 over gas.
The exception is the inclined form. It is placed 45-55 cm above the electric stove and 55-65 cm above the gas stove.
Reducing the distance helps to better purify the air, but due to too small a space there is a high risk of damage to the system due to overheating.
The photo shows the repetition of clear geometric lines in technology and furniture
Hood with outlet to ventilation ducts
A kitchen hood with a ventilation outlet is a traditional local forced ventilation. Its installation should not disturb natural ventilation.
For typical small rooms in apartments there should be mixed ventilation. Forced ventilation in the kitchen is considered inappropriate.
- Hoods are available in angular shapes,
- Built-in
- Wall and island.
Wall-mounted models are popular among buyers. The choice is dictated by the standard layout of apartments in multi-storey buildings. Different models are installed in houses.
The principle of air purification is very simple. There is a metal grill on the outside. This is a filter for collecting grease and dust. Its second function is to protect the fan from debris. The grille is cleaned once every two or three months.
The performance of a hood with exhaust into the ventilation duct depends on the power of the fan. The noise level of the operating structure also depends on this indicator.
Telescopic installation options
Telescopic hoods occupy a special place among such structures. Their advantages include:
- Higher power than conventional dome options;
- Wider air capture area;
- Possibility to use a work panel that can be easily stored in a cabinet;
- One hundred percent compatibility with any interior.
Criteria for choosing a kitchen hood
Exhaust hoods are available in a variety of varieties on the market. They differ from each other in the configuration of various sensors, lighting, and adjustment systems.
But when the question of choosing a model arises, the main aspects are taken into account:
- Depending on the dimensions of the kitchen and the degree of air pollution, the required power of the model is calculated. It affects the volume of dirty air removed.
- An important indicator is the number of fan speeds. Maximum fan performance at minimum speed, with the lowest noise level, is the best indicator of hood efficiency.
- Since the hood is not intended to ventilate the entire room, but is aimed at working in a specific area of the kitchen, the power of the device per area is taken into account. So for 20-30 sq. m. a hood with a capacity of 800-1000 m3/h will be too powerful. The monetary expenses are not worth it. In addition, it will be too noisy in a small room.
Multiple mounting options
A hood that is built into the countertop costs slightly more than other options. However, its installation is not as simple as its analogues. The advantageous aspect of this system is its silent operation. Odor removal with this installation occurs with one hundred percent efficiency.
For small apartments, a fully built-in hood is most suitable. This is where anyone who can’t decide for a long time which is better to choose a built-in hood should opt for.
Almost its entire structure is placed in a cabinet, while the working part protrudes from it as an almost invisible plate. Many models of this type are mounted directly into the ceiling, but this option is not suitable in high kitchens, since the hood simply cannot fully pump out food odors.
Replacing filters
Filters in the hood must always be replaced. When buying equipment in a store, ask if they sell spare filters specifically for your model.
Before purchasing, ask the seller about the quality certificate for the hood and the warranty period. Reliable manufacturers provide a warranty on equipment for a period of 3-5 years.
When choosing a hood, first of all you need to focus on its power, principle of operation, noise level, dimensions, height of the unit and method of attachment. After this, you can choose an attractive design, the set of functions you need and a control system, which can be mechanical or touch. A high-quality range hood will help keep your kitchen perfectly clean.
Material
In many ways, the price of a hood depends on the material from which the main components of the product are made. Most often this is:
- Aluminum;
- Stainless steel;
- Enameled steel;
- Plastic;
- Strained glass.
Aluminum is used in most hoods in the low and mid-price range. Such products last a long time and are easy to wash.
Stainless steel looks very stylish and expensive, but is demanding to maintain. The shiny surface easily shows fingerprints and dust.
The enamel on steel can crack over time, this is a very strong argument against such models.
Plastic hoods are the most short-lived due to the fragility of the material.
The most beautiful and durable hoods are made from tempered glass. It is easy to care for and the body material is very durable. All these qualities raise the price of the product several times compared to metal models.
Specifications
In order for a kitchen hood built into a cabinet to cope well with its tasks, it must suck in a large volume of air. On the packaging of each hood, the manufacturer indicates what area it can effectively clean. To ensure that there is enough power, add 15% to the area of your kitchen; this figure should appear in the “power” column on the hood label.
The second important parameter is the noise level of the hood. It happens that very powerful hoods make a very loud sound. Comfortable volume should not exceed 55 dB. This information is also found on the hood packaging.
It is also worth paying attention to where the hole for attaching the air duct is located for flow-through models. It is more convenient to mount hoods in which the outlet is not in the center, but closer to the rear wall. Some manufacturers include an adapter for a square duct in the kit.
Consider small details
You must immediately find out from your sales consultant all the additional capabilities of the equipment in order to use the functions to the fullest and ensure maximum protection of all rooms from smoke and steam.
Some models have built-in timers that can be easily programmed for a specific time. Before settling on one of the options, experts advise thoroughly studying the possibilities and needs of the home, and then starting from this when purchasing.
Hasty actions can lead to irrational waste that will not lead to a positive result. In certain cases, it is better to entrust the calculation of the power of the equipment to professionals, having made preliminary measurements of the room personally or with the help of friends.
Obvious advantages
A branded filter for kitchen ventilation will reliably protect all family members not only from dust, but also from plant pollen, which in turn will reduce the risk of allergies.
The air reaches the apartment residents in an improved condition, and the occurrence of unpleasant drafts is excluded. Using one device, you can not only clean the feed, but also heat it to a certain temperature; its versatility makes the device practical.
Combination with natural ventilation will lead to good results, and during cooking, steam and harmful substances will not accumulate in the working area.
Types of buildings
For the production of exhaust device housings, three types of materials are used:
- Stainless steel, commonly called stainless steel. This material gives the devices an aesthetic appearance and is easy to clean.
- Metal coated with different types of enamel. This is an economical, reliable and beautiful material, but it requires careful care
- Strained glass. Hoods with such bodies look very harmonious with the interior of the kitchen, but they are not cheap and require careful care, since after improper cleaning they may leave stains
Stainless steel
Tempered glass option
