Oily soot is the real enemy of a clean, well-kept kitchen. Together with the ubiquitous dust, it forms a sticky, black bloom, which is not so easy to scrape off. The formation of soot in the cooking process can be avoided, but it is possible to save the white walls after the repair and the surface of the cabinets. This problem is relevant for the studio apartments that have become popular, where the kitchen is combined with the bedroom or living room, and the by-products of culinary experiments spread to all areas of the universal home. A single ventilation system will not be enough to fix the problem. She came to the aid of a simple but effective machine - hood. It "collects" any fumes, grease and odors. If initially the hood was used exclusively as a functional technical unit, then the designers made it a part of the modern interior.
How to choose
The hood is selected based on the characteristics of the kitchen space, the intensity of its operation, the combination of the technical characteristics of the device and the appearance. The latter plays an important role, because the detail of the interior should not only work effectively, but also look beautiful and harmonious. When buying a hood, pay attention to the following aspects:
- Power;
- Dimensions;
- Type, model;
- Type of filter;
- Control method;
- Registration.
Remember that the aesthetic appearance of the kitchen and adjacent rooms directly depends on the effectiveness of the chosen technology.
Devices can be divided into two types, depending on the principle of operation:
- Flow;
- Circulating.
Both types of hoods, after switching on, create forced traction and, in the literal sense of the word, “suck” air. Flowing it expelled outside the apartment (on the street or in the general ventilation system). The lack of air will have to be replenished, as they say, manually: open windows and doors. Otherwise, the air from the neighboring rooms will start to get into your apartment, which is unlikely that anyone will like it. Filters have recently been installed in hoods of this type, although they already “expel” the entire kitchen fumes from the room along with large dust particles. Of the minuses of the models: in the rest mode of the equipment, the air duct is blocked, which makes it difficult for fresh air to flow from the ventilation.
Circulating devices are considered inventions of a new generation. The principle of their work is displayed in the title. These hoods are equipped with powerful filters that form a two-stage cleaning system. The air inside the apparatus is cleaned in a special tank and returned to the room, so you do not have to worry about constant airing.
When installing circulation hoods, attention should be paid to the systematic cleaning of their filters, which are responsible for the efficiency of the entire system. If the flow-type apparatus draws in polluted air under any circumstances, then the cycle in the circulation system depends on the cleaning plates.
Performance and noise
When talking about the performance of the hood, we are talking about the power of the built-in fan. This is a mandatory part of the apparatus, which is responsible for the occurrence of thrust. The fan is located at the ventilation inlet or on the side. Its capacity is calculated from the volume of air that it can potentially clean per unit of time. Work fans from the electrical network. In a classic hood, one ventilator is installed, and in “advanced” models for modern kitchens, their number can be increased to two. Powerful fans provide high efficiency of the entire system, but have a significant drawback - the noise from the work. The higher the performance of the hood, the louder it works. Systems with two fans cherish the ears of the owners, because both parts can operate at half power, and in terms of efficiency, they will not yield to the hood with one fan working “to the fullest”. In such a simple but original way, manufacturers decided to lower the noise curtain without sacrificing performance.
The size
The length and width of the hood play an important role. Dimensions it should exceed the size of the hob about 10-15 cm on each side. Regardless of power, the machine will work less efficiently if the evaporation zone exceeds its area of operation. Accordingly, before buying, be sure to take the necessary measurements in order not to be misled and not to buy too small an exhaust hood. Pay attention to the distance from the hob to the cleaning technique. For gas stoves, it should be at least 75 cm, for electrical counterparts - 10 centimeters less.
The last tip is not at all one of the bizarre rules that can be neglected. These are the basics of fire safety. At gas stoves, the flame rises higher, warming up is faster. If the hood is located too low, it can easily overheat. Particles of grease, soot and dust that accumulate on the filters are highly flammable, which can cause a fire.
Modes of operation
There are two modes of operation, as well as types of hoods:
- Recirculating;
- Exhaust.
In the second case, the air is cleaned of particles of fat through a filter and is removed from the room. The recirculation mode removes not only fat but also odor. This effect is achieved by double cleaning through an additional carbon filter. Then the clean and fresh air is returned to the room by the system. Circulating devices are equipped in such a way that their modes change as needed.
According to experts, exhaust mode copes more effectively with air pollution. Although only one filter works, the air from the “street” that replaces the removed one is cleaner than the one that went through the cleaning procedure. After all, sooner or later the owners, yes, forget about the timely care of technology. In such cases, it successfully “gives back” the accumulated dirt.
Filter Models
Household filters for private use according to the degree of purification are divided into two types:
- Rough cleaning;
- Electrostatic.
Although the market now offers filters that need to be cleaned periodically (metal), replaceable ones were found to be more convenient. When their life expires, the part is simply removed and a new one is replaced instead. The replacement system is simple, so even the average man can handle it. The first remove large particles: lint, dust, grease. Work of the second imperceptible for a human eye. They trap the smallest aerosol particles and oil mist residues. Filters differ by type of material:
- Metallic (cellular or mesh);
- Coal (porous);
- Tissue;
- Fibrous.
In addition, in modern hoods install additional components of the cleaning system, which allow you to install a special climate control. These include adjustable "catchers".
