Optimum hood performance for the kitchen. How to choose a hood for the kitchen - professional advice

It is generally accepted that the kitchen is based on a working triangle - a stove, a sink and a refrigerator. But there is another device that is responsible for the purity of the air and the absence of odors - the hood. Today, you can choose both an inconspicuous hinged model for a tiny kitchen, and a powerful island one. Let's look at the intricacies of the selection process and the differences between kitchen hoods.

Stage one - choosing a cleaning mode

All devices according to the method of air purification can be divided into two types:

• exhaust- such a model will purify the air in the room using a grease filter. The air itself will be completely removed from the kitchen through ventilation duct. This model requires air venting and pipe installation. Yes, there will be a lot of trouble with installation, but the exhaust device will provide almost 100% odor removal and will have a low noise level.
• Recirculation- such a model will capture air, pass it through a grease filter and then a carbon filter and return clean air back to the kitchen. To install such a hood, it is not necessary to install duct pipes, since it can be built into hanging furniture or attached to a wall by simply connecting it to electricity. How to install hoods -.

What is good about the exhaust model is its “approach” to high-quality air purification, as well as the lack of carbon filter which will need to be changed periodically. Recirculating hoods without an air duct are less productive, they clean about 70% of the air, but are less demanding in terms of installation.

Stage two - choose the type of hood

The shape and type of hood plays decisive role. You can choose a standard hinged or domed model. The difference will be in the installation method and the appearance of the device.

Embedded models are considered the most popular. Firstly, such a hood can be installed in any kitchen, regardless of the size of the room. Secondly, it provides high-quality air purification due to the retractable panel.

Wall hoods include corner models, which are mounted to two walls. Such a device will be indispensable if the stove is installed in your corner. Also, wall models can be mounted at an angle of 40 degrees and resemble a flat picture in appearance. Color solution devices can be both classic and original - yellow, steel, blue, black.

Another innovative hood option - desktop. Such a model is mounted in the countertop at the stove and extends only for the duration of cooking. The desktop model is adjustable in height, and works according to the recirculation principle. Such a device can look incredibly stylish, but in terms of its power it is inferior to all of the above types of hoods.

Stage three - get acquainted with the selection criteria

You need to pay attention to such parameters as performance, size, installed filters, operating modes and additional features hoods. Let's start with the main thing - with the definition of performance.

We calculate performance

What is instrument performance? This is a parameter that shows how much air the model passes in a certain unit of time. For hoods this unit/hour. For your kitchen, you can calculate optimal performance performance.

• The area of ​​the room must be multiplied by the height.
• Multiply the result by 12 (this is the set air exchange rate).
• Multiply this result again by 1.3 (bullpen).

Let's look at an example. For a kitchen with an area of ​​​​6 squares and a ceiling height of 2.5 meters, a model with a capacity of 234 cubic meters per hour will be optimal.

You can see performance indicators in the instructions for the device. Remember that the maximum parameter will be specified. If the hood works according to the recirculation principle, the performance will be 30-35% less due to the fact that the additional load falls on the fan.

Instrument size

The main rule is that the width of the model should not be less than the width of the plate. If the device is smaller, it will not be able to effectively clean all the polluted air. For a plate of 40 centimeters better model with a width of 50 cm, and for hob 60 cm is better to choose a hood bigger size- 80 centimeters, if the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe kitchen and the location of the cabinets allow.

Look at the filter

The model can be equipped with a fine filter and/or coarse cleaning.

What is a filter for? coarse cleaning? This metal grid traps large particles of fat. It is removed from the body and washed as fat accumulates. Additionally, a disposable synthetic mesh can be installed in the device, which is responsible for trapping smaller particles. It also needs to be washed periodically.

Fine filters (coal) are installed additionally, and they are responsible for high-quality air purification. Charcoal filters should be changed at least once every 3-4 months. The more often the device operates in recirculation mode, the more often the fine filter needs to be changed.

Choosing control

It is difficult to say unequivocally which hood is better in terms of control. The model can have a standard push-button or slide switch with smooth power control. More advanced devices are equipped with touch buttons, electronic control. There are also hoods that are switched on and regulated using control panels, as well as responsive to the presence of a person in the kitchen.

A good hood can be equipped with completely non-standard functions. For example, a flat screen to which you can connect a laptop, computer and listen to music while cooking. Some models can show the weather (ventilators in which the hood is connected to a weather station).

Also, the hood will be equipped with lighting lamps. Here, the selection criteria are simple - if you need the stove to be illuminated to the maximum, choose models with several lamps around the perimeter. The most economical are neon and halogen lamps.

Different stoves, different hoods?

When choosing a hood, the question may arise: is there a difference between models for electric and gas hob? For any stove, you can choose both built-in and wall-mounted hoods from any material and with any equipment. The difference will be only in the height of the installation of the device.

• For gas stove the hood must be mounted at a height of at least 70, and preferably 80 centimeters from the surface. If you install the appliance lower, it may partially extinguish the flame, due to which the fire will be uneven. Devices with big power and they can put out the fire.
• For electric stove the device can be placed at a height of 60 cm from the surface. There are no fire hazards here. So the distance from hobs before drawing can be reduced.

Brands and models - the best kitchen hoods

Today, many manufacturers compete among themselves for the attention of buyers. There are several leading brands that keep up with the times and can surprise you with both stylish design and technological equipment of the hood.

Let's look at some of the most popular models that have won the sympathy of many consumers. All hoods are 60 cm wide and are in the middle price range.

Model Cata TF-2003 60 DURALUM

Built-in hood that will clean 760 cubic meters. meters of air per hour and operates at two speeds. A feature of the model is the presence of a removable metal filter, as well as convenient electronic keyboard control.

