Enjoying good food prepared by your good care is a real pleasure. But with the different cookings, smoke, smells and steam invade the kitchen,and a solution must be found. It is the air quality that depends on it. The stove hood will then be essential for the evacuation of all these odors. However, with the multitude of models available on the market, different factors need to be taken into account to make the right choice. Find out in this article everything you need to know to make sure you don’t get it wrong.
What is the operating principle of a stove hood?
To make sure you make the right choice of stove hood, it is essential to know the operating principle, including the ventilation system. Therefore, you will have the choice between two types of hoods: those with recirculation or hoods without exits and hoods with exterior output. Indeed, the hoods without exit (recirculation) work thanks to a charcoal filter. The latter is responsible for cleaning the stale air and extracting the various particles of fat as well as the odors. However, the air returned to the kitchen is not free of heat, humidity or even smoke. On the other hand, the hoods with external output completely eliminate the stale air by expelling it outwards through ducts. This is why it is recommended to favour this type of cooker hood. However, in the absence of an adequate duct, you should stick to a recirculation hood.
What are the different models of cooker hood?
Now that you know more about how a stove hood works, it’s important to really take an interest in the models available on the market. So you will have to make your choice between 5 main models,obviously considering the location of the cooking surface. As a result, there are conventional hoods that are very successful and are available with or without exterior ventilation. They are usually found under cabinets. Similarly, there are chimney-type hoods that are installed directly on the wall with an exterior exit or a recirculation system. Then come the islet-type hoods with an internal or external fan, with air movements that require some power from the equipment. You will also have the choice of built-in hoods that are installed in a custom cabinet with an internal or external ventilation module. Finally, there are hoods built into the microwave oven that obviously take up less space.
In any case, before choosing a model, you need to take the time to know the different characteristics.
What are the essential features of a hood?
Making the right choice of cooker hood is like choosing a model with features and components that match your specific needs. There are some essential elements that will have to be taken into account.
The size and capacity of the engine
When choosing a stove hood, it’s important to make sure the dimensions are right for the available space. As a result, you should be interested in the width, which typically ranges from 24 to 36 inches. For example, 30-inch models are quite present in many kitchens because they are in line with most electric or gas stoves. You will need to be able to ensure that the width of the chosen hood exceeds the 3-inch stove on each side. In terms of engine capacity, it will determine the degree of air expulsion. Expressed in cubic feet per minute (PCM), the engine capacity of a stove hood will allow the equipmentto make 10 to 12 changes of air per hour in order to properly evacuate smoke and stale air.
To ensure that the hood’s engine capacity is right for you, you will need to multiply the height of the kitchen by its size to get the volume of the room. You then have to multiply the result by 10 again to have a figure that is expressed in m3/h. Don’t forget to take into account the length of the duct in order to make the right choice of cooker hood. The longer the duct, the greater the ventilation capacity.
Filters
To truly ensure good air quality, the filters of a range hood are not to be overlooked. In fact, they will take care of the different fats from cooking to prevent them from entering the ducts and causing a fire or cleaning problems. For this, you have aluminum filters that remove effortlessly and are reusable after washing. There are also chicane filters that are more durable than the first and are therefore suitable for professional use. Made of stainless steel, these filters are positioned inside the box. Finally, there are the preferred charcoal filters in case of no outside exit. They will therefore take care of eliminating cooking odors while retaining the fats. However, since it is not possible to wash them, you should make sure to replace them regularly.
Lighting and fans
No matter what color and style of stove hood you choose, you can’t ignore its lighting capacity as well as fans. Therefore, you should know that most of these equipments are equipped with one or more lamps that will bring more light to the kitchen. Similarly, you should be interested in the fans that are installed inside the hood case. These fans determine the noise level as well as the ease of maintenance and cleaning. To perfect your choice, take the time to check lighting and ease of maintenance for better performance.
