A good extractor hood for the kitchen should cope with cleaning the air from moisture vapor and the smell of frying. Today, there are many types of this technique. Every year, manufacturers produce more and more innovative models, improve the design and feature set of the air purification device.
Hoods are a great solution in order to forget about the constant ventilation of the kitchen. They minimize the spread of smells of cooking food throughout the apartment. The acquisition of a good model that will cope even with a large amount of work will make the cooking process easy and enjoyable.
What are the hoods?
Models of hoods can be classified by type of performance indicators, appearance, method of location in the kitchen, the size of the device and other characteristics.
What hoods are there and how they differ can be found out from sales consultants of household appliance stores. Comprehensive information can also be found on the websites of manufacturers of air purification devices. You should choose it deliberately, since the hood should not only cope with its functions, but also be suitable for the size of the kitchen and the space reserved for it. The aesthetics of the models is no less important. To clarify what sizes hoods are, their functional features and the principle of operation can also be with sales consultants of equipment stores. Correctly selected in color, manufacturer and shape, the model will always look harmoniously among kitchen furniture and other appliances in the room.
So what types of hoods are there?
Depending on the structure of the body, 3 types can be distinguished:
- flat;
- with dome housing;
- embedded.
Cooker hood
The flat hood does not require additional connections, it is the most compact. The advantage of such models is that visually they do not reduce the space of the kitchen, do not catch the eye and harmoniously fit into any interior. Their disadvantage is that the filter service life is short, they require frequent replacement.
Hood with hood
It works most effectively in comparison with other species. The fact is that the hood is connected directly to the ventilation channel, thereby ensuring the outflow of air and pollution as efficiently and quickly as possible. This type of device can only be installed in kitchens with a large area. Given that the dimensions of the hood are large enough, it will look inappropriate in a small kitchen and take up a large space. Dome hoods are equipped with powerful fans of overall dimensions, which requires sufficient space and makes the device bulky. The advantage in using this type of air purifier is their effective operation, the smells in the kitchen are very quickly eliminated, they are practically not felt.
Integrated hoods
When figuring out what kitchen hoods are, it is recommended to pay special attention to built-in models. Such devices fit harmoniously into any interior. Their principle of operation is the same as that of the two previous species. But according to their location in the kitchen, they win in the eyes of any housewife. The thing is that the device is located in a niche specially allocated for it in the wall, ceiling or countertop. It is important before buying to know the exact size of the niche and choose the right hood for it.
As an option for equipping a kitchen , an autonomous extractor hood serves as air purification equipment . Today it is this type that has received the most popularity among buyers.
Accommodation in the kitchen
Consider what hoods are for placement in the kitchen. There are several ways to install devices. The main one is mounting the device on the wall. Screws are pre-screwed into the wall at the level at which its location will be convenient for the owners of the apartment.
Particular attention and recognition were given to fireplace hoods, which have a large body. They are similar in appearance to a fireplace.
Suspended hoods are the best option for studio apartments. The mechanism of the device is such that the exhaust system can be adjusted in height. It is mounted on the ceiling.
The kitchen in a modern style with a minimum set of furniture perfectly combines the technique and countertop in the center of the room. For this option, an island hood is suitable . It is placed directly above the hob. Now it is this arrangement of kitchen appliances and furniture that is considered convenient and comfortable. The cooking zone, therefore, does not take up much space; built-in cabinets for storing dishes and long-term products can be located on the walls of the room. This is a great option for apartments in which there is no pantry.
Another option to save space in the kitchen are corner hoods. They take up little space and fit harmoniously into the overall interior.
The difference in power hoods
Consider what hoods are by the working principle.
The entire set of functions, appearance, features of the device’s location are very important, but still the main parameter of the hood is its working power and productivity. A snail extractor has a huge capacity for cleaning and absorbing air and odors. It is suitable for owners of large houses that do not have a ventilation system or it is autonomous.
In addition to kitchen options for air purification and ventilation in enclosed spaces, experts recommend installing exhaust systems for speakers. Given the constant operation of the geyser and high humidity in the bathroom, the hood is in many ways indispensable.