This dome model is equipped with a five-layer aluminum grease filter and can be operated at 3 speeds. Productivity is 700 cubic meters/hour. The device is equipped with two halogen lamps and push-button control. The model can work both in recirculation and in exhaust mode.

One of the most outstanding hoods in terms of power - its capacity is 850 cubic meters per hour. This dome model is equipped with an aluminum filter, push-button control and illumination around the entire perimeter on halogen lamps. The hood works only in the withdrawal mode.

Video guide

The following video will help with the choice of hood:

You will be able to choose the right hood model, knowing all the subtleties and features of the device. Now you are familiar with the selection criteria, leading manufacturers and the most popular models.

In contact with

To begin with, let's figure out why a hood is needed in the kitchen and is it needed at all? This device performs two important functions:

• Protects furniture, walls, ceilings and textiles from the appearance of greasy deposits and soot;
• Removes and purifies the air from smoke, odors, combustion products, fumes and other impurities that are harmful to health, which are formed during cooking on the stove.

By the way, the air in the kitchen during heat treatment food becomes the dirtiest in the house. Therefore, if you often cook, your kitchen is not the smallest and / or you use a gas stove and water heater, then without kitchen hood you can't do it.

Do you need a range hood in the kitchen? Our answer is yes, you really need it if you cook regularly, use a gas stove, and also if your kitchen has more than 10 square meters of area or is combined with a living room / hallway

However, in order for the hood to really be useful, and not idle, it must be chosen correctly: in terms of performance, operating mode, umbrella size and design. To understand all the nuances of choosing a kitchen hood, our 8-step guide with photos of appliances in the interior will help you.

Step 1. Decide on the type of hood

The first step is to decide: you need a flow or circulation hood.

• The flow hood is connected to the ventilation duct of the house and removes the exhaust air into it. Flow Models can not only completely (!) remove the exhaust air in the exhaust mode, but also work in the circulation mode and let fresh air from the street into the room. If your kitchen has the ability to connect the hood to the ventilation shaft of the building, then this is worth doing, especially if the kitchen is not small or combined.

Flow hood in the interior of the kitchen-living room

• The circulation hood is not connected to the ventilation duct and works only in recirculation mode - it passes polluted air through the filters, and then the purified air is thrown back into the room. This type of hood is less efficient, its performance largely depends on the quality of the filters, so they need to be changed / cleaned in a timely manner (we'll talk about filters a little later). But the circulation helps out when it is not possible to connect the hood to the ventilation shaft. For example, if the island table with a stove is installed too far from the ventilation duct, and you don’t want to pull the air duct through the entire kitchen.

Circulation hood in the interior of the kitchen

And circulating hoods are cheaper than flow hoods, so if you want to save money and your kitchen is small, then a circulating hood is quite suitable.

Now let's talk a little about filters.

• Filters for kitchen hoods are divided into two categories: charcoal and grease filters. Circulation devices are equipped with carbon filters, and flow devices are equipped with grease filters. The former trap particles of fat, soot, smoke, fumes. They are involved in any mode of operation of the hood, can be disposable or reusable.

Step 2. Deciding which device we need - built-in, suspended or dome?

1. Suspended hoods (from 2300 rubles) are always only circulating, compact and most inexpensive. Most often they are attached to kitchen cupboard above the stove or mounted to the wall.

Example hanging type instrument

1. The dome hood is a structure of an umbrella and a pipe and resembles a fireplace with a chimney (because they are often called chimney). Such models always require connection to the air duct and are more expensive, but they also look more elegant. And, as a rule, they have a great performance. If you often cook, your stove / kitchen is large and you want the hood to decorate the interior, then the fireplace model is what you need.

Dome hood in the interior of a classic kitchen

1. Built-in hoods are built into a cabinet above the stove or into a decorative dome and connected to the air duct. They are good because they are simply not visible, in addition, due to the lack of decorative finishes, built-in models are cheaper than domed ones.

• In addition to stationary built-in hoods, there are telescopic (retractable) models that, if necessary, can be increased to the size of the plate.

Both domed and built-in hoods can be angular as in the photo below ...

... or island. Island hoods are attached to the ceiling above the stove in the island table, they are beautiful from all sides. In this category of hoods, you can find both circulation devices and flow devices that work to remove air. Another feature of island hoods is that some models can be lowered to the stove only if necessary (such hoods are called mobile).

Step 3. Specify the dimensions of the stove and hood

The main principle for choosing a hood in size is simple: the width of the umbrella must correspond to the width of the plate or be larger than it (but not less!).

• For this reason, the most popular appliances are 50 cm, 60 cm and 90 cm wide hoods.

For very large stoves, you can choose a hood with a width of 120 cm or 100 cm, although their choice is not too large.

• The depth can be from 30 to 50 cm. Although this parameter is not so important, it is still better to choose the device so that its visor does not protrude much above the stove, otherwise you can hit it.

If you choose a chimney hood, then the height of the device also matters. After all, she says what is the maximum allowable distance between bottom surface umbrella and air vent it allows. Some hoods are 1.5 m high, while others are only 1 meter high.

• By the way, important information: the hood must be installed at least 60 centimeters from the stove.

Step 4. Calculate the optimal performance

It's time to talk about the most important criteria for choosing a kitchen hood - performance.

• The performance of the hood is an indicator of the maximum amount of air that the device can catch per hour of operation. The performance of the weakest kitchen hood can be 150 m 3 / hour, and the most powerful - 2500 m 3 / hour.

