It is high time to take home makers out of fumes, hot and humid kitchen area, give them a pleasant space to work. Make kitchen space more comfortable to work in by just adding kitchen chimney to the cooking area, just above the cooking range. Chimney absorbs all the heat and fumes present in the kitchen .Apart from its basic function of keeping the kitchen odor-free and fresh, the chimney adds style and elegance to the kitchen.

Getting the appropriate kitchen chimney is important for a real look, work and calmness of the kitchen. Selecting the kitchen chimney is a bit tactful job and needs a wise and intelligent homework to go through just before you opt for the best one. You need to look after:

On the basis of installation, chimneys are of two types.

Ducting or extracting:

How it functions: The air that is sucked in passes through the filters. Grease and grime adhere to the filters and the air is expelled out through PVC pipes or a duct. It requires plumbing installation. The number of bends and the length of the hose pipe affects the suction power.  Filter used is either a mesh or baffle filter.

Recycling or ductless:

How it functions:  It has fan or blower and motor. The air passes through the grease filter which traps grease particles. The air then passes through the charcoal filters which absorb the heat, smoke and odors. The purified air is circulated back into the kitchen.

Ducting vs Ductless

Features	Ducting	Ductless
Cost	Goes high with ducting	Less
Filters	Uses Mesh/baffle filters	Additional charcoal filter is needed.
Performance	Industry tests say they are 30 % more effective	Less effective as the air is recirculated back
Maintenance and Care	Easier	Charcoal filters need change at frequent intervals
Suction	High	Less
Efficiency	Higher. Heat and humidity is extracted and ducted out, prevents condensation.	Lesser. It does not remove the heat from the kitchen
Re-positioning	Impractical	Can be done easily

Filters:

 A filter is the heart of the Electric Chimney. It traps the oil particles and purifies the air. On the basis of material and construction filters are of three types.

Mesh Filter: Layers of Aluminum mesh overlapping each other slightly offset. The mesh has very small holes. When the air passes through the filter, oil and grime adhere to the layers. The pores get clogged very soon and affects the performance of the chimney. Requires cleaning every 2 weeks.

Higher maintenance and frequent cleaning is needed for Indian kitchen because the masalas get coated onto the filter blocking the holes and thus the suction power gets reduced.

Maintenance:  Warm soapy water/detergent. Can be cleaned in dishwasher too. The cleaning is easier than baffle filters.

Baffle Filter: Layers of steel/aluminum are overlapped in a fashion which changes the direction of air flow. It uses the ‘cut and chop’ technology to separate oil and spices from the smoke. The suction power gets hardly affected even if the oil gets collected in the first layer. Perfect for Indian style of cooking.

Maintenance: Needs cleaning once in 5-6 months. Gets rusted with use. Some models have easy removal others require technician. The filters need change in 4-5 yrs.

Charcoal Filters: They are primarily used for odor absorption. It has a block with charcoal granules. The absorption capacity depends upon the thickness of filter and size of charcoal granules. It is used in Ductless chimneys. It does not come in-built in always but available at an extra cost.

Maintenance: Needs periodical replacement 3-6 months depending upon the intensity of cooking. It cannot be washed.  Some high end models have indicators for filter change.

On the basis of functionality and fashion chimneys can be categorized into conventional and contemporary.

Conventional chimneys are straight line chimneys that basically perform the sole function of keeping the kitchen fresh and ventilated are available in both ducting and ductless mode

The contemporary chimneys come in various design and types to suit your budget and lifestyle. They have a hood which again comes in various styles.

Depending on the how the chimney is mounted, Chimneys are classified into 3 types, as follow.

1. Wall Mounted

The most well-received style for Indian kitchens, these can be affixed between two cabinets, directly above your hob for maximum efficacy. Designed for the kitchens where stove located near the wall. Less or no ducting/pipes requires for exhaust smoke.

2. Built Under

The most well-received style for Indian kitchens, these can be affixed between two cabinets, directly above your hob for maximum efficacy. Designed for modern kitchens where stove / hob located in middle of kitchen. Necessary ducting / pipes required to exhaust smoke out.

3. Island

Perfect for cook tops affixed on islands, the island kitchen chimney extends to the ceiling, becoming a central element in your modular kitchen. Designed for modern kitchens and people who are looking for to prevent chimney from kitchen interior decoration.

Pointers to remember before buying a chimney

• Suction Power Is the capacity of the motor to suck oil particles and odor. It is measured in cubic meter per hour(m3 per hour). For Indian kitchen a chimney with higher air suction capacity is ideal. For frequent cooking the range should be between 400 m3/hr to 1000m3/hr depending on the size of your kitchen. The chimneys with a long hose have generally more suction power.
• Filters If the filter does not function properly the suction becomes poor and can pose a health hazard. The choice of the right filter improves the performance of the chimney.
• Motor/Blower The motor should be sealed so that dust and grime does not get into it. Aluminum non-stick blower and motor saves you from agony of periodic servicing of internal parts.
• Size The size depends on the size of the kitchen. A 3feet stove should have a 3feet chimney. Standard chimneys come in 2ft and 3ft size.
• Maintenance and Care It is advisable to go for a chimney which requires less maintenance. Install the chimney at low height (4feet) so that cleaning is easy and it effectively removes the smoke and oil particles out.
• Budget Electric chimneys come in the price range of Rs 3000 to Rs 100000.
• Noise The noise that is heard is that of the air circulation. You may like to consider this before buying your chimney. Some chimneys have a silent-kit installed which makes it silent or less noise.
• Speed Entry level chimneys have single speed option but advanced ones has variable speeds to ventilate the kitchen faster.
• Aesthetics Chimneys are available to suit every section and taste of the society ranging from modest rates to expensive ones. Depending on your budget, lifestyle and kitchen décor you may choose the best. Some brands have the option of customizing the looks to match your kitchen décor.
• Warranty and Service Most chimneys come with warranty of 12 months but some chimneys come with lifetime warranty. Check for after sales services in your locality because some baffle filters need technician for cleaning them.

Advanced features

Auto Clean chimneys:  Once you switch the chimney ON, the coil that cover the motor gets heated up for 15 to 20 mins. The oil gets liquidized and is let out .The chimney stops after auto cleaning itself..

Split chimney: The motor is installed outside the kitchen hence reducing the sound.

Convertible kits: Some brands have kits wherein a ducting chimney can be converted into a ductless chimney.

Soundproof kits: They ensure that there is absolutely no noise of the chimney.

Detachable oil collector: The oil particles get collected in this and it’s easy to detach and clean thereby improving the efficiency of the filter.

Auto heat sensor: It detects heats and oil particles and automatically switches on and off.

Indicator/buzzer:  They have indicator lamps or alarms for filter cleaning or replacement.

 

Hope you make a note of this points before shortlisting a chimney for you kitchen.for more update visit at www.kreativehouse.asia

 

Here kreative House provides the most popular designs around the world and could become an essential part of your design room too.

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