Choosing a cooker hood: first steps

First of all, the performance

The most important feature of a hood is the extraction capacity P . This is the volume of air the appliance passes through in an hour of operation. It’s easy to calculate the average hood capacity you need for your kitchen.

To do this, the kitchen area S multiplied by the ceiling height H , multiplied by the rate of air exchange, adopted by the SES is 12 and the minimum reserve factor of 1.3.

The coefficient is needed in order to take into account the number of floors in the building, the dirtiness and length of the ventilation duct, the length and bends of the duct. P=SxHx12x1.3

Noise level is an important feature of a cooker hood. Pay attention to the lower noise level when you buy – it’s the one you hear most often in first gear, because that’s how the hood operates.

The size of the panel matters

We advise to pay attention to the size of the cooking surface, its width should be the same or less than the width of the air cleaner. The highest efficiency of the appliance is achieved by output to the ventilation shaft.

If this is not possible, you can connect the hood in recirculation mode using an activated charcoal filter.

It is very important to maintain a minimum height of 650 mm between the hood and the hob.

Six tips to get you started

1. Noise. Don’t try to judge a hood by ear when choosing – the noise in the store is not the same as the noise in your kitchen. It is better to consult the manual first. Finding the right extraction power using the formula “kitchen capacity x 10 times”.

According to the European requirements for comfort Easy Life , noise level should not exceed 55 decibels at a required capacity.

Check the hood data sheet firm’s catalog to see at what speed the hood will deliver the required capacity in our example, 324 cu. m/hr. If the noise level of the hood is greater than 55 decibels dB at this speed, the increased noise at home will cause the hood to switch to a lower speed with less noise and less power. That means that the hood is always going to be ineffective at removing cooking fumes and smells.

After checking that you are satisfied with the performance and noise level of the cooker hood according to the technical data sheet, turn on the hood at the right speed and stand by. If after two minutes of operation the noise is not annoying, it means that the hood matches your noise perception.

2. Convenience of control. Once you have chosen your favorite model, try to operate the motor and light buttons, remove and install the grease and charcoal filters. Pay attention to how you feel – comfortable or not?

In a quality hood, the manufacturer stipulates that it is used by an untrained person. If something is stuck, falling out, in the way or just not to your liking, it’s better to see it before you buy it.

3. Accessories. Buying a hood, do not be lazy to immediately buy replacement grease and charcoal filters, other accessories. Check with the seller, which stores and service centers can buy them in 1-2 years.

Check these stores and service centers. After a couple of years, finding accessories for a “rare” model can be an unexpected problem for you.

4. The manufacturer is a guarantee of quality and service. It is better to buy a hood from a well known brand or a model from a hood manufacturer.

By the way, about 70% of all hoods in Europe are made in Italy that’s where there are the oldest firms that have been doing it professionally for 50 years .

Check if the hood is marked with the country of origin on the box and on the casing. If the country is not listed or if it says EC, that’s a first sign of concern. The instructions must include the manufacturer’s address, website. When buying an expensive hood of a brand you do not know, first ask to see a catalog of the company with the address of the factory or look at the website of the brand.

5. Hood cleaning. Standard grease filters in the exhaust hood retain up to 90% of the grease. This means that after years it is necessary to clean the motor housing and blades impeller of the fan from the layer of grease and dust to prolong trouble-free operation of the hood. According to the Easy Life European guidelines, the manufacturer must allow for the removal of the motor without dismantling the hood, disassembly of the casing to clean the fan blades, and reassembly and installation of the motor into the hood at home.

6. Hood surface cleaning. When buying a stainless steel or aluminum hood, you must take into account that both of these coatings have a thin layer. For this reason cleaning agents must be designed specifically for this purpose. Do not use acetone, gasoline, or other “folk” remedies. You’d better ask the retailer right away. Ask him to test the specific agent that he suggests before buying the hood. Serious hood manufacturers offer CLEAN&CLEAN bags with special cloths, soaked in a special solution that ensures that surfaces won’t get dirty or scratched.