The installation of the hood in the kitchen is due to the norms of the arrangement of ventilation in the living room. If it is not possible to connect the device to the common-house system, a hood is mounted without exhaust into the ventilation (other names - recirculation, coal).
We will talk about the features and principle of operation of the exhaust device without duct. In the article we presented, technical specifications are described in detail, its pros and cons are analyzed. For those who wish to independently install exhaust equipment, an installation guide is provided.
Typical ventilation schemes in the kitchen
There are two main schemes for kitchen ventilation: natural and forced. In the first case, ventilation is carried out using holes in the walls and open air vents, on the one hand, and common house ventilation ducts on the other.
In the second case, the air is changed mechanically by installing volatile devices. The third, combined version is recognized as the most successful, in which a natural supply air circuit is simultaneously involved, according to which air spontaneously enters the room, and forced exhaust through kitchen hoods.
By the method of air purification, all hoods can be divided into 2 types - exhaust (retracting) and recirculating. The second are not connected with ventilation ducts through pipes and ducts; they function independently
There is a third type - combined devices that are equipped with dual filters and an air duct can work both with a connection to the ventilation shaft and independently.
Natural ventilation has the only advantage: to ensure a comfortable microclimate in the kitchen (as in other rooms), additional material investments are not required.
But it has low efficiency. When the cooking process takes place on an electric or gas stove, heavy odors quickly spread due to slow air exchange.
Devices for providing forced ventilation are much more productive, however, equipment is necessary for the implementation of the mechanical circuit, depending on the supply of electricity.
Exhaust hoods and recirculation appliances do an excellent job of cleaning polluted air and removing unpleasant odors, but they do not cover the area under the ceiling, where fumes and particles of grease also fall
Given these features, a combined circuit is used that combines the operation of exhaust devices and a natural ventilation system.
Typical schemes and options for ventilation in the kitchen will be introduced by an article that we recommend reading.
Types of hoods without venting to ventilation
If we compare two types of hoods - with a vent to the ventilation and without it - then the first category has more advantages. The main advantage is higher productivity, due to which air exchange is much faster.
Sometimes a number of technical aspects hinder the installation of an exhaust device with a ventilation duct, and you have to buy an exhaust hood for the kitchen without exhaust and connecting to the ventilation, that is, recirculation.
According to the installation method, two types of hoods are distinguished - installed separately and built-in. The built-in ones are good because they occupy a minimum of space, and the cabinet in which the work unit is masked is used additionally for its intended purpose - for storing kitchen utensils
Modern devices for air purification differ in the material of manufacture, design, and technical capabilities.
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What filters are made of
Varied range of hoods
Cooker hoods
Technical equipment of exhaust devices
The cost of devices depends on the technical "filling", the quality of coal and grease filter elements, design and level of manufacturer. But you should choose carefully: sometimes the models of promoted brands are no different from little-known manufacturers, but they cost 2-3 times more.
Principle of operation of recirculation models
Unlike hoods with exhaust for ventilation, coal models do not “pump” air from the room into the ventilation duct, but circulate it with purification during filtration.
Contaminated air from the working area is drawn into the device, passes first through a grease filter, then through a charcoal filter and is discharged out through openings located in the upper part of the housing
The main working elements of the exhaust system that provide recirculation are the engine and fan. There are options with 2 engines or with 1 engine, but 2 fans on the sides. They are located inside the housing, above the filters (for dome models) or between them (for built-in versions).
Performance depends on the power of the engine, which runs on a 220 volt network. This means that before installing the coal model, you must install a separate outlet for connection. Some people mistakenly think that in order to provide the necessary volume of fresh air, only exhaust hoods require fresh air ventilation.
In fact, recirculation models also need constant updating of the air flow, since air purification by filters does not make it fresher - it simply removes greasy fumes and tiny particles of dirt. Therefore, airing in the natural way also needs to be made daily.
Technical Overview
When buying a new hood or replacing an old one, you need to find out the features of specific models. Attention should be paid to both the design and the design, and most importantly, to the technical characteristics, on which the efficiency of the ventilation equipment depends.
Calculation of device performance
In order to correctly navigate with the choice of an effective device, you need to know the exact area of the room. Usually, both the productivity and the desired size of the kitchen are indicated in the technical passport of the product.
For example, Krona Camilla 600 has a capacity of 550 m³ / h (in the recirculation mode - 385 m³ / h), therefore it is recommended for room maintenance up to 11 m² (ceiling height 2.5-2.7 m).
