The chimney is important for comfortable cooking, especially if the kitchen is in a covered square foot area. There are a few important points that need to be considered while buying a chimney for the kitchen.
- Kitchen size– Chimney is designed to absorb smoke from the kitchen and make it clean and smoke-free. Take a look at the kitchen area, ventilation, and eating habits before considering buying the chimney. It is important to understand why you require the chimney in your kitchen.
- Filter type – Filters in the chimney is used to handle the air and is majorly classified into three categories:
- Cassette filter: Cassette filter is made up of multiple layers of aluminum mesh that have tiny holes that trap particles and helps in purifying the air. Oil and other particles cling to the mesh when the air passes through it. Cassette filter should be cleaned with a detergent every two weeks or it would tend to get clogged.
- Baffle filter: Baffle filter are best suited for where there are increased use of oil and spices while cooking; such as Indian kitchen. It uses overlapping layers of steel or aluminum to change the direction of airflow to separate grease and spice particles in the air. The suction power is not affected by the oil collection in the first layer. Baffle filters would need regular cleaning for the best performance.
- Carbon/Charcoal filter: Charcoal filter features the layer with charcoal granules which helps in removing the odor and hence is used together with a baffle or cassette filter. The charcoal filter needs to be replaced regularly depending on the intensity of the cooking done.
- Chimney type –There are four common types of chimneys –
- Wall-mounted chimney
- Island chimney
- Built-in chimney
- Corner chimney
- Choose the right type of chimney depending on the structure and internal construction kitchen.
- Chimney size – Considering the size of the chimney is also important while buying one. The size of the chimney should be exact or greater than the stove size, but the kitchen chimney should never be smaller than the size of the stove.
- Auto-clean or the normal – Auto clean chimneys are good for oil collectors and are easier to clean as well as durable when compared to normal chimneys.
- Design and cost – Ensure that the chimney design matches the overall appearance of the kitchen and is perfect functionally. Conventional chimneys are available as a straight-line model and are made with stainless steel. The contemporary kitchen chimneys redefine the style and enhance the beauty of the space, but are costly.
- Air suction capacity – Air suction capacity is the ability of the chimney to absorb smoke, oil, and the odor in the kitchen which is measured in cubic meter per hour. Choose the chimney based on the space in the kitchen. A chimney should be able to recycle the air effectively. Chimney with a wide hose is more efficient at extracting the air quickly.
- Other features of the chimneys are –
- Soft-touch Push Buttons –that provides an elegant look and makes it convenient to use.
LED Light – helps in greater visibility while cooking.
- Auto-heat Sensor – Helps to detect heat and oil particles and automatically switches on or off.
- Indicator/buzzer – Helps in indicating the time to clean or replace the filters through the indicator lights or buzzers.
Soundproof Kits – Helps to ensure that there is minimal noise from the chimney while it functions.