All you need to Before buying Kitchen Chimney

A kitchen chimney is an electronic appliance used to remove the smoke from the kitchen produced when cooking food. Chimneys are a very important appliance from a health point of view. They eliminate the smoke and trap the particles like oil droplets released in the air while cooking. The chimneys not only remove the smoke but also enhances the look of the kitchen by making it more tidy and fresh. As the smoke and oil droplets are trapped, it automatically reduces the odors and greasy deposits on the surface of the kitchen.

Types of Kitchen Chimney

Kitchen chimneys are classified into various categories depending on these factors:-

1. Installation Type

2. Ducting type

3. Filter type

On the basis of Installation Type

Based on the way, the kitchen chimney is installed, there are 4 types of chimneys.

1.Wall Mounted Chimney

Wall-mounted kitchen chimneys are the best chimney for any kitchen. They are electronic device that is mounted against the wall on top of the cooking areas. They come in a large variety of shapes to fit the limited space in your kitchen. They are highly affordable as compared to the other chimneys.

Features

• Provides a modern stylish look to your kitchen
• Available in a large variety of shapes
• Suitable for all types of kitchen
• Highly affordable
• Can be installed only on the wall

2. Built-in Chimney

The next type of chimney based on the installation is the built-in chimney. They are installed inside your kitchen’s cabinet between the wood furniture to take up less space and are supported by the wall. They are available in different sizes to fit the space available in your kitchen. It sucks up the smoke and offers clean air inside the kitchen.

Features

• Easily fit in your kitchen cabinet
• Available in various sizes
• Suitable for both large and small gas stoves
• Affordable maintenance
• Comparatively more expensive than a wall-mounted chimney.

3. Island/ Ceiling Mounted Chimney

Island/ ceiling chimneys are one of the most popular types of chimneys suitable for your kitchen. They are used in the kitchen having the cooking platforms situated at the center. Such chimneys are installed directly from the ceiling, hanging just above the cooking counter. They are very attractive and give modern look to your kitchen.

Features

• Sleek and stylish in design
• Comparatively higher suction power
• Available in various sizes and styles
• Suitable for up to 6 burner gas stove
• Expensive than other chimneys

4. Corner Chimney

Corner Chimneys are usually installed at the corner of the kitchen against the wall. They must be placed just above the cooking platform for better results. It is recommended to have your cooking counter in the corner of the kitchen to make it suitable for the corner chimneys.

Features

• High suction power
• Low and easy cleaning and maintenance
• Various design options
• Suitable for all kitchens
• Highly affordable

On the basis of Ducting Type

1. Ducted Chimney

They are the ones with a duct similar to a pipe with a fan inside to exhaust smoke, odor, and extra heat from the kitchen. They are ideal for Indian and Nepali-style kitchens. The duct is connected to the outlet which transports the kitchen-borne particles outside the house.

Features

• Helps to maintain a good kitchen atmosphere
• Low maintenance and easy operation
• Good performance
• Space consuming
• Installation Process

2. Ductless Chimney

Ductless chimneys are the ones that function by recirculating the air through their filters. Due to the absence of an external outlet they can not exhaust the hot smoke and air from the kitchen. However, the key function of a ductless chimney is to improve the air quality inside the kitchen. First of all, the hot smoky air is captured, and then the refined air is released back after filtration.

Features

• Comparatively easy to install
• Affordable
• Gives sleek look
• Purifies air inside the kitchen
• Produces noise
• Doesn’t remove the heat

On the basis of the type of Filters used in the Chimney

Filters are the most basic component of any chimney. A filter is a friend in disguise that keeps our environment safe and healthy. Today, there are a large number of filters available in the market that are capable of trapping greasy, oily, and other pollutants with very high efficiency.

1. Mesh/ cassette Filter

They are the basic type of filters used in the chimneys as the primary lower of protection. They are made from aluminum wires with opening hole sizes less than half a millimeter. The wires are wounded tightly enough to hold the filter structure against the suction power of the exhaust fan. Additionally, multiple layers of filters are piled together to improve efficiency.

Features

• Lightweight due to the aluminum metal.
• Easy to clean
• Lower in price
• Pores may be blocked by the greasy and oily materials
• Needs timely maintenance.

2. Baffle Filter

Simply, they are 30% more efficient than the mesh filter. They are used as the primary filtering layer in most chimneys due to their fantastic structure and enhanced designs. You will find several panels placed together at a very minimal distance in these to trap the greasy and oil materials from the air. Mostly, they are made of stainless steel but you may find aluminum in some cases.

Features

• Easy to clean
• More durable due to the stainless steel
• Allows air to pass more freely
• Expensive than the mesh filter
• Heavier than the mesh filter

3. Carbon or charcoal filter

Carbon filters use charcoal as the filtering medium. Charcoals are a wonderful absorbing agent. They adhere to all the greasy, oily, and all other suspended harmful particles from the smoky hot air inside your kitchen. They are used as the additional filter air along with the mask or the baffle filter to improve the filtration process.