If a less powerful installation is used for the same area, it simply will not cope with the task, and a more powerful hood will waste energy
To calculate the performance yourself, it is necessary to multiply the volume of the room by the number of recirculation cycles and take into account the error coefficient. For the kitchen, the minimum number of recirculation cycles is 12, KP - 1.3. Therefore, to find out the necessary performance, we consider:
11 x 2.5 x 12 x 1.3 = 429 m³ / h
It can be concluded that when using the Crohn Camille 600 hood for sufficient air exchange on an area of 11 m², it is better to use the mode with exhaust to ventilation, and use recirculation only as an additional function.
An error coefficient of 1.3 is usually used when calculating the performance of exhaust hoods with a tap, for recirculation models it is slightly larger - 1.7.
Is the noise level important?
The second important parameter that you need to pay attention to is the noise level. If the owners of the apartment or house spend a lot of time in the kitchen, it is desirable that it be minimal. Also, this moment is relevant for those who live in studios where the living room is combined with the kitchen.
Strong and sharp noises negatively affect the well-being of a person, therefore, increased demands are placed on household appliances equipped with fans and motors
Modern devices work quite quietly, as they are equipped with special acoustic noise protection. In coal hoods, sounds can be made by a fan, motor, and air moving inside the structure.
For devices with a vent to the ventilation, noise often appears due to improperly connected exhaust ducts.
If you want the atmosphere during and after cooking in the kitchen to be comfortable, give preference to models with a noise level of 50-55 dB. The quietest devices work in the range of 35-42 dB
The high cost of the model is not an indication that the hood will work quietly. On the contrary, expensive equipment is more productive than cheaper, so often it is devices with a high price tag that create a lot of background sounds - more than 60 dB. Suppose the Neff D55ML66N0 (36 thousand rubles) has a noise level of 72 dB, and the Elica Hidden HT (51.5 thousand rubles) has 62 dB.
Convenient operation and adjustment
You have to use the hood every day, so it is advisable to purchase a model with affordable, understandable and convenient control. All control options can be divided into two large categories: manual and remote.
Manual (or mechanical) has varieties:
- slider (less common);
- push-button (the most common type);
Expensive models are equipped with electronic control devices with touch contact panels for transmitting commands.
Models of the middle price segment are traditionally designed: on the front panel there are a number of buttons with which you can set the desired mode (bypass or recirculation), change the speed, and turn on the backlight.
Modern programmable hoods have a number of useful additional functions of deferred action. For example, the interval ventilation mode will continue to clean the air even without your presence at certain intervals
For models with D / C, almost all adjustments are made from the remote control, but the front panel also has buttons or a touch screen to select the operating mode. The more convenient the operation method, the more expensive the equipment.
Important functions and options
In addition to the main technical characteristics, there are a number of properties that can become very useful during operation. But if additional functions are not needed, you can save a lot on your purchase, since electronic filling, various modes, and programming increase the cost several times.
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Several LED or halogen lamps located on the bottom panel provide effective illumination of the hob. They compensate for the deficit of overhead light that arises from hanging cabinets.
The lion's share of all hoods are universal devices that can work in both modes. If for some reason there are problems with the removal of polluted air into the ventilation, use the offline mode with filtering
If the appliance works all the time at the same speed, the cleaning intensity will always be the same - both when brewing coffee and when frying meat. The presence of several speeds is relevant for those who often cook a lot and variably
Carbon filters for fine air purification are replaceable consumables. Thanks to the indicator of pollution it is possible to see when it is necessary to replace cartridges or laying. Indicators are usually equipped with expensive models.
Lighting - work area lighting
Operating modes - discharge and recirculation
Number of working drawing speeds
Existence of the filter pollution indicator
The competition of exhaust devices in the household appliance market is great, so manufacturers compete in inventing new features. For example, in some models it is possible to adjust not only the intensity of air intake, but also the degree of illumination of the space, as well as adjust the change of speeds in automatic mode.
Guidelines for choosing a hood without communication with ventilation are presented in the article, the contents of which we advise you to read.
Read more about exhaust filters
Devices that operate without exhaust into the ventilation shaft are called coal because of the presence of carbon filters, which purify the air from specific kitchen odors. Most often, these are plastic cassettes with various shapes and filled with activated carbon.
Sometimes additional pieces of synthetic material are also used, also impregnated with activated carbon.