How powerful your hood needs to be depends on the size of the kitchen (including the size of the attached rooms, if any).

To find out the minimum performance of the device, perform the following calculations:

1. Multiply the area of ​​the kitchen by the height of the walls;
2. Then multiply the resulting product by 12 (this is the rate of air exchange per hour according to SES);
3. Finally, multiply this value by a factor of 1.5 or 1.7 (for an electric hob) or by 2 (if you have a gas stove);
4. Now that you've found out necessary minimum hood performance for your kitchen, add another 10% to it for each bend of the duct and for each meter of its length (from the ventilation duct to the hood), as well as another 10% in case of emergency - the need to remove smoke, the smell of burning, or, say, fish.

Step 5. Pay attention to the noise level

Want to cook in relative silence? Choose a hood with a noise level of up to 45 decibels. True, they are worth quiet hoods significantly more expensive, and sometimes their silence is achieved by reducing engine power.

• Which hood is better - with one super-powerful motor or with two slightly less powerful ones? The second option is preferable, as it allows the hood to work not too loudly and at the same time quite efficiently.
• Inexpensive hoods are always noisy. Models with noise levels above 50 dB can be almost as loud and annoying as a hair dryer or vacuum cleaner.

Step 6. Choose the type of control

Different hoods have different controls: push-button, touch, electronic (with the ability to remote control) or slider (see photo).

• In our opinion, it is worth giving preference to a device with a backlit touch control panel - it is much easier to keep it clean than protruding buttons that now and then threaten to “stick” in grease.

Step 7Dealing With Additional Features

• Almost all hoods are equipped with lamps. This simple addition often comes in handy during cooking, so it makes sense to test the backlight in the store for ease of turning on and replacing the lamp. Ideally, the bulbs in the hood should be LED - they are safe, do not burn out for a long time, do not heat up and are easily disposed of.

• Depending on the "tricks", you can see models with 1-2 air intake speeds and even 10. In our opinion, it makes little sense to overpay for an abundance of speeds, 3-4 modes will be quite enough for most non-professional cooks.
• Also, modern hoods are almost always equipped with a timer or a residual stroke button, which makes it possible to synchronize its operation with the stove.
• When buying a hood, you should make sure that it has safety shutdown sensors and a sensor that reminds you that it is time to replace / clean the grease filter.
• Some manufacturers (for example, Siemens) even build TVs into the hoods.

Step 8. Planning the design of the hood

If you decide to purchase a built-in or pendant model, then the need to choose a design disappears by itself. But when choosing a fireplace-type exhaust device appearance body is of great importance. Here are some tips to help you:

• For classical and rustic interiors you should choose built-in invisible hoods or domed appliances in retro or country style. Carving, artificially aged finish of the case, inserts made of brass or antique silver - all this will be very appropriate in traditional cuisines. Fortunately, retro-style models are now represented on the market by almost all manufacturers. By the way, a standard hood can be closed with a decorative dome.

Hood in retro style in the interior of the kitchen

• For modern interiors more suitable devices laconic design with clear or rounded shapes. Available in colored and printed, glossy, matte or chrome finishes. The main thing is that their size and shape should not be at the expense of the functionality of the equipment, as is often the case in practice.
• So, for example, we advise you to abandon the popular inclined hoods as in the photo below. Due to the tilt of the case, such devices become ineffective, although they look great, take up little space, are easy to use and prevent tall users from accidentally hitting their heads on the visor.

Another bad example of choosing a hood is that this "cylinder" is too small for a 4-burner stove.

• It is safest to choose the color of the hood to match the facades, walls or apron.
• The easiest way to care for metal hoods, as well as appliances light shade such as metallic or white.
• The most difficult to care for are hoods dark colors with a glossy surface as in the photo below.

On black hoods, dust, fingerprints, streaks and stains become doubly noticeable

Photo gallery

Love to cook and experiment in the kitchen? But at the same time, you don’t want soot, grease and unpleasant odors to be companions of this room? So that the kitchen always shines with cleanliness, and your new renovation stay fresh as long as possible, you just need to install the hood over the stove. But the question immediately becomes which model to choose, how to choose a hood for the kitchen, which best meets all your requirements, because retail chains offer us so many different models that our heads are spinning. This article will help you make the right choice.

Hood types

All hoods work according to the principle of forced ventilation. They remove from the air in the kitchen not only unpleasant odors, but also combustion products, which cannot be avoided during cooking.

Inside the hood there is a system of special filters that trap soot, odors and fumes. Each model has a system forced ventilation. All this is enclosed in a housing, which is equipped with an electronic or mechanical type. All hoods are divided into two types, depending on how they clean the air: circulation and flow.

Circulating hoods

The principle of operation of such hoods is that they pass polluted air through themselves, purify and release it back into the room. Their device is simple, they are equipped with special coarse filters, which remove particles of soot, grease and dust. But such extracts also have fine filters, these are carbon filters that neutralize odors and trap even the smallest particles that pollute the air.

The biggest advantage of these hoods is that they no duct connection required, which means that it is quite possible to install such a hood on your own, and your kitchen will not be disfigured by extra pipes and hoses. In addition, the price of circulation hoods is much lower. Such devices are perfect for old houses, where the ventilation system is not able to cope with the large air flows that create another type of hood - flow.

However, it should be noted that the circulation models of hoods - noise leaders. Therefore, before buying, be sure to listen to how noisy the model you have chosen. Although it will be difficult for you to assess the full degree of noise in a store environment, try looking at the instructions and look at the noise figures. If they are within 35-45 dB, then this is quite normal, even for a small kitchen. But if the level exceeds 55 dB, consider whether such noise will cause you some inconvenience.

