Air cleaner for the kitchen: the principle of operation, unlike conventional hoods, types, installation

The kitchen is a room in a house with an aggressive environment, where it is necessary to ensure good air purification, because it contains unpleasant odors and harmful gas decay products emitted during cooking. The air purifier for the kitchen copes with this task perfectly. What kind of device is it, how it is selected and mounted, you can find out further.

The principle of operation and the difference from the classic hood

Conventionally, kitchen cleaners can be divided into 2 types - hoods and air cleaners. The meaning of their work is the same - the purification of polluted air masses, but the principle of operation is different.

The air purifier assumes the following operation scheme:

• Clogged air is sucked in by the device through a fan.
• In the exhaust pipe, the air is cleaned by passing through the filter elements.

• The cleaned air mass returns to the kitchen.

Classic flow hoods work in this order:

1. Contaminated air is drawn into the purifier.
2. Directly discharged into the ventilation shaft.
3. It is released into the environment without returning to the room.

In fact, it can be said that conventional hoods completely remove contaminated air masses through a ventilation system or a special hole. Air cleaners return air after filtration. You can clearly see how the work cycle of both types of devices differs, in the following diagram:

It is worth noting that there are mixed hoods with two modes, which are set depending on the degree of air pollution. In the exhaust mode, contaminated air is completely discharged from the kitchen through the duct, and in the recirculation mode, it is taken, passes through the purification filters, and returns to the room.

Filters for kitchen air filters

As noted above, air is sucked into the air purifier and forcibly passes through the filters. They can be of the following types:

• Carbonic. The most common filter. It well cleans the air of various odors, but can not cope with carbon monoxide. It requires replacement on average 1 time in 3 months.
• Photocatalytic. This filter does not require cartridge replacement. It decomposes organic substances into simple components that do not harm the human body.
• Mechanical. It is a metal mesh with the smallest cells on which large particles settle, pet hair, fat, etc. They are installed on almost every modern cleaner. These filters should be washed regularly with warm water.
• Air. Used to trap smaller solid particles. The filter has a fibrous structure in which smaller particles easily settle. Depending on the intensity of use of the device, on average it changes 1 time in 3 months.
• Electrostatic. It attracts dust, mechanical particles, soot, soot and toxic fumes due to the creation of an electric field. It does not require replacement, but needs regular wet cleaning.

Varieties of models

There are several types of air purifiers, depending on the mounting method:

• Flat or hanging. These are the most common and inexpensive options that have a small height of 7-15 cm, which depends on the shape of the device. They are easily attached to furniture and have low productivity - up to 300 cubic meters. m / h, therefore, suitable for kitchens of a small area (8-9 square meters. m). Such hoods often have a recirculation mode. They are preferable to flow-through appliances, since such ducts remain in sight, which spoils the interior of the kitchen.
• Embedded. This is an ideal, but expensive option, as it is bought immediately in a set with furniture. The pluses of the model are that it is almost completely hidden in the headset cabinet, therefore it is almost invisible (only the sliding front panel is visible). Of course, the built-in cleaner looks in harmony with the kitchen furniture, since they are one with it in color, texture, size. These models are more powerful than the flat type and larger in size.

• Domed or mantelpiece. To get an air purifier, you need to purchase a fireplace hood with a mixed mode. In appearance they resemble a chimney, since the wide base gradually narrows to the top. Fit into almost any interior, but take up quite a lot of space. When choosing these cleaners, in addition to size and performance, their appearance should also be taken into account, since they are completely open. They are usually equipped with two decorative boxes under which air ducts are hidden. They are made of stainless steel or painted metal, often combining with glass and wood. These are quite powerful cleaners - their performance can reach up to 1000 cubic meters. m / hour.

Which is better: an air cleaner or a conventional hood?

It depends on the area of ​​the kitchen and the air circulation in it:

• if the kitchen is large in area and it takes very little time to cook, then a recirculating air purifier above the stove will be enough;
• if the kitchen is small and with a small window, where ventilation is difficult, you should consider installing a hood.

