Built-in hood: selection rules, advantages and disadvantages

Many people seriously underestimate the role of ventilation in the kitchen, considering it not paramount to purchase and install. They are deeply mistaken, since a good exhaust hood can significantly extend the life of the furniture facade, equipment and walls. For small apartments, where every square meter is expensive, a built-in hood was created. In this article we will talk about the features, positive and negative sides of this compact device, show photos and options for how to integrate it into a hanging cabinet.

Advantages and disadvantages

Benefits:

1. Appearance. Some models, which we will discuss in detail below, have a mechanical retractable design. Being in the retracted position, the hood is completely invisible to prying eyes, so it does not spoil the overall interior of the room.
2. Space saving. Like any built-in kitchen appliances, this one is small and takes up a minimum of free space. The ideal solution for a little Khrushchev in Moscow was found.
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3. Power consumption and volume. Due to its small dimensions, the built-in hood does not consume a large amount of electricity. For the same reason, it is less noisy than conventional models.

Disadvantages:

1. Power. Again, this minus stems from the compact size of the device. The smaller it is, the less productive the hood will be.
2. Range. On the home appliance market, there is not too much choice of built-in kitchen ventilation. Much more, for example, proposed various variations of the dome shape.
3. Price. Choosing any built-in household appliances, it is worthwhile to understand that all of it will be an order of magnitude more expensive than ordinary, self-located models. Hoods in this case are no exception. Such a high price makes the complexity of the assembly and installation.

The main parameters

Now on the home appliance market there are many models from various manufacturers. So that you do not get confused in this variety of shapes and colors, we have prepared a list of certain parameters. It is he who should be guided when choosing a built-in hood.

Covered Area

This indicator is most often indicated by the manufacturer in the description of the product, so you do not have to measure and calculate something yourself. It denotes the volume of air that the hood is able to clean for a certain period of time. Measurement numbers directly depend on the power of the device.

It is preferable to choose the hood that can make the air in the room fresh and clean in no more than 5-10 minutes. If we talk about square meters, then make a choice in favor of a model whose covered area is about 15-20% more than the area of ​​your kitchen.

Hood width

The width of the built-in hood is one of the most important characteristics. Firstly, any ventilation system (not only integrated) should be wider than the hob under it. Otherwise, smoke, steam, unpleasant odors, grease particles and water droplets will settle on the walls of the furniture facade or on the ceiling, soaking up and forming an unpleasant dirty coating.

Secondly, a fully integrated cooker hood must be carefully measured in size. If even one side differs from the declared indicators by at least half a centimeter, it will not be possible to place ventilation in the cabinet. Therefore, you should carefully, several times double-check all the numbers, carefully monitoring the work of the designer and builders.

Power adjustment

This function will be useful in any kitchen, as everyone cooks different dishes. During intensive culinary work, when oil sprinkles and grates in all directions, food is plentiful exudes strong odors, boiling water boils over, you will need the most powerful cleaning mode air. And vice versa, switching on at full power is not useful to you, for example, to boil eggs or to heat an already prepared dish.

Power control, controlling the pulling force, is the most necessary function, which additionally helps to save energy and reduce the level of uniform mechanical noise.

Backlight

Once this option was new to people, only the most expensive models were equipped with additional light sources. Now you will not surprise anyone with this luxury - in each hood there is a built-in backlight. From manufacturer to manufacturer, only the number and arrangement of bulbs, as well as the brightness of the lighting, change.

You can check the brightness level in a hardware store, turning the backlight on and off, comparing different models with each other. Helpful counselors should help you make the choice.

When choosing a model for this criterion, remember how well the work area in your kitchen is lit. It is not necessary to buy a hood with a backlight, which is comparable in power and strength to a projector.

Noise level

Buyers do not always pay attention to this item when choosing, but in the end, it often turns out to be crucial. Nobody wants to experience constant pressure on their own eardrums, and too loud the noise of technology is sometimes very annoying.

The noise level of the hood directly depends on the power indicator. That is, the more powerful the ventilation, the more loud sounds will accompany its work. Choose models whose noise level does not exceed 55 decibels.

Type of air purification

It is divided into two types:

1. Air vent. This traditional method involves sucking in air and sending it to the ventilation system through a special outlet provided in the kitchen. This type of cleaning is classic and budget.
2. Air recirculation. In this case, air passes through a complex filtration system, and then is again released into the room, but already cleaned. This type of cleaning costs more than the aforementioned both at the purchase stage and during operation. The thing is the filters, which from time to time need to be replaced with new ones.

Other features

There are also various secondary options that are a nice addition to the main functionality of the device:

• a removable front panel allows you to hide the hood in the cabinet from prying eyes, make it built-in;
• different cleaning filters that can be selected for a recirculation type hood;
• automation - in expensive models, entire systems are provided that can make life easier for a person in small things (automatic detection of the mode, inclusion of lighting at your approach, the beginning of work after the appearance of signs boiling liquid).

Installation Features

Installation of a built-in hood has some important features, compliance with which will ensure a long service life of the mechanism.

First of all, it is necessary to correctly calculate the height above the hob, on which the cabinet will be located. The optimum height is just above the main level of the pendant headset. Then the most important thing begins. The main difference between the built-in hood is that the device is not attached to the wall, as usual, but to the inside of the cabinet. A special hidden cavity inside securely fixes the device, preventing it from falling. In this way, both hoods with an exhaust system and recirculation hoods are connected.

Do not forget to hide the air outlet with a special casing so that the ventilation pipes do not remain in sight. That's all, the work is completed, enjoy your use!