As we mentioned above, such hoods are also equipped with carbon filters. But these filters create additional resistance, which reduces the performance of the hoods themselves. In addition, such filters are not washable, and as they become clogged, they must be replaced with new ones, and these are additional costs. A special indicator mounted on the hood will inform you about the need to replace the carbon filter.

Now let's sum up. Advantages of circulation hoods:

1. Price.
2. Easy installation.
3. Lack of pipes and hoses during installation.
4. Lack of connection to the ventilation system.

Minuses:

1. High noise level.
2. Expendable materials.
3. Low performance.

Flow hoods

The system for installing such hoods is quite simple. They draw in dirty air, purifying it and releasing it outside, with the help of external system ventilation. Such hoods must have an air duct that is connected to the ventilation system. They are also equipped with a fan, which creates an air flow, as well as filters for cleaning. Such filters, usually they are metal, must be cleaned periodically, simply washed. Although there are more budget models of such hoods, they do not have filters. Flow hoods also need to be washed manually, since as the fan and other parts get dirty, their performance is significantly reduced.

Flow hoods are fixed on the ceiling or wall above the stove. It can also be hidden in a wall cabinet that is open at the bottom, this will give you the opportunity to “disguise” the hood and your kitchen will look aesthetically pleasing.

Flow hoods much more productive than circulation. In addition, almost all models can operate in exhaust mode and in air recirculation mode. Installation such cleaning system much more difficult due to the presence of an air duct in the design. It is best to purchase it complete with a new kitchen. Before installation, it is necessary to carefully consider the location of such a hood relative to the ventilation hole. Try not to allow corners in the duct system, because even one right angle can significantly reduce the performance of the device. If your kitchen is already decorated, then installing a flow-through cleaning system will be more problematic.

The performance of a flow hood is highly dependent on the quality ventilation system your building. If the house is old, then productivity will greatly decrease. The disadvantage of this cleaning system is that for high-quality operation of the hood, free access of air through opened window, but this is not always convenient and possible.

Advantages of flow hoods:

1. High performance
2. Work in several modes
3. Easy cleaning filters (washable)
4. Low noise
5. Mounted in furniture

Minuses:

1. Complicated installation
2. The need for free air access

Types of cooker hoods

Traditional or classic hood

These are flat and hanging hoods, mounted on the wall under a hanging kitchen cabinet above the stove. Typically, such devices operate in recirculation mode, which means that disposable carbon filters will be required here to trap small particles. Extractors of this type are cheapest, easy to install, but they partially neutralize odors.

There are hoods of this type that operate in flow mode, but they are higher in price, and installation will require some effort. They will clean the air in your kitchen much more efficiently, and you won’t need to spend money on carbon filters often afterwards.

Built-in hoods

Such hoods are easy mounted in a hanging cabinet above the stove. It looks quite aesthetically pleasing, does not spoil general interior kitchens. This type of hood is usually equipped with sliding panel, which significantly increases the air intake area. Such a device is easy to operate, and its performance is quite high. This hood turns on in the mode in which you turned it off.

Built-in hoods usually have two motors and multilayer grease filters. At a price they are slightly more expensive than the classic ones, but in terms of performance they are much better, and they surpass the suspended ones in terms of aesthetic requirements. So if you are faced with a choice of which hood to give preference to the classic or built-in, choose the second option.

Chimney (dome) hoods

Such hoods are mounted to the ceiling above the stove. They got their name because of their domed shape, which resembles a fireplace chimney, and the system of operation of such an extract is very similar to the exhaust system of a fireplace. First, the air enters the hood housing, which is located above the hob, and then goes through the duct into the ventilation shaft, or, after passing through the filters, returns to the room.

Such hoods are the most popular, so they are very varied in design solution . Moreover, they fit perfectly into kitchens where the work surface with the stove is not located against the wall. There are hoods with an inclined intake part, which increases the cultivated area, and the risk of hitting your head is minimal. Often the price of the device may depend on the design, and not on the technical characteristics. But thanks to such a variety of models, it is easy to find the most suitable option for your interior.

island hoods are distinguished by the possibility of mounting not only against the wall, but also in any part of the kitchen. Such models are equipped with a ceiling mount. They are, of course, expensive, but they have high performance and are very diverse in design. Such hoods are ideal for spacious kitchens, for example, if the working area is in the center.

Corner hoods distinguished by their shape, which allows them to be installed in the corner of the kitchen - a great option for small kitchens. Due to the fact that such hoods are installed only because of the features of the room, they are not popular, so the range of this type of device is small.

Performance and Power

Performance is one of the most important technical characteristics of any hood, because the purity of the air in your room will depend on this indicator. Depends on him how many cubic meters of air per hour of operation can the hood draw in and remove through the air duct into the ventilation shaft, or pass it through the filters and return it back to the room.

For calculation required performance it is necessary to take into account the features of the room, the length and bends of the duct, if your plans include purchasing a hood in the extraction mode. In this case, the volume of the kitchen must be multiplied by 12, since according to sanitary standards the air in the room should change 12 times per hour, and multiply the result by a factor of 1.3. If you want more accurate calculations, then you also need to subtract the volume of furniture from the total volume of the kitchen. But this is optional.

Additional factors must also be taken into account. Average hood should be at a distance of 65-85 cm from the surface of the plate. If you plan to install it higher, then choose a model with higher performance. Let's look at an example. Your kitchen area is 12 m 2 , the ceiling height is 2.7 m, a hood with a capacity of 505 m 3 / hour would be a good option here.

