Chimney hood for the kitchen: DIY video instructions for installation, features of this type, price, photo

The cooker hood is undoubtedly one of the most important elements of any kitchen. Basically, people think about the advisability of installing ventilation devices during repairs. And the main criterion in most cases is not concern for your own health, but the desire to protect new tiles, wallpaper and ceiling coverings from soot and grease. However, one thing is clear: whatever your motivation, installing the hood is the right step.

And first of all, such a device is needed in order to protect the person working in the kitchen from harmful fumes and secretions. The average housewife spends most of her free time in the kitchen, and in order to make this work comfortable and safe, an extractor hood is needed.

Choosing a hood

This type of air cleaning devices is so popular these days that there are no restrictions on the choice and cannot be. Dozens of global manufacturers offer you a huge variety of models, from the simplest to the “smart” ones, equipped with a number of sometimes unnecessary functions.

In addition, the hoods themselves can be divided into several types, taking into account the specifics of the work and the type of construction.

Hood types by design type

1. Wall mounted. These include fireplace type kitchen hoods. They are the most widespread due to their high performance, reliability and good price / quality ratio.
2. Island. The need for island hood for kitchen occurs in cases where the stove is not adjacent to the wall, being in the center of the kitchen. Hence the name of these devices.
3. Corner. According to the name, they are installed in the corner of the room.
4. Embedded. Designed to be built into a kitchen cabinet that hides a ventilation pipe.

Types of hoods according to the specifics of work

There are circulation and flow hoods.

• Circulating. Their work is based on the principle of recirculation. That is, the air is not removed from the room through the ventilation shaft, but is subject to filtration.
  Such hoods are not connected to the ventilation system and are the cheapest. In other matters, the question of their effectiveness remains open.

• Flow hoods. These include kitchen chimney hoods that remove polluted air outside the room. They have the highest efficiency and, when properly installed, retain fresh air in the room.

This type of hood requires an air extraction shaft. It can be either provided for in the planning of the building, or specially carried out in the process installation of a kitchen hood.

Advantages of chimney hoods

Today, fireplace hoods for the kitchen are the most popular among consumers.

This fact is easy to explain when you look at their benefits.

1. Great appearance. Naturally, some people want to hide as much as possible the ventilation pipes and the hood itself.
   However, when installing a device of this type, the need for camouflage disappears. The domed chimney hood looks very stylish and even majestic.
   It fits perfectly into any kitchen interior, and the variety of models opens up a huge scope for choice.

In addition, some types of such kitchen hoods can be used as an extension of the kitchen shelf, which allows better fit into the interior.

1. High efficiency. Since chimney kitchen hoods belong to flow-through appliances, there should be no doubt about their performance.
   They are usually equipped with two motors and reusable filters.
   Even the most budgetary representatives of this type are in the middle price category and have all the necessary functionality, which also speaks of quality.
2. The cost of such hoods varies in a fairly wide range., which allows you to choose the most suitable device for you.
3. Being mounted, they are quite easy to install, fixing on the wall with self-tapping screws and dowels.

Extraction capacity

The first thing you should pay attention to when choosing a hood is its performance and throughput. This parameter shows how much air the device can pass through itself per unit of time. When calculating performance, you should use the following formula:

Productivity = room volume × air exchange rate.

Calculating the volume of a room shouldn't be a problem for you. To do this, you need to multiply the kitchen area by the ceiling height. If you want to get the most accurate results, subtract the approximate volume occupied by the kitchen furniture from the figure obtained.

Air exchange rate - the number of air changes in the room during one hour. Optimal air exchange is indicated by number 12.

For example, let's calculate the performance of a kitchen hood in a Khrushchev with an aspect ratio of 2 by 3 meters and a ceiling height of 2.7 meters. We get: 2 × 3 × 2.7 = 16.2 cubic meters.

The capacity of the hood, respectively, should be 16.2 × 12 = 194.4 cubic meters per hour.

Advice!
Choose a hood with a good margin of performance, since at maximum speed these devices make a rather loud noise. And the service life is reduced with such operation.

In addition, the bending of the ventilation pipes reduces the performance of the hood. On average, one 90 degree bend reduces system efficiency by 10%. It should also be taken into account that the performance of the device decreases as the filters become dirty.

The above calculation formula is purely advisory in nature. As a rule, in small kitchens during cooking, the concentration of harmful substances very quickly approaches a critical level. To avoid this, pay attention to hoods with a performance 1.5-2 times higher than the minimum requirements for your premises.

Dimensions and noise level

Choosing the size of the hood for a fireplace-type kitchen, it is necessary to build on the dimensions of the stove. The width of the hood should not be less than the width of the slab; in extreme cases, the surfaces should be equal, which will ensure the ability to capture the entire flow of air with harmful volatile substances.

It is believed that the best option is when the hood extends somewhat beyond the hob (as in the photo on the right).

The standard width that chimney hoods have is 50, 60 cm. There are also large 90 cm instruments.

Noise level

The average noise level for hoods is 40 dB. It is comparable to a soft human speech at a distance of a meter. When operating at maximum power, the noise level rises to 60-70 dB, which is comparable to normal human speech.

Studies have shown that the loud monotonous noise of the hood is simply unacceptable, since it has a detrimental effect on the human psyche. That is why you should choose devices with a noise level in the range of 40-50 decibels and not "overclock" them at full power. In this case, we are talking not only about the safety of the hood mechanism, but also about your personal sense of comfort.

Advice!
Hoods equipped with two fans are quieter. You should also pay attention to the engine power. The more powerful it is, the lower the noise level will be.

Hood service

In order for any hood to serve you faithfully, it is necessary to timely replace the filter elements. In addition, as mentioned above, contamination of the grease filter significantly reduces the efficiency of the system.

There are three types of grease traps:

• Sinteponovye paper or non-woven, which are classified as disposable. Their distinguishing feature is the signs that are clearly visible through the hood's protective grille.
  It is on them that the need for replacement is determined. As soon as the signs have disappeared, the filter should be changed.

• Acrylic filters. They are referred to as reusable. They should be washed about once a month in warm soapy water. At the same time, it is not worth squeezing such a filter strongly, since it is easily damaged.
• Aluminum filters. They are also reusable. Such filters should be cleaned with a degreasing agent about once a month. You can also put the acrylic filter in the dishwasher, but separate from the dishes.

Since these grease traps consist of several layers of perforated aluminum, they should be handled very carefully so as not to damage its surface.

In most cases, reusable filters are initially installed on fireplace-type kitchen hoods. Therefore, when choosing this particular hood, you should only regularly rinse them in order to avoid contamination.

A large accumulation of grease on the filter can lead to fire, making periodic cleaning a necessary safety measure.

Conclusion

The cooker hood is no longer considered a luxury item these days. Along with a gas stove and a worktop, it is a necessary attribute of any kitchen. Many home craftsmen install the hood with their own hands, in this connection, several serious questions arise regarding the stages of installation work. And the answers in this case are not difficult to find.

If you decide to install the hood yourself, then the installation instructions are available both in articles and in video materials that are freely available on our website. Despite the apparent complexity, arranging a modern ventilation system does not require special skills or tools and is within the power of anyone who held a drill and screwdriver in their hands. The main thing is to follow the recommendations and act in stages.