Cooker hoods: Do I Need A Ducted Or Recirculating Hood?
There are wide variety of hoods on the market from the world’s best appliance manufacturers. But how do you know whether you need to go for a ducted or recirculating hood, and what exactly is the difference?
What is The Difference Between Extraction/Ducted and Recirculation?
Extraction is when the stale air is extracted out of the room through ducting in an outside wall to the air outside.
Extraction through ducting is an efficient way of removing steam and odours with high end hoods from manufacturers like Neff, Rangemaster and Elica being powerful enough to provide excellent recirculation which will keep your kitchen steam and odour free whilst you cook.
To find out what minimum extraction rate you need measure the length, width and height of your kitchen:(length x width x height) x 10 = Extraction Rate
For example:
A kitchen 4m long, 3m wide and 2.5m high would have this extraction rate: (4 x 3 x 2.5) x 10
(30) x 10 =300m³/h = the minimum extraction rate you need to look for.
Recirculation is used when it is not possible to duct out through an outside wall. The air is sucked into the hood, filtered, purified and pumped back into the room.
On average, the filters will need replacing every 4 to 6 months for maximum efficiency depending largely on the amount of cooking and the type of cooking that you do. If you often fry food at high temperatures, such as steak, then it’s likely that you’d need to replace your filters earlier than if you only use your hob to boil vegetables.
2) Down Draft, Ceiling or island extractors – Which is best?
There are three main types of extractor fans you can use if your hob is on an island: Downdraft extractors, Ceiling hood extractors, Island extractors.
All three cooker hood types serve the same purpose to keep your kitchen well ventilated from moisture, smoke and smells. However, aesthetically and functionally they are all very different.
Downdraft Extractors
A downdraft extractor fan gives you a clear minimalist space. They’re usually installed underneath your countertop, and will either sit flush with the hob as you see in the image of a BORA X Pure hob, or will rise up directly next to or at the back of your hob when in use, returning to flush when finished.
Typically, downdrafts are recirculated although they can be vented to the outside. To vent a downdraft extractor to the outside you will have to go down through the floor if your island/breakfast bar isn’t adjacent to a wall. Within the unit, you will also find charcoal filters which help remove grease, smoke and smells if you are recirculating and for most brands these can be removed and out in the dishwasher for easy cleaning
When compared to other extractors such as kitchen island extractor fans and flush ceiling extractor hoods, downdrafts are much quieter. Your average extractor fan has a sound level similar to that of a vacuum cleaner. At its highest level a downdraft extractor fan’s sound level is equivalent to the sound of cooking meat in a frying pan.
Ceiling Extractors
Ceiling extractor fans such as the Lullaby Elica extractor in the image can be more or less invisible as they are designed to blend into the ceiling and surrounding area. It is very powerful and perfect if you have a large gas hob or do more intense cooking. As they are flush to the ceiling they are usually remote controlled. You can also find many sleek and stylish designs that protrude out from the ceiling if you want it to be an attractive feature without being too eye-catching or offensive.
A ceiling extractor hood is in prime position to be vented effectively without the use of additional “filler” material. The vent will feed through the ceiling cavity and directly into the extractor fan, making them a much simpler option to your standard cooker hood. They can be used over an island or over a hob that sits against a wall.
Although a ceiling extractor is powerful, the power means more noise than a downdraft hood.
Ceiling hoods will often house a number of spotlights, illuminating your workspace more effectively than other extractor hoods.
Island Extractors
Designer island extractor hoods like the eye-catching Novy Phantom image seen here are great to look at if you want an eye-catching ventilation system that sits comfortably within the design and style of your kitchen.
Island extractors are hung from the ceiling and can either be vented through the ceiling to the nearest external wall or can be recirculated by using charcoal filters so you must ensure that you have enough space between the ceiling and your hob.
Premiere Klasse have years of experience installing the perfect extractor for the right environment and building construction. Please get in touch with the team to learn more about the right solution for your home.