It should also be borne in mind that in some houses ventilation duct capacity limited, since even during construction, natural ventilation of the premises was provided, and the throughput of the mine may be lower than the capacity of the hood you have chosen. How to be then? Do not turn on the hood maximum power. In addition, the noise level will be greatly reduced.

The ideal solution may be to vent air not into the ventilation shaft, but directly to the street, through a hole in the wall, to which the air duct is connected. The solution is good, but not always feasible, especially in multi-storey buildings.

It is also worth considering culinary traditions of your family. If you cook often and a lot, then you need a device with maximum performance. Well, if you cook rarely and little, often eat out, then you do not need a high performance of the hood.

If you have a small kitchen, then the concentration of odors during cooking will be higher, it is better to purchase a hood with a margin of performance.

Device performance directly depends on its power. So be sure to pay attention to this parameter when buying. Modern models hoods have a power rarely exceeding 500 watts. This power is sufficient for high level performance.

The size

It's best to the width of the hood exceeded the width of the hob, then it will absorb all odors and fumes as much as possible. Permissible dimensions are the same with the surface of the plate. But in no case should the width of the hood be less than the width working surface plates! In this case, the hood will weakly capture and purify the air.

Filter system

The hood, of course, is not a 100% air cleaner, but it removes fats, odors and soot from the air that has entered it quite well.

Metal Grease Filter and serves to remove fat. And it also prevents fat from settling on the elements of the hood motor, which can lead to its failure. Such a filter is usually removable, it is easy to clean and works for the entire life of the hood.

In circulation hoods a carbon filter is used to remove odors. In some models, it is included in the package, but sometimes you have to purchase it separately. This filter must be changed, the frequency will depend on the operating conditions, but on average once every 4-6 months. Many hoods have a feature that reminds you to change the filter. Depending on the model, this is either a light indication or just special characters on the filter that disappear as it gets dirty.

Control method

Modern hoods can be equipped with mechanical control and electronic. Which control method to choose will depend only on your preferences.

In hoods with mechanical control the speed of work and lighting are turned on by pressing the corresponding buttons, they usually have a convex shape. Sometimes used to control speed. slide switch. Such control is simple and familiar to users.

At electronic management a display is provided, on which the working settings of the hood are displayed. Switching speeds and activating lighting in such installations is carried out by touching the sensors, although in some models the button format is retained. These models often have timer function, if desired, you can set the time to turn off, or switch to another mode.

Only electronically controlled hoods have a function "auto-on". It is very comfortable. Thanks to the installed temperature and humidity sensors, the hood will “understand” that the cooking process has begun and turn on. At the same time, the intensity of work also changes, depending on the saturation of the air with vapors and odors. After the end of cooking, such an extract still works for some time, removing all odors and soot to the end, and then automatically turns off. Such a "smart" hood- just a dream of every hostess.

There are also drawers with installed sensors smoke. They also automatically turn on or increase productivity if smoke increases in the kitchen (something is burnt, someone has smoked, etc.).

Well, the highest aerobatics - extractor control remotely: from a smartphone, tablet, when you are anywhere in the apartment, city and even the world! All you need to do is have a home. wireless internet. You install an application to control the hood on your mobile gadget, or any other kitchen appliances, and you can easily turn the hood on and off, set speeds, set the timer while you are away from home.

Noise level

• The work of the extraction can be considered very quiet if the noise that the motor creates during operation up to 35 dB(compare with a whisper).
• Quiet operation - up to 45 dB(comparable to a conversation at a distance of 10 m).
• Normal noise level - about 50 dB(quiet conversation at a distance of 3 m).
• High noise level - 70 dB or more(comparable to a very loud conversation at a distance of about 5 m).

Additional functions

When choosing a hood for the kitchen, you should pay attention to the presence additional features such as residual fan stroke, interval hood activation.

Residual fan stroke ensures the operation of the hood for several minutes after turning off, this allows you to completely clean the air in the kitchen after cooking.

Interval switching the hood ensures that it is turned on for a short time at minimum power. For example, once an hour for 5 minutes. This is necessary for a constant flow of fresh air into your room.

Electronic timer built into some models of hoods. It can be turned on after the end of cooking so that the hood turns off after a set time.

Lighting. Almost all hoods are equipped with them. Conventional incandescent, halogen or fluorescent lamps can be used. Hoods with incandescent lamps are cheaper, but with halogen lamps, electricity consumption is reduced. Light bulbs that are out of order are easy to change.

The number of lamps and their location are different, depending on the model of the hood. Also appeared on sale hoods co LED lamps . In more expensive models of hoods, the level of illumination can also be adjusted, even automatic adjustment to the illumination of the kitchen is possible.

Very interesting and function focusing light. It is found in some models of hoods. With this function, you can focus the light either on the hob, or dim the light to illuminate the entire kitchen or a specific part of it.

TOP 5 best hoods 2016

The most common hood with a minimum set of necessary features. In terms of price and quality - an excellent option, but at maximum speed, the noise from the hood can seem loud. The bonus of this model is a sliding panel.

Stylish and functional hood, which will become a real decoration of any kitchen. High performance, timer, filter clogging indication, automatic on and off - all this, together with the design, affects the final high cost models.

You can buy an extract from the article at RBT.ru

Excellent functional hood with a glass folding visor and the possibility of installing a charcoal filter. The compact and attractive model is noisy at maximum speed, which can cause discomfort, but often the highest speeds are not used at all in hoods.

Compact powerful hood with two halogen lamps. It can work in two modes, and at the first speeds it is quite quiet, but at the same time quickly and efficiently removes all pollutants.

