Recirculation hood for the kitchen - description, device, types, choice, advantages and disadvantages

The main modes of exhaust devices for the kitchen

You can get rid of the smell of cooking food, oil particles in the air with the help of natural ventilation through an open window, or forcibly by turning on the hood. Its selection will require an analysis of a wide range. According to the principle of operation, the hoods can be divided into two large groups: flow-through and recirculation.

The flow line removes air from the room to the ventilation shaft or to the street through the hatch. Clean air enters through windows and doors due to the generated draft.

Recirculating air passes air through filters, purified it feeds it back to the kitchen.

Each cleaning method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Flow purification provides large volumes of quality air, but requires significant installation costs and takes up more space. Filtration is economical to install, but requires regular replacement of cleaning elements.

Recirculation hood - description

Suitable for small rooms, rare use, as well as in case of improper operation of general ventilation, low air quality outside the window (for example, next to an industrial area).

Device

One or more fans rotate in the chassis. The air from the food being cooked is drawn into the device. Once inside, it passes through filters that cleanse it of oil particles and odors. The cleaned air from the other side of the device comes back out.

Difference from other types of kitchen exhaust devices

Unlike flow hoods, recirculation hoods are more autonomous and compact. Having decided to hang it over the stove, you have to take care of the electricity supply and space comparable to its dimensions at a height of 80–85 cm above the burners. In comparison, flow-through cleaning requires significantly more space to install an oversized duct.

Varieties of recirculation hoods for the kitchen

The design options allow you to place the recirculation hood in different parts of the kitchen, the choice depends only on where the stove is. At the location of the structure there are:

• wall-mounted - traditional wall mounting;
• built-in - usually installed on a cabinet above the stove, have a protruding part, which, during operation, extends like a visor; it is technically possible to integrate the hood into the worktop, so that it extends during cooking, draws in air directly next to the hob;
• island - used over kitchen stoves installed far from the walls.

Features of the operation of recirculation hoods

Autonomous operation does not provide the air with oxygen, and ventilation is required after a while. The air is thoroughly cleaned of soot and grease, but without ventilation it remains humid. For high-quality air purification, timely replacement of filters is required, otherwise not only moisture will remain in the air, but also smell and fat particles.

Advantages and disadvantages of recirculation hoods

Due to the design, there are advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

• affordable price due to less power;
• longer service life due to low loads;
• reverse thrust is excluded;
• air purification even with faulty building ventilation;
• autonomy, the ability to install in any convenient place;
• ease of installation;
• compact size.

Disadvantages:

• the need to replace filters, the cost of which is an order of magnitude higher than that of flow models;
• low efficiency when installed above a gas stove, since the filters cannot cope with combustion products.

Important! A feature that should not turn into a disadvantage: when choosing a recirculation hood, study the range and availability of filters for different models! Sometimes buying an inexpensive unique hood turns into a headache and disproportionate expenses when replacing filters.

Types of filters used for recirculation hoods, their features

Typically, in self-contained structures, air goes through two stages of cleaning:

1. from visible particles;
2. fine cleaning.

Different materials are used for filtration:

Metallic mesh filters are installed on each hood to trap grease and other fine spray from the air. The finer the design of such filters, the less particles are inside the hood body, the lower the wear of the internal parts and the longer their service life.

These replacement filters are commercially available. However, metal nets are washable. Stainless ones are well tolerated by machine washing along with dishes, aluminum must be washed by hand so that oxidation does not occur.

Microscopic particles are captured by fine filters:

• carbonic - the most widespread and available, it absorbs foreign substances from the air well, ensuring high efficiency of the retractor; absorption occurs at the molecular level, it will not work to wash the carbon filter, it is disposable;
• acrylic - has a fibrous structure, which theoretically allows gentle hand washing without spinning and repeated use; in practice, the material is not durable; when washing, the filter often fails; an expensive purchase of a new one is required;
• disposable filters made of padding polyester, non-woven, paper widely popular due to their availability; the depth of cleaning is somewhat inferior to coal.

The frequency of replacing and cleaning the filters is usually indicated in the accompanying manufacturer's instructions. The actual effective life of the filter depends to a large extent on the intensity of use of the equipment. Taking into account the period indicated by the manufacturer, as well as the intensity of your use, check that there is no layer of grease and soot on the metal filter. If so, it's time to clean and / or replace.

Modern models are often equipped with contamination indicators.

Tips for choosing a recirculation hood for the kitchen

When choosing, you must consider:

• suitable dimensions - the width should be slightly larger than that of the stove;
• power corresponding to the size of the room (indicated in the instructions);
• noisiness - it is conventionally accepted to consider the hood to be noiseless if its noise is 30 dB, quiet - 40-50 dB; loud - more than 50 dB, maximum allowable for home - 70 dB;
• optimal set of functions.

The functionality of modern hoods varies greatly. Assess your need for:

• automation of the process depending on the indicators of temperature, humidity;
• touch control;
• remote control;
• other helper functions.

Each additional feature will require a surcharge.