Features

• Provide up to 99% pure air
• Very high efficiency
• Acts as an additional filter layer
• Can’t be cleaned, only replaced
• Quite expensive

4. Filterless Chimneys

They are the first chimneys without actual filters. This makes the maintenance level of these filters very close to zero. Well, how do they work without filters? They simply work by using motor power which is powerful enough to remove all the unnecessary particles from the air.

Features

• No more frequent cleanings
• Least Maintenance cost
• Eco-friendly and less noise production
• More expensive than the other filtered chimney

What To Look For In A Kitchen Chimney?

When buying a brand new chimney, there are several essential functional features you should never overlook.

1. Suction Power

The suction power of the chimney is determined by its ability to suck up oil particles, fumes, and odors. If you're cooking involves lots of oil, frying, or spices, you need a chimney with higher suction power. Filterless chimneys directly use the motor for suction.

2. Speed and noise

The speed of chimneys is quite controllable. Although you may get only a few speed options with entry-level chimneys, advanced chimneys have multiple speed options. This speed determines the speed at which the kitchen is ventilated. With the speed comes the noise. The more speed you want, the more noise will be produced. Keeping this in mind, modern chimneys have the silent kit installed inside them.

3. Maintenance

When picking a chimney, you should always look for the one with low maintenance. Different chimneys have different maintenance needs. For instance, a ducting and ductless chimney requires a different level of maintenance. You should also look for other important factors. The chimneys with sealed motors decrease the maintenance whereas the fixed oil/grease collector increases the maintenance.

4. Aesthetics

While the design may not be your primary concern but a sleek-looking chimney increases the beauty of any kitchen. There are different color options, designs, and color options available in the chimneys. Some companies even offer customizable options to match the color and design of your kitchen.

5. Pricing and Warranty

The price of the chimneys may vary depending on the model you choose. While the entry-level models are cheaper, the price may go well up with the advanced latest chimneys. In the case of a warranty, most companies offer a 1-year warranty. Some companies may offer more, depending on the model you are buying. However, if there are 2 chimneys available within the same price range always pick the one with better after-buy services.

Benefits of Kitchen Chimney

Having a chimney in the kitchen has great advantages. Let’s understand these benefits in the following points.

1. Removes extra heat

Cooking produces lots of heat in the kitchen. And, most modern houses have very less ventilation which makes it difficult for the heat to escape the kitchen. The increased temperature makes our time difficult in the kitchen. With the proper chimney, the heat will be exhausted making your kitchen calmer to stay.

2. Keeps the kitchen clean

Cooking involves the use of oil, butter, and other sorts of greasy materials. Due to the evaporation, they are released into the air along with the smoke and soot. Without the proper escape root, they are trapped inside the walls and ceilings of your kitchen. Eventually, they will adhere to the walls and ceiling which makes your kitchen dirty. With the help of a chimney, they can easily escape the kitchen leaving your kitchen clean and tidy.

3. Makes your kitchen beautiful

Chimneys are not just helpful, they also make your kitchen look more aesthetic and beautiful. They give a sleek and designer look to your kitchen.

FAQS

1. Which type of chimney is better for my kitchen?

Answer:- There are different types of chimneys available in the market. The one that fits your kitchen depends on these factors:-

• Size of your kitchen
• Frequency of heavy cooking
• Cooking habits

In case of confusion, you can visit our post on the chimneys which has details on all the aspects of the chimneys.

2. How often should I clean the chimney?

Answer:- Well, that depends on the types of chimney you have. With auto-cleaning chimneys, you don’t need to clean them manually. Ducting chimneys require more frequent cleaning than ductless chimneys. Ideally, you should clean the filter once every 3 months.

3. When should I use the chimney?

Answer:- Ideally, your chimney should be on all the time you are cooking. This will enable your chimney to completely extract the smoke, dust, and oil particles from the air.

4. How much suction power do I need?

Answer:- One of the key factors to consider while buying a chimney is the suction power. The measurement unit of suction power is m³/hr. The suction power usually ranges from 700 m³/hr to 1850 m³/hr. Well, the choice of the suction power depends on the size of your kitchen. For a small kitchen, the ideal suction power ranges from 700 m³/hr to 1000 m³/hr.

5. Is it important to have a chimney in my kitchen?

Answer:- Yes, it is important to have a chimney in the kitchen. It keeps your kitchen healthy and clean.

6. Can the chimney reduce the heat inside my kitchen?

Answer:- Yes, the chimney reduces the excessive heat from the kitchen. They trap the heat along with the oily and greasy materials from the air.

7. Can I keep my kitchen chimneys near the window?

Answer:- Yes, you can install your kitchen chimneys near the window. This will give you more access to natural light during the cooking.

8. Which one is better? Chimneys or Exhaust Fans.

Answer:- Well, chimneys are far better than exhaust fans. While the exhaust fans only remove the smoke that too not very efficient, kitchen chimneys remove the heat, smoke, and odor from your kitchen. However, you must note that the chimneys are far more expensive than the exhaust fans.