Stylish and powerful hood, decorated with glass. Thanks to the inclined shape, such a hood is more efficient, and at the same time it is not so quiet. This is one of the best models according to the ratio of all parameters.

The kitchen is the room that needs the most good ventilation. And it's not even about the smells that arise during cooking. In the air of the kitchen there are almost always particles of steam, grease and soot. They settle on the ceiling and walls, forming a sticky yellowish coating, but the most unpleasant thing is that these particles are inhaled by all the inhabitants of the house, and this does not improve health in any way. Air conditioners do not provide the necessary air circulation, so in order to avoid all these problems, it is worth installing a hood in the kitchen. We will talk about how to correctly choose a hood for the kitchen in this article.

Power

The first parameter that you should pay attention to when choosing a kitchen hood is its power. The more powerful the device, the better it will cope with its functions. But powerful hoods also have a higher cost, so when buying it is wiser to use the “necessary and sufficient” rule.

Determine the required extractor power for specific cuisine not difficult. First of all, you need to know the volume kitchen area. To do this, just multiply the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe kitchen by the height of the ceiling. At a minimum, the hood should pass through itself a volume of air equal to 10 volumes of the kitchen in one hour. Thus, for a kitchen with an area of ​​8.5 square meters and a ceiling height of 2.8, an extractor hood with a minimum power of 8.5x2.8x10 = 238 cubic meters / hour is required.

However, there are a number of other factors that need to be taken into account when determining the minimum required exhaust power:

1. If a charcoal filter is installed in the hood (we will talk about the types of filters later), then 10% must be added to the received power;
2. If the kitchen is combined with a living room or dining room, then the hood power increases by another 30%;
3. And, finally, working “at the limit”, the hood will quickly fail, so a power reserve of 30-40% will not be superfluous.

Thus, the minimum capacity of a charcoal filter hood for an 8.5 m2 kitchen is approximately 477 cubic meters per hour. The average power of kitchen hoods ranges from 500 to 700 cubic meters per hour, so almost any of them is suitable for working in a small and medium kitchen.

Filter type

The second most important parameter of kitchen hoods is the type of filtration used in them.

For flow hoods, one grease filter is enough, while for circulation hoods, a double filtration system is required - a carbon filter is added to neutralize unpleasant odors. Let's take a closer look at each filter type.

Grease-catching

These filters are a cassette with an insert of filter material - synthetic winterizer or non-woven fabric. When the filter layer becomes dirty, the cassette is thrown away, and a new one is inserted in its place.

There are also reusable aluminum filters that need to be cleaned periodically.

Carbonic

These filters are also called fine filters. Filtration in them is carried out by passing air through a layer of activated carbon powder, which perfectly absorbs excess moisture, unpleasant odors and even tobacco smoke. The thicker the layer of coal powder, the better the filtration will be. True, such filters require more power. The service life of the fine filter is from 6 to 12 months.

If you are purchasing a flow-through hood, you can get by with a model with one filter, but if you have a circulating hood, then you cannot do without a fine carbon filter.

There are budget models of hoods in which there are no filters at all. But it is not recommended to purchase such ones, since particles of fat and soot will then settle on the fan blades, which can lead to breakdowns.

Hood size

The size of the hood is a parameter that does not affect its functionality. However, it can be decisive, especially when it comes to small kitchens. The width of the hood cannot be less than the width cooker. Otherwise, the hood will not completely capture the polluted air. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the minimum allowable distance from hob to the extract. It should be no less than 65 centimeters for electric stoves and 75 centimeters for gas stoves. So set up in the kitchen with low ceilings a high dome hood will not work.

Hood design

The size of the hood directly depends on its design. There are five types of structures: built-in, dome, island, retractable and classic.

classical

The most simple and inexpensive hoods. Classic retractors work in circulation mode and differ in an easy way installation. You can install such a hood in any kitchen.

Dome hood

These hoods resemble a dome in their shape and can work both in circulation and in flow mode. In terms of its dimensions, this is the largest type of hood, but the efficiency of their work is much higher than that of other models. Installation of such a hood is carried out only in those places where it is possible to connect them to ventilation.

retractable

When off, the hood panel can be hidden (pushed) into the housing, which saves space. This type of hood is relevant for small kitchens, however, they are usually low power.

Embedded

Main Feature these models is that they do not have outer case, and are designed for embedding in kitchen furniture. The cabinet for the hood will have to be ordered specifically, but it will be hidden, thus not violating the design of the kitchen.

In their design, island hoods resemble dome hoods, with the only difference being that they are not attached to the wall, but only to the ceiling. Recommended for use on large kitchens, the stove on which is located in the middle of the room.

air duct

The presence of an air duct (connection to ventilation) at the hood significantly increases its performance, although it increases the overall dimensions. When installing the duct, it should be taken into account that each knee (bend) reduces the performance of the hood by 5%, respectively, requiring a proportional increase in power. Thus, if you purchase a hood with an air duct, we recommend that you decide in advance on its design in order to correctly adjust the minimum required power of the device.

Please note that smooth duct pipes contribute to the best passage air, and corrugated sleeves, despite the convenience of their installation, prevent it.

Lighting type

Almost all modern hoods are equipped with lighting. The cost of the hood may vary, although not significantly, from the type of lamps that are used in the lighting system. Halogen lamps are more expensive than others, but consume a minimum of electricity and create the most natural light. Ordinary incandescent lamps are the cheapest, but burn out quickly enough and are the most "uneconomical". Fluorescent lighting lasts for a long time, but such light distorts the natural colors of dishes, which can adversely affect the culinary process (for example, when visual definition degree of roasting).