Considering what are hoods for the kitchen, you need to know that, depending on the method of air purification, there are three main models:
- flow type;
- recirculation;
- mixed.
Flow hoods
Such models are connected to the ventilation shaft with the help of a sturdy vent pipe (mainly a corrugation). A distinctive feature of such systems is their effective air cleaning and power. If the apartment does not have a separate ventilation shaft, then it is necessary to install valves that prevent air from entering the room in the opposite way. A good solution would be to bring the ventilation shaft directly onto the street. Also, when installing a flow-type hood, it will not be out of place to ask the seller what kind of corrugations are for hoods and which one is used in this model. They can be rectangular or round, made of galvanized sheet, aluminum or plastic, or represent a flexible tube with a coating.
Recirculation hoods
Such a hood does not have a large suction power, and the air is cleaned by passing through the filters installed in its housing. External and internal filters perform different functions. The first traps the fat elements, so that all the fat remains on the surface. The external one is a grating, which is made of durable metals. It can be cleaned by yourself. The internal filter usually has a carbon composition that traps and absorbs impurities, and also eliminates odors in the room. When choosing a recirculation hood, it’s worthwhile to ask in advance whether carbon filters are available for a particular model, as they cannot be cleaned. They are changed periodically, depending on the service life and degree of contamination.
Mixed air purification system
This model is recognized as the most effective. This type of hoods has a fairly large overall dimensions. Therefore, it is not suitable for every kitchen area. The removal of odors and air and the cleaning of the latter is carried out in the best way by this particular type of hoods.
What are hoods for a kitchen without a duct? The most common form of recycling. Such models can be installed in any room, this is a plus of their application. The principle of operation is to clean, and then to remove the trapped air.
Criterias of choice
When choosing a cleaning device for the kitchen, you need to consider not only its power, functional features and type of connection. For constant use of the hood, it is important how noisy the device is. The noise level emitted by the hood during operation should not interfere and be too high.
Performance indicators determine the volume of air being cleaned by the device in one hour of operation. Choosing a model, you should think about the importance of side effects from its work. If the hood has high power and performance, then, most likely, such a hood will not please quiet operation. The choice is right to make, based on the requirements for the model, the area of the kitchen and how often air cleaning is required.
The size of the device must correspond to the size of the stove or hob. If it is less, then the efficiency will decrease, since the air will not be removed over the entire surface, therefore, trapping, purification of odors and fumes will not be maximum.
Hood control
It can be touch, slider or button. Each one determines for himself which one will be convenient for use. Touch control means finding controls on the hood panel. Push-button - obsolete, used on models that are cheaper in cost. Slider control involves adjusting power by controlling the slider on the device’s taskbar.
Lighting
Another important point in choosing a hood is lighting. What kind of hoods by type of lighting can be taken directly to the store. Most often, safe halogen lamps are used. Incandescent and luminescent species make lighting unnatural and may distort the color of cooked foods. Mistresses prefer to choose halogen lamps.
If a gas stove is installed in the house, then what are the gas hoods with high efficiency, you can check with the manufacturers or in the store. Typically, for stoves with a gas principle of operation, hoods with an air outlet are used. It is safer and more productive.
Manufacturers and ranking of the best
The price of the device is formed on the basis of its characteristics, type of work and manufacturer. Budget options for air purification systems are made of plastic and usually have a fairly short life. Mid-range devices are made from aluminum and other metals. Their internal filling is also performed from quality materials. Hoods decorated with wood or other materials are more expensive. The device’s control system also plays a role in pricing. Experts recommend choosing a device in the middle price range, unless otherwise required by the design of the kitchen.
If we consider the rating of such products, then the best manufacturers are:
- Gorenje (Slovenia);
- Eleyus (Ukraine);
- Ventolux (Ukraine);
- Teka (German brand);
- Bosch (German brand);
- Jantar (Ukrainian-Italian manufacturer).
So, we examined what hoods are and how they differ. When choosing, you must consider the size of the kitchen and how often the device will be involved. If funds for the purchase are limited, it is worth analyzing which of the hood functions are needed, and which can be dispensed with. Do not pay extra for what will not be used.