Round carbon cassettes filled with granules or powder are usually sold and used in pairs. The plastic from which they are made does not change properties when heated and is safe for health
In addition to a charcoal filter, there is an anti-grease. For embedded models, it is located on the bottom panel and is a metal grid or grid.
Of course, you can’t catch the smells of the net, but he copes with the particles of dissolved fat that rise with the steam. In this regard, it is recommended to wash the anti-grease filter about once every 30-40 days with non-abrasive products.
In contrast to the carbon filter, which is placed in the hood with the engine and fans, the metal grill is visible and is part of the design of the models
When buying replacement products, please note that there are original and non-original (universal) filters on sale. The second group is suitable for many models and at a cost lower than parts manufactured by the manufacturer.
Carbon filters, as a rule, last for 3-4 months of active use, but the exact data are indicated in the instructions.
Installation rules for the recirculation model
Before installing the hood in the kitchen, it is necessary to take the dimensions, and for the built-in model, prepare a cabinet above the stove. If the equipment is mounted on a ceiling or wall, check the strength of the base.
Typically, household appliances are equipped with brackets and holders for installation. For example, for an island type FALMEC LUMIERE hood, a set of fasteners is provided: a ceiling platform and a set of metal cables
The hood is installed strictly according to the instructions, since the functionality largely depends on the quality and installation conditions.
In order not to encounter problems associated with improper installation in the future, you must follow the rules:
- Maintain the distance between the bottom of the hood and the stove. There are clearly defined norms: to a gas stove - 0.75 m, to an electric - 0.65 m. But in the instructions you can come across other figures - 0.6 m and 0.5 m, respectively.
- Prepare a place in advance of the required size. The standard dimensions of built-in appliances are 50 and 60 cm (similar to a stove), but you can find fireplace and island modifications of 80 cm, 90 cm or more.
- Provide (if necessary) free space at the outlet of purified air.
- Install a separate power point with ground. Check that the parameters of the extraction voltage and the mains are the same.
The nuances of installation depend entirely on the type of model. For example, consider the installation procedure of the built-in recirculation hood.
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We remove the cabinet intended for the installation of the integrated hood from the wall and partially disassemble it - we separate the lower wall on which the equipment will be fixed
You will need a screwdriver, a jigsaw, a drill with drills (5 mm and 10 mm), a screwdriver and a marking kit: level, tape measure, compass, pencil
One of the conditions for the normal functioning of the device is an even horizontal installation, therefore, if the cabinet is initially fixed with deviations, they must be eliminated
To simplify installation, the manufacturer completes the model with an installation template, on which there are designated places for drilling and cutting holes. We fix the template on the shelf, mark the necessary points
With a drill, we drill 4 holes for attaching the hood to the shelf, and in the top panel of the cabinet with a jigsaw we cut the hole for the duct using the same pattern (since the model is universal)
For small cabinets, it is more convenient to first fix the shelf to the hood, and then insert the complete assembly into the cabinet. We take the mounting kit and fix the shelf for 4 screws
We insert the lower shelf with the hood fixed on it into the cabinet and fix it with screws. Check the strength of the mounts
The assembled structure - a cabinet with an extractor hood - is hung on the wall. We check once again the horizontal installation and the reliability of wall mounts
Step 1 - dismantling the hanging cabinet
Step 2 - preparing tools for work
Step 3 - checking the horizontal position of the cabinet
Step 4 - Preparing the Installation Template
Step 5 - shelf holes
Step 6 - fixing the shelf to the hood
Step 7 - Mounting the hood in a cabinet
Step 8 - installing the cabinet on the wall
Lastly, insert metal filters. We check the operation of the device by connecting it to the power supply. The installation process for a built-in type of hood is described in detail here. The useful information presented in the article deserves close attention.
To enable the simplest slider model, you just need to manually slide the filter panel onto yourself. If necessary, we connect an air duct to transport contaminated air to the ventilation duct.
Often, manufacturers and companies that sell goods post reviews and installation instructions on the network so that fewer questions arise, and it is more convenient for users to operate purchased equipment.
Video # 1. Installation instructions for recirculation Siemens models:
Video # 2. General information on hoods:
Video # 3. Comparative review of embedded models and "peaks":
Video # 4. What to look for when choosing:
Household hoods without a duct are an excellent option for providing ventilation in the kitchen if the ventilation duct is not functioning properly or there is simply no way to connect to it.
When choosing equipment, be sure to study the technical specifications, and during the installation process, follow the manufacturer's recommendations. A hood installed in accordance with all the rules will provide a pleasant and comfortable atmosphere in the apartment.
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