A cooker hood will help in providing the ideal cooking environment but there are several factors to consider when choosing a hood.
This guide will provide useful information about cooker hoods, so you can make a confident decision when purchasing.
COOKER HOOD TYPES
Built-in
Built-in cooker hoods are designed to be small, compact and are ideal for smaller kitchens. Typically built-in behind a kitchen wall cabinet so they can be tucked away when not use. They are usually not ideal for bigger kitchen due to their small design and slow extraction rates.
Canopy
Canopy hoods are ideal for smaller kitchens and for those who don’t want a cooker that’s going to conflict with the design theme of the kitchen. These are a positioned directly under your kitchen cabinet, similar to built-ins they blend seamlessly into the rest of the kitchen.
Chimney
Chimney cooker hoods are designed to be wall mounted and provides that classic traditional look. They come various sizes so you can get the perfect fit to match your kitchen décor. As a rule of thumb, always make sure that the hood is the same size or larger than your hob or larger than your hob.
Visor
Visor Cooker is the ideal option for those kitchens where space is very limited. Not only they’re one of the cheaper types of cooking hoods, they will also easily fit at a right angle on your kitchen for a discreet and orderly finish.
Island
Island cooker hoods are for those who have their hob fitted on a kitchen island. They type of cooker hoods are usually made premium due to their position in the kitchen standing out. They are usually designed to be quite large so that they can take care of big open-plan kitchens.
Downdraft
Downdraft extractor hoods are one of the more expensive types of cooker hoods due to their minimalistic design. These hoods are made to be hidden beneath your worktop when not in use and rise at the touch of a button.
Ceiling
If you want to preserve space in your kitchen then Ceiling Hoods are for you. Ceiling hoods come in various sizes are installed to be flush with your ceiling so you can achieve a minimalistic look at an affordable price.
HOW TO MEASURE
Now that you know all the types of cooker hoods to choose from, it is important that purchase the correct size that fits your kitchen hob layout. It is recommended that you match the size of your hood with the size of your hob.
To make sure that your cooker fits, you’ll need to measure from the top of your cooker or worktop upwards to the bottom of the cabinet or ceiling to make sure your cooker hood will fit. It is critical that you take into consideration the hot zone, which is 75cm. Lastly, it is important to make sure you pick a cooker hood with an extraction rate that will match the size of your kitchen.
VENTING TYPES
One of the key features to look for when purchasing a cooker is the type of venting you want with your cooker hood. This will depend on your current installation, if you’ve never had a cooker hood before you can choose what you prefer.
External
External or vented hoods, extract smoke and grease from the kitchen via pipe which leads outside. This is the most long lasting and efficient option and is usually altogether less noisy.
Recirculate
Recirculation hood simply filters usually filters the air through a charcoal or carbon filter and there’s no external vent needed. However, these filters will only partially remove odours for a short time and will need to be cleaned or replaced.
KEY FEATURES
Extraction Rate
This is the speed at which the cooker hood can extract air. Most hoods are designed to have at least three set of speeds that range from a slow extraction to an intense speed to keep up with stubborn odours.
Noise
Cooker hoods will no doubt make noise so look out for the decibel rating as some are louder than others. To help you out, the decibel level of normal speech is between 60-65 dB so you can keep the conversations going when the cooker hood is in operation.
Lighting
Most hoods are made with an LED light that will help brighten up your cooking space so you can easily keep on track of your dishes. There are usually two or more lights and that more energy efficient and can last 10 times longer than halogen bulbs.
Power Boost
If you’re always cooking up a storm and need an extra bit extraction power, look for cooker hoods with a power boost feature. This will add a more powerful extraction power for a few minutes, during which it extracts up to an extra 100 m3 of air.
Auto timer
Some dishes provide stubborn lingering odours that take extra time to air out. This is where cooker hoods with an auto timer comes in handy by letting you set how long you want your hood to stay on for so you can get on with your day.
FAQs
Cooker hoods are constantly changing in size and features and with a wide a variety of types to choose from it can get very confusing and you might have some questions. Here are just a few of the most common questions you have answered.
What extraction rate do I need for the size of my kitchen?
For an ideal extraction rate simply look at the width of your hob and cooker first. Then measure your kitchen and multiply it by 10 to get your perfect extraction rate. It’s perfectly fine to get a cooker hood less than your calculation, this just means it’ll take a little longer to clear the room.
What if I have a range cooker - what size hood do I need?
Whatever cooker you have the cooker hood you choose should always be the same width as your hob or cooker. Any smaller will provide inefficient performance and might look off in terms of kitchen design.
Is recirculation more beneficial than extraction?
There’s no big advantage of recirculation, it’s just as good as if you vent out. Recirculation is just an option if you’re not able to duct outside.
Which grease filter do I need?
Whether you’re extracting or recirculating air, both need a grease filter. A carbon filter is only needed when your cooker hood is designed to recirculate air as this will remove any smoke and odour.
How often should I clean my grease filter?
If you’re a regular cook, you should aim to clean the grease filter once a month. The more grease you generate the more often you’ll need to maintain cleaning them.
How do I clean my cooker hood?
If your cooker hood surface is greasy you can use a clean cloth, warm water and washing up liquid. Don’t use solvents or aggressive cleaners as you could damage the finish on your hood.