Separately, the advantages and disadvantages of each option should be taken into account, which will help the following table:

Type of	pros	Minuses
With recirculation (air cleaner)	This is a mobile device that can be installed anywhere. During the cold season, it will not remove heat from the room, and also does not affect the moisture circuit in the room. It cleans the air not only from small solid particles, but also retains a variety of odors and fats.	Of the disadvantages, it is worth noting expensive maintenance (replacing filters), but installing a device with washable filters will help reduce the expense item.
With bend (conventional hood)	This is a less expensive view in terms of maintenance, since it does not require replacement and reinstallation of filters. It guarantees high performance due to the complete removal of contaminated air into the ventilation. When working, it practically does not create noise.	The main disadvantage is difficulties with installation, since it is necessary to make ventilation passages to connect the hood to the shaft.

How to choose an air purifier?

To buy a suitable model, you must consider the parameters of the kitchen. Only in this case, the operation of the purifier will be effective, and the air during cooking will remain fresh and clean. In general, the instructions for choosing an air purifier are as follows:

1. Choose the size of the work surface. The length of the air cleaner should be slightly larger or the same as the width of the stove. In this case, all the “aromas” will immediately fall into the hood and will not have time to spread throughout the apartment. Four standard sizes of air purifiers are available on the market - 50, 60, 90 and 120 cm. 50 and 60 cm cleaners, which are selected for small rooms, are more popular. If the kitchen is large, and the stoves are large, you will have to choose devices with a length of 90 or 120 cm.
2. Calculate device performance. Calculations need to be done independently based on the size of your premises. The calculation formula is as follows - multiply the volume of the kitchen by 12 and 1.3. We consider each parameter separately:

• calculate the volume of the room by multiplying the height of the wall and the area;
• 12 - air exchange rate, which shows how many times per hour the air in the room is completely renewed;
• 1.3 is a coefficient that takes into account air pumping through ventilation in a multi-storey building.

1. Deal with the material. It largely determines the cost of the purifier. Decorated aluminum is optimal. It is resistant to corrosion, but dirt quickly settles on it, although washing it will not be difficult. Want to give your hood a more “expensive" look? Then consider models made of tempered glass or stainless steel.
2. Take into account noise level. It is worth choosing a model with a comfortable and acceptable noise level. As a rule, in modern cleaners, this indicator is in the limit of 55 decibels. If it is larger, then the sound of a working device can cause significant discomfort.

Having dealt with these parameters, you can choose the optimal air purifier of any type - suspended, built-in or dome-shaped. As for the suitable type, it is worth starting from your own preferences and financial capabilities.

Basic installation rules

Before installing a cleaning device of any type, two recommendations must be considered:

• Take care of the outlet. Ideally, it should be located at the level of the hood, and the cable should be hidden in the wall, since neither the outlet nor the wire should be exposed to steam or heat. It is recommended not to use an extension cord whose wire will be extremely taut or sag, as this is unsafe.
• Determine the installation location above the stove at a height of 75 cm. Thus, the air purifier will capture all the fumes and will not be exposed to heat and steam.

The installation of the recirculation and flow device is different from each other. To understand the differences in detail, it is worth considering the principle of installation of each device:

• Recirculation air purifier. This model is easy to install on your own, since all the necessary components for installation are included in the kit along with a cleaner, installation instructions and a sheet with markings for fastening. All markings are checked using the building level. After the device is fixed, it is plugged into an outlet. It is ready to go.
• Cooker hood with exhaust mode. Installation of these models is more time-consuming, since it is necessary to dock the corrugated hose with ventilation. They adhere to this order: they make markings on the wall and screw the screws on which they hang the hood. Next, proceed to install the duct, for which they use an adapter. A corrugated hose is attached to it, and then tightened with a clamp. The second end of the corrugated hose is connected with a clamp to the ventilation hole, on which a grill with an adapter is pre-installed.

Air purifiers are devices that help to cope with the smell of fat and burning, soot, gas combustion products, dust, wool, unpleasant odors and toxic substances. When buying them, you need to proceed from the size of your own kitchen and stove, as well as financial capabilities. Whatever air purifier is chosen, do not forget that it needs regular maintenance and timely filter changes.