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Choosing A Best Kitchen Chimney

A kitchen chimney is helpful to remove the smoke, grease and harmful fumes generated while cooking, especially Indian dishes. This ultimately helps in maintaining a clean kitchen. Apart from that, chimneys add a touch of elegance to kitchen interiors.

If you are wondering which kitchen chimney to purchase, then this guide helps you identify the right model for your requirements.

5 factors you need to know to make a perfect buying decision

This important factor is mostly overlooked while purchasing a kitchen chimney. Based on their design and style, they are categorized into different types that include curved glass, pyramid, straight glass, box type, angular and straight line. Below, we have mentioned a brief information for your reference.

Kitchen Chimney Design Types
Curved Glass
Comes with high suction power, making it the perfect for deep frying and grilling.
Comes with high suction power, making it the perfect for deep frying and grilling.
Pyramid
They contain in-built baffle filters which are well-known for decreasing power consumption.
Straight Glass
Generates less noise as it has separate indoor and outdoor units.
Suitable for both large and small kitchens.
Angular
It is specially designed for expelling smoke and grease, making it suitable for Indian cooking.
They have excellent suction power and high efficiency.
Box Type
It is dust resistant so you don’t have to clean it on a regular basis.
It enhances the visual appearance of the kitchen.
Straight Line
They fit perfectly into tight spaces, making it a perfect option for small kitchens.
Capable of flawless operation without being too visible.
Checkout a detailed buying guide here for buying a kitchen chimney in India here!

Factor 2. choosing the right suction power

The main aspect or principle on which a chimney works is – suction power. So, it is very important to consider this factor while making the purchase. A kitchen chimney with enough suction power ensures high performance whenever required.

Kitchen Chimney suction power
THUMB RULE – An ideal chimney is be capable of sucking out 10 times of air volume in the given space.

Most kitchens in India have a small area, with an average of 40 cubic meters. So, the average suction power for Indian kitchen is around 400 cubic meters per hour.

Remember that, the main aspect or principle on which a chimney works is – suction power. So, it is very important to consider this factor while making the purchase.

How to calculate required suction power
Total Kitchen area = l x b x h = 40 cubic meters (lxbxh)
suction power required = Area x 10 = 400 cubic meters per hour
Checkout a detailed buying guide here for buying a kitchen chimney in India here!

Factor 3. Choosing the right Filter Type

A filter is the main component of a kitchen chimney that purifies the air by filtering the oil particles, grime, dust and odor. There are 3 main types of filters based on the material used and construction.

Most Popular
Baffle Filter
Made with
Designed in the form of overlapping layers of aluminum mesh to control the air flow direction.
Used for
Using ‘cut and chop’ technology, it separates oil and spices from the smoke.
Cleaning
Has to be cleaned once every 2 to 3 months for optimal performance.
Charcoal Filter
Made with
Has multiple layers of aluminum mesh with tiny holes that can trap minute particles easily.
Used for
When smoke passes through it, oil and other particles get stuck in the mesh.
Cleaning
has to be cleaned once every 2 weeks to keep it functional.
Cassette Filter
Made with
Has multiple layers of charcoal granules. Usually come in combination with baffle or cassette filters.
Used for
When smoke passes through the filter, it effectively eliminates the kitchen odor.
Cleaning
Has to be replaced once every 3 to 6 months based on the cooking intensity.
Checkout a detailed buying guide here for buying a kitchen chimney in India here!

Factor 4. choosing the right chimney size

Kitchen chimneys come in different sizes and the best way to decide on the chimney size is to choose a chimney that is of exact or greater size than your stove or hob size so that it can suck up the smoke more efficiently. A kitchen chimney should never be smaller than the size of the stove or hob.

For example, a 3ft gas stove requires at least 3ft chimney. Anything less than that will not provide proper justice to your needs. Most of the chimneys in India come in two different types – 60cm and 90cms.

Important Tip While installation, make sure the distance between chimney and gas stove is between 65 – 75cms. If the distance is more than that, the effectiveness will be reduced.

chimney Width - 60 cm
Best For
For 2 to 4 burners
chimney Width - 90 cm
Best For
For 4 to 5 burners

5. Other Features to look for

1. choosing the right mount type for your kitchen

Installation type is also an important factor to consider while purchasing a kitchen chimney. Kitchen chimneys are available in different mounting types that include wall, island, built-in and corner. Based on your kitchen area and interior design, you can choose any one among them. A brief explanation on each type is provided below for your reference.

Wall Mounted
Installed against the wall and hangs above the stove.
Corner Mounted
Concealed behind or under cabinets to blend into the décor.
Designer Type
Installed against the wall over the stove along with the hob.
Island type
Fitted into the ceiling and hung exactly above the stove.
Built-in Integrated
Integrated inside the kitchen cabinet against the wall.

2. Choosing Ducting vs Ductless Chimneys

Ducting Chimney
The ducting or extracting chimneys work by sucking in the air from the kitchen & then passing it through filters and meshes that absorb the oils and grim from the air and releases the air outside through a pipe or PVC outlet. They can clean the air efficiently.
Filters
Mesh or baffle filters
Cost
Higher
Red
Maintenance
Easier
Green
Suction
High
Green
Efficiency
Higher
Green
Ductless Chimney
Ductless or reducing chimneys work using a motor and a fan or blower. The air absorbed by the chimney is passed through charcoal filters that absorb heat, odor and smoke. Then it is released back into the kitchen itself.
Filters
Charcoal filter is needed
Cost
Less
Yellow
Maintenance
Complex
Red
Suction
Less
Yellow
Efficiency
Lesser
Yellow

Bottom Line: To conclude, ducted systems are more efficient than ductless because it has come with a lot of settings and flexible options. For commercial kitchens its best to use ducted, whereas for residential purposes, you can prefer both.

3. Auto Clean

It is important to clear the clogs and oil deposits in the filter regularly to maintain their efficiency. This cleaning is made easy with an in-built program called auto-clean. Auto clean chimney collects all the oil in a specific compartment which can be taken out easily, cleaned and set back in. This function helps to decrease time and effort needed to manually clean the chimney.

4. Cleaning and Maintenance

Cleaning and maintenance of chimneys is the most important thing that everyone must do to improve the performance and to last longer. As the functionality of the chimney is to remove smoke and dust present in the kitchen, it needs regular cleaning to remove the accumulated dirt, oil deposits and other impurities. If you find difficulty in cleaning the chimneys, then simply grab the one that comprises detachable filters and auto-cleaning functionalities. It will automatically clean up the filters neatly and looks like a new one.

5. Manufacturer Reputation and Warranty

Last but not least factor to consider while purchasing a kitchen chimney is the brand’s reputation and warranty. Most of the people choose branded models as they provide exceptional performance and customer service. Along with that, they also ensure a good warranty period as well. Usually, 6 months to 2 years of warranty is provided on the kitchen chimneys. Though it may vary from brand to brand, you can get it repaired for free of cost within the specified time. So, when you make a purchase, always check for the models that come with the warranty services.

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