Ways to work
The hood can work either in the same mode or in the combined mode. Circulation models can support either the recirculation mode only, or else exhaust one. The type of work depends on the settings and the availability of access to the general ventilation system or to the street. Flowing, as a rule, support only the exhaust mode, as their design does not provide additional functions. Control panels for units come in three types:
- Sensory;
- Push-button;
- Slider.
The latter are gradually becoming a thing of the past. Push-button is still on the market among economical models. Sensory are considered modern, but even they are beginning to crowd out the so-called "pseudo-sensory" panels. They are not visually different from the original, but their chips are more reliably protected.
Additional options
The most modern models have advanced functionality. It includes a number of additional options:
- Hypersensitive odor recognition system.
- On Timer.
- Residual fan operation.
The odor recognition system is able to automatically turn on the hood even if the hostess is not around. It also autonomously controls the modes of operation, depending on the volume of evaporation. The timer allows you to configure the inclusion of the device at a certain time. For example, you set to simmer the soup on a slow fire, but decided to leave the apartment for half an hour.
After 10 minutes the soup will begin to slowly boil, and there will be no one to turn on the hood. Here, the user and useful handy timer pending. The residual fan stroke provides additional work of the hood after the end of cooking. At low speeds, the fan will remove residual vapors and odors, after which it will automatically shut down permanently.
In each modern model there are built-in lighting, which also differ in types of lighting. They have long ceased to be a wonder and are installed by default. If you want dishes in saucepans to look as natural as possible, then give preference to halogen lamps.
Body material
Enamel is considered to be a common material for the manufacture of an economy class hood. It is convenient to wash it, it is durable and resistant to mechanical damage. One of the most expensive are stainless steel appliances. Steel is not only not inferior in characteristics enamelled surface, but also looks much more refined and richer. Not less impressive look hood tinted glass. Unfortunately, they will have to tinker with when cleaning, because the material is easy to scratch. Also, the surface of the unit is decorated with wood or aluminum-based materials. In the first case, the equipment looks harmoniously with the kitchen set of similar material, and in the second case it becomes a chameleon and easily reflects the color of neighboring objects.
What are the types
Hoods are divided into three classes:
- Classic;
- Dome;
- Recessed (flat).
Depending on the location of the exhaust are classified into:
- Wall mounted;
- Island;
- Corner.
Let us consider in more detail each of the models.
Traditional (classic) or wall
The classical model, although it has a speaking name, is not considered obsolete. The filling of this hood fully meets modern standards. But its appearance evokes a slight nostalgia and fits perfectly into the eponymous style of the interior. To traditional models include corner wall hood. With a non-standard arrangement of the hob (with a bend in the corner), additional equipment is also installed. The corner hood not only looks original, but also allows you to significantly save space.
Embedded
The most modern model - built. Kitchen sets are usually pre-equipped with special niches for such a hood. All that remains for the owner, so it is to choose a model to taste and mount it. Build a hood is quite simple. Often they are installed "eternal" filters made of durable metal. They are not removed, and periodically cleaned. According to reviews, these models fit perfectly into the design, but may be slightly inferior in performance to their more cumbersome "relatives".
Chimney (dome) or island
Fireplace systems visually resemble the upper part of the hearth (dome), so they give the kitchen extra comfort. For this type, you must have a separate ventilation duct in the duct. Initially, in such units did not provide for the installation of filters.
Their efficiency depended on the performance of the fans. Although the model seems outdated at first glance, in the market it makes up worthy competition to the most modernized types of hoods, and is still kept in the top three. If the hob is not under the wall, you will have to buy an island-type hood. It will hang right above the stove and create the illusion of a piece of earth cut off from the mainland, hence the original name. It is now fashionable to have a cooking zone in the middle of the room, where it serves as a demarcation line between two “worlds” in the combined rooms.
Vertical (inclined)
This type of hood is popular with customers and is distinguished by its high price. The main disadvantage of the design - special care. Its filters are in sight, so you have to keep an eye on their cleanliness all the time so as not to spoil the aesthetic appearance of the kitchen with adhering particles of dirt. Only in modern models the filter grids on the exhaust surface are covered with special decorative panels. Sloping hoods look stylish and fit perfectly into the modernist design of the kitchen, but they are characterized by high-power work. This will inevitably lead to waste of energy.
Unusual solutions for different styles.
The hoods in the interior are often used by designers as an additional stylish accent for the kitchen. If you don’t experiment with the materials of the models, preferring glass, chrome-plated surfaces and natural wood, then the form opens up space for imagination. In the traditional design directions they resort to imitations of the first apparatuses, which had large dimensions, but looked “grandiose” in the kitchen. Modern styles allow liberties: absolutely flat hoods, triangular, spherical in shape, in the form of a chopped off cylinder or a volumetric ring with a filter mesh on a beveled “bottom”. Black, glossy surfaces can be combined with bright matte colors, and decorative panels that hide filters will look like catchy accents. In the same way as the furniture set, the hood has become the subject of the interior, an additional decoration stroke, which embody bold design ideas.
Conclusion
Hood is not a luxury, but a means of essentials. If you want to protect the kitchen from cooking by-products, then you need to purchase this unit first. Hoods installed in comfortable apartments, and in the old Khrushchev. The kitchen without this technology looks "lonely" and not well-groomed. The owners are unlikely to find time for constant general cleaning, and changing the wallpaper every few months. It is cheaper to buy a hood, albeit unpretentious. In the apartments, the owners of which do not save, on the setting, it will become an original interior detail.
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