 STEP 1. Initially, check your kitchen’s options for installing an appliance with an air extraction feature, in which the air extracted by the hood is discharged to the outside by means of an air duct. The kitchen vent must be left free for natural air circulation. A separate duct is desirable for the hood. Yes – all hoods are suitable. No – only hoods operating in recirculation mode – a mode in which the intake air is cleaned with a charcoal filter and then completely returned to the kitchen. STEP 2. Determine the performance of the hood. At its calculation is based on the standard height of placement: Over the gas stove – 75-85 cm. Over electric – 65-85 cm. If the hood will be placed significantly higher, you need to choose a more powerful model than comes out according to calculations. The cooker hood works in extraction mode: Let’s use the formula M=PxBx10 + 20%, where M is the required cubic capacity of the appliance. m/hour, P – kitchen area, H – its height, 10 – the coefficient, the required number of times the air volume in the room per hour, 20% – tolerance of air resistance. Performance look at the technical specifications of the product. Hood operates in recirculation mode: We calculate the figure the same way. Do not look for the total capacity, but for the recirculation mode. As a general rule, the extraction rate in recirculation mode is 15% lower than in extraction mode. STEP 3. Determine the correct width of the hood on the basis of the dimensions of the hob. It must be equal to or greater than the width of the cooktop or the total width of all dominoes. The standard width of a wall mounted hood is often 500/600/900/1200 mm. STEP 4. Select type of fixture Wall-mounted hood mounted on the wall. Built-in extractor hood: it must be built into a cabinet, which must be taken into consideration when ordering the kitchen. The air duct is concealed behind the rear wall. Flat mounted on the wall or under the cupboard. Corner The island one is attached to the ceiling above the island element Built-in – into the countertop or wall. STEP 5. Choice of design except for extractor hoods built into the cabinet . Country  Suitable for kitchens with wooden laminated fronts. Clear pyramidal or shaped body made of light-colored plastic tones. Bottom part decorated with a wood overlay, often with a shelf. Classic  Meets the requirements of most kitchens. Suitable for furniture with plastic and wooden fronts. Metal casing, simple cone or pyramid shaped. Colors: white, black, stainless steel, gold, copper. Technological  Designed to give the kitchen a more contemporary feel. Metal casing in a variety of forms. Decorated with glass details. STEP 6. For a hood that works in extraction mode, determine how the duct will be routed Externally: The ductwork extending from the hood is either closed with a decorative sliding casing until it reaches the vented space, or led to the maximum height of the wall-mounted cupboard, and then laid on top of it along the wall Concealed in the wall or ceiling : The pipe is concealed in the wall or ceiling. To do this, a large hole is laid, and a pipe with a round or rectangular cross-section is placed in it. One end leads into the vent chamber shaft, the other end at the set design mark. It is determined by the formula: height of the floor from the “clean floor + screed + floor covering + height of cabinets 80-90 cm + height of placement above the stove 70-85 cm + the structural dimensions of the appliance. The pipe is closed with a box of plasterboard. The box can imitate a beam or column. The pipe is hidden under the construction of the ceiling: suspended ceiling, Armstrong type, rack and pinion, plasterboard STEP 7. Specify need for anti-return valve. The valve prevents outside odors, sounds, insects from the ventilation shaft from entering the kitchen. Valve – a system of movable flaps that open when the motor is running and close when the motor is stopped. Does not matter – select any device. Important – appliance with anti-return valve or possibility of its installation. STEP 8. Depending on the intensity of home visits in the kitchen, determine the required noise level. Not important – choose any device. Important – note that the higher the speed, the greater the noise. If you plan to have the hood work during the whole cooking process, then focus on 1 speed, if you are going to switch on the hood in case of emergency, then look at the noise level at maximum speeds STEP 9. Need to place the hood motor outside the kitchen cottages . External motor can be placed in a heated auxiliary room. Increases extraction capacity by up to 30 % and lowers operating noise by up to 20 % Not important – select any appliance. Important – a device with an external motor. STEP 10. Decide on the best method of control. Slider – slide switch – stepless selection of the operating intensity. Push-buttons of different types – choose from a set of 3-4 speeds. Electronic – equipped with digital or LED indicators, display. Pseudo-sensor buttons: Sensors independently control the hood depending on the sensor readings, selecting on and off times and the optimum operating speed: – Steam detectors, – temperature sensor, – infrared sensor, – Photocell Control panel. STEP 11. Whether indication of filter clogging is necessary Not important – any appliance to choose from. Important: time indication – set a certain amount of time in hours, after which the corresponding icon appears or disappears. Automatic assessment by the device of the degree of contamination of the filter and signalization by the indicator. STEP 12. Determine whether a timer is needed and what type of timer it is. Automatic. Delayed shutoff. Duration of operation in this mode 5, 10 or 15 min . Residual running – after the main mode has been turned off, the cooker hood operates at a minimum speed for a fixed period of time 10, 15 min . Extractor fan can be switched on for a few minutes every hour. Time-controlled intensive operation. Arbitrary. Set the duration of operation based on suggested time intervals. Set duration according to cooking cycles. Setting the time. STEP 13. Choosing the right lighting Static. Constant light intensity. Dynamic. The lighting changes depending on the situation. In manual mode – the user selects the optimal illumination, strength and direction of the light flux. Automatic – the appliance uses a photoelectric cell to decide when it needs to add or diminish light intensity. STEP 14. Acquisition of additional elements A set of charcoal filters – for hoods operating in recirculation mode Air ducts – the diameter must correspond to the requirements of the appliance see the “Technical data” . features . Grids are decorative shelves for small items Apron – a panel enclosing the wall against the cooktop logically separates the cooking area, gives it a monolithic appearance” Anti-return valve – if available |
What factors should I consider when selecting a cooker hood?
What are the most important factors to consider when selecting a cooker hood? I am in need of some guidance before making this purchase.