Noise level

The noise level produced by the hood is directly proportional to its power. That is, the more powerful the fan motor, the more noise it produces. On the other hand, a powerful fan for purifying indoor air needs to operate “at maximum” for a much shorter period of time. So it's up to you to decide if you want to hear a "noisy hood" for a short time or "enjoy" the quiet hum of a low-power motor all day long.

Body material and appearance

The appearance of the hood, as well as the material from which it is made, everyone is free to choose according to their preference. Someone prefers a hi-tech stainless steel hood, someone prefers a dome hood stylized as an old stove, and someone prefers discreet plastic models. The main thing is that the material from which the hood is made is of high quality and durable.

Please note that stainless steel hoods require much more maintenance than plastic or laminated models. On metal, even small drops of water after drying are visible much better.

Control Panel

There are three types of cooker hood control panels.

Button control

The simplest version of the panel, in which each function of the hood corresponds to a separate button. The disadvantage is that to change the power you need to press the button several times.

Slider or slider control

Switching functions is carried out by moving the slider handle along the corresponding pointers. A reliable type of adjustment that allows you to adjust the power as accurately as possible.

Choosing appliances for the kitchen is not an easy task. This is especially true in cases where the atmosphere in the apartment depends on your decision, as well as the presence or absence of unpleasant odors. You must have already understood that we are talking about the hood. Agree, it is difficult to imagine a kitchen in an apartment without this unit. Let's find out how to choose a hood for the kitchen, because it's not as easy as it might seem at first glance.

Some general information for the buyer

I would like to say that the absence of an exhaust hood is fraught not only with unpleasant odors that spread throughout the apartment, but also with the fact that the kitchen gets dirty much faster. Furniture also suffers, because water vapor negatively affects the suspended sections. Over time, the wood begins to crack and exfoliate, and only replacement will help here. This also applies to surfaces on which small particles of soot settle, which occur when cooking on gas stoves. Over time, all this is absorbed into the surface, and it will be very, very difficult to remove the smell. It is extremely important to know how to choose a hood for the kitchen, because its condition depends on it.

Today on the market there is huge selection a wide variety of hoods, but not every one of them will suit the layout of your kitchen. They differ in size, shape, functionality and other parameters. The first difficulty that you will encounter along the way is the choice between several types of hoods. Today there are three of them: traditional, domed and built-in. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages that you should pay attention to. Let's talk in more detail about how to choose a hood for the kitchen, and consider each option.

Built-in and dome hood for the kitchen

First, let's look at built-in hoods. In principle, from the name it is already possible to draw a simple conclusion that such an extract is built in somewhere. Given that it should be located above the stove, then decorative boxes or just hanging ones can serve as a place for installation. kitchen cabinets. The main feature of this type of hood is that it is installed in the kitchen without violating the style of the room. Of course, this involves the use special design. In principle, a built-in kitchen hood is a good solution, but only if you want to make it practically “invisible” to the eye.

As for the domed version, there is something to be said. Firstly, such hoods capture various vapors well due to the introduction of the so-called "dome" shape. This type can be divided into three subspecies: corner, island and fireplace. Corner hoods are installed in the corner, although this is understandable. In principle, they differ only in form. But island hoods have their own characteristics. They are attached directly to the ceiling with a cable or a special pipe. This decision is due to the fact that there are peculiar layouts and placement of the stove when it is not adjacent to the wall. Since in this case, chimney hoods are inefficient, island ones are used. Since you need to choose a hood for the kitchen based on the location of the stove, you should decide on the view at the very first stage.

Discharge to the environment or filtration?

At the second stage, you must decide on an equally important parameter. It remains to be decided whether the hood will filter the vapors and return them cleaned to the kitchen, or whether it will be ducted to the kitchen. environment. Of course, the choice is very difficult. Filtration is a rather complicated process, so such a kitchen hood without an air duct has a high price. There are several filters here. One of them fights odors, and the second one fights pollutants such as grease, soot, etc. The main advantage of such a hood is that it does not need to be connected to a ventilation system. Today you can find combined options with multiple modes of operation. Such hoods have several filters, as well as an air duct.

Of course, it is impossible not to say a few words about diversion options. Such hoods are extremely popular with buyers. This is due not only to affordable cost, but also to high efficiency. But such an extract is not without its drawbacks. This requires additional installation work. The air duct must be properly installed. In addition, the pipe will look unaesthetic in the kitchen, although this point is quickly resolved. For example, where the corrugation passes, you can install a locker or hang artificial flower. Of course, if you have the ability to connect to the ventilation hood, then give preference to the air outlet. But it happens that there is no such possibility, so you have to buy autonomous units. They are less efficient and more expensive, and filters need to be cleaned and replaced periodically. Please note that whether it is a domed or built-in kitchen hood, it can be either autonomous or diverting.

Simple installation of the hood in the kitchen, or A little about the dimensions

Our freedom of choice is almost always limited by free space. Not all kitchens are spacious and not crammed with furniture. So it came to the hood, and there is not as much space above the stove as we would like. However, not everything is so bad. The fact is that gas stoves produced according to the standard. So, their width can be 50, 60 or 90 centimeters. This greatly facilitated the work of manufacturers of hoods. It was enough for them to adjust to the appropriate standard. So, a standard kitchen hood is 60 cm wide, it can still be 50 or 90. Each type will fit the corresponding stove. You must understand that it makes no sense to buy a large hood for a small stove, and vice versa. The point here is not only in aesthetics, but also in the effectiveness and expediency of such a solution. Of course, it is desirable that the outlet area be slightly larger than the area over which the steam flows. For this, special visors were invented, which are located at an angle and allow you to capture fats, fumes, etc. over a larger area.

But do not forget about the design features. If you have the opportunity to install a hood, then do so. This is due to the fact that the efficiency of circulation models is an order of magnitude lower. It is worth paying your attention to the body, or rather to its strength. It is desirable that it be made of stainless steel. This solution is one of the best, but not the cheapest, since such a surface is easy to clean and does not deteriorate over the years, that is, it does not rust.

As you understand, the hood has a lot of important technical parameters. One of them is performance, or power, which, in principle, is the same thing. It is extremely important to make the right choice here. This is due to the fact that insufficient power of the hood will lead to the fact that it will not cope with the task. If, on the contrary, the performance is too high, then you will pay extra money for electricity, and the price of such a device will be unreasonably high. That is why the best hoods for the kitchen are those whose power is chosen correctly. And now directly about how to deal with this parameter. It is worth paying your attention to the fact that the performance is characterized by the throughput of the device, that is, the amount of air passed per hour (cubic meters / hour).

In order not to be mistaken with engine power, an extremely simple formula is used. To do this, you need to take the area of ​​\u200b\u200byour kitchen, it is measured in cubic meters, and multiply by 10. All the air in the room should be cleaned about 9-10 times per hour, so we take a factor of 10. If your kitchen is about 30 cubic meters meters, the required capacity will be 300 cubic meters. m/hour. There should be no problems with the choice, since there are models of different performance on the market. You can buy almost any hood for the kitchen. Prices, however, grow in proportion to performance, which is why this parameter is so important. The minimum cost is approximately 3000-4000 rubles, but the maximum is approximately 12,000-15,000 rubles.

Customer reviews about different types of hoods

Among the budget options, the Jet Air FS 301 models are popular. Buyers highlight such advantages as an affordable price and several operating modes. As for the shortcomings, they are there, in particular, this is the replacement of the carbon filter every year. Though it's hard to call it significant disadvantage. This is due to the fact that in some cases a coal hood for the kitchen is the only right solution.

Of course, there is no need to remind once again that the hood must have necessary set functions. Choose a device that has multiple speeds. For example, 2 or even 3. If a weak air flow is created on the first, then on the third, on the contrary, it is quite strong. This may be needed in different situations. Do not forget about good lighting, as this important point. Currently, there are several types of lamps used in range hoods. If we are talking about a budget option, then these are ordinary incandescent lamps, which have more minuses than pluses. The service life of such a lamp is quite low, so they burn very quickly and often. You can also choose halogen lamps. The only drawback of such a solution is the high cost, although it pays off with a large resource of work. If you often cook in low stationary lighting, it is recommended to buy products with light focusing. These are very good hoods for the kitchen, reviews of which are almost always positive. The peculiarity is that you can adjust the light source as you like.

Of course, one cannot fail to say a few words about what a good, and most importantly, convenient control panel for your hood should be. Firstly, all buttons and controls should be located nearby, preferably on the front side of the case. This will allow you to change the air intake rate, the brightness of the lighting, etc. without looking up from the preparation of the dish. Of course, ideally, this is electronic control. Such hoods are good because they can work in automatic mode and practically do not require your intervention. All you need to do before starting work is to program it. If there is a touch panel on the hood, then special auto-on sensors are installed. They react to steam or temperature rises from the stove, after which they start the hood.

As for the body of this household appliance, today there are three options on the market. The most popular and expensive - polished stainless steel. Budget models have various enamels. This is not to say that this will be a bad decision, since it is not only cheap, but also quite durable and beautiful. In addition, you can also buy tempered glass. The disadvantage of this solution is that after washing, stains remain on the surface, which are difficult to remove. If you are asking yourself which hood is better for the kitchen, then definitely the one that has a high body strength and good lighting. But that's not all important parameters by which to select this unit.

What should every buyer know?

There are a few things you never hear from a consultant or salesperson. For example, hoods from Ergo make much more noise than products from Bosch. By the way, this is a very important indicator. If it seemed to you that the hood was rather noisy when checking, discard this option. The fact is that after its installation, it will function even louder. The level of emitted noise should not exceed the barrier of 55 dB, the minimum, as a rule, is approximately 30 dB. Here it is extremely important to choose the right power of the device. This is due to the fact that with increasing productivity, the noise level increases. Of course, if the rumble during cooking does not bother you, then you can give preference to any proposed option. Do not forget that a high-quality and functional product does not have to be expensive. There are excellent products on the market today budget options, and both circulating, and branch and combined.

Conclusion

So we talked with you about how to choose a hood for the kitchen. As you can see, there are a lot of nuances here. For this reason, it is sometimes very difficult to make the right choice, because you need to buy a quiet and productive model that will have good lighting and a high-quality case. All this most often should be supported by a very affordable price. Pay attention to the manufacturer. The middle price range should include such brands as BEKO, Indesit, Ardo, etc. But you can buy the best hoods from the leaders in the production of household appliances, it can be products from Bosch, AEG, Electrolux - these are the best hoods for the kitchen. You can find a photo of the model you are interested in either in the catalog when choosing, or on the manufacturer's website. By purchasing products from such a company, you can be sure that the equipment will work without failures and will not bring you any trouble. By the way, with regard to shopping on the Internet, it is very risky, although much cheaper. The fact is that the purchased device may not be liked or not suitable, and sending it back and waiting for another model is quite time-consuming. Although if there is no nearby good shops, that is the only way out. Take your time when choosing kitchen hoods. Read reviews, consult with friends, decide on all the parameters and only after that make a purchase that you will not regret. remember, that good hood will make the air in the kitchen cleaner and completely eliminate odors and grease.