High humidity in the kitchen can cause condensation to appear on the surface of the walls and kitchen units. This will eventually lead to mold and mildew growth. In addition, an exhaust fan will help to cope with odors generated during cooking.
Exhaust fan types
Before buying ventilation equipment, you need to familiarize yourself with the existing varieties, advantages and disadvantages of each option.
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Axial
Such devices consist of a housing in which a wheel with an impeller rotates. The blades are usually fixed on the axis of the electric motor, which is why the devices are called axial. When the wheel rotates, the blades capture air and push it along the axis.
The kitchen hood fan is equipped with a collector, which increases the performance of the appliance. Axial devices are distinguished by good efficiency, they are capable of pumping up to 100 m3 per hour, but at the same time they have a small head. The device makes noise during operation, the sound intensity is up to 50 dB.
Centrifugal
These fans differ from the previous subspecies in the spiral shape of the blades. When the engine is running, air currents are pushed in the desired direction by centrifugal force. A feature of the device is the perpendicular direction of flow relative to the drawn in air. In everyday life, such designs are rarely used.
Diagonal
Diagonal fan models are highly efficient. The air entering the inlet of the device moves in the direction of the axis of the device, then it is displaced at an angle of 45 degrees. Thanks to these features, the intensity of the device and productivity increases. The diagonal model is considered a silent household exhaust fan, and it also has a small overall dimensions.
Bladeless
These devices appeared on the market relatively recently; they are characterized by a different principle of operation. To supply air, a turbine is used here, which directs the flow through a diaphragm into a special frame. An increase in retraction is possible due to the use of a multiplier.
A special mechanism is installed in the device, which makes it possible to regulate the flow rate up to 90 km / h. Such devices have a high level of security, they are quiet and economical.
Advantages and disadvantages
Each kitchen fan has its own strengths and weaknesses, but several characteristics are common to all models. The advantages of such equipment include:
- Small overall dimensions. Some models of fans are built into the ventilation pipe.
- The set of parts for the device has a protective grid. This element prevents insects and dust particles from entering the impeller, which prolongs the life of the equipment.
- Any user can disassemble the fan. This is necessary for cleaning parts from debris or fixing minor faults.
- The engine does not need frequent maintenance, it is constantly cooled, and is able to work all day.
- When installing an exhaust fan, you can use auxiliary equipment, such as a motion and humidity sensor or an hour timer;
- The devices under consideration have a minimum weight, they are made of plastic;
- Many models do not create noise during operation, they consume a minimum amount of electricity;
- Simple installation, installation of equipment can be performed even by an inexperienced user.
The disadvantages of devices are associated with the peculiarities of their design. Since axial devices create a lot of noise, they are not recommended to be installed in small rooms. Incorrect installation of equipment results in incorrect circulation of streams.
How to choose a fan for your hood
When choosing exhaust fan with non-return valve for the kitchen, it is necessary to pay attention to the technical characteristics of the appliance and other important parameters. We are talking about the performance of the equipment, the level of noise that the device emits, and the possibility of its safe use in a moisture-saturated environment. Special attention should be paid to the price / quality ratio of the product. Let's deal with each of the characteristics in more detail.
Performance
When calculating such an important parameter, you must have the following information:
- overall dimensions of the room for calculating its volume;
- air exchange rate per hour.
Important! The product of the area by the air exchange rate indicates the performance of the radial fan for the hood.
To determine the minimum power of the device, it is necessary to carry out the following calculation. We determine the area of the room by sequentially multiplying the length, width and height of the kitchen. To determine the capacity of the hood, you need to know the number of air changes per hour. We multiply this value by the area of the room.
The air exchange rate is determined by building codes and regulations. For the bathroom, you need to take 6-8 air changes per hour, for the kitchen - 4-6. The air ratio in the toilet corresponds to an air exchange coefficient of 6-10. The minimum indicators are taken when the number of residents in an apartment or country house is from 1 to 3. If the tenants are more than the specified value, you can take the maximum coefficient.
After the performance calculation is completed, you can go to the store to buy the necessary equipment. The centrifugal fan for the hood is selected with an increased productivity of 10-15% in relation to the calculated values. Productivity depends on the volume of the room, the average is 90-100m3 per hour.
Noise level
The impeller or turbine of any device is driven by an electric motor, which creates two types of noise during operation - aerodynamic and mechanical. The first sounds arise through the vibration of the parts of the device and the duct. The second noise is generated by the movement of the blades, it penetrates directly into the room.
Extraneous sounds exceeding a range of 36 dB irritate a person, therefore, it is better not to install household appliances with such indicators in residential premises. Silent ventilation in the kitchen is possible if you install appliances with a sound level of no more than 30 dB. The characteristics, in relation to the noise level emitted by the device, are indicated in the passport.
The intensity of extraneous sounds can be reduced by installing a plate or tubular silencer behind the device. The air duct is also insulated with sound-absorbing material. It must be of sufficient diameter to allow unobstructed air flow. If the duct cross-section is small, turbulence results in plugs and extraneous noise.
Safety
Silent duct exhaust fans must have one more important characteristic - protection of the case against moisture penetration. Vapors occur in the cooking room. Moisture on the contacts can cause a short circuit in the device, which will lead to its breakdown or fire.
To prevent such phenomena, purchase devices with a sealed case from the store. There is a special mark in the fan passport that indicates protection against water ingress.
Advice! For additional safety precautions, connect the instrument to a 24 volt power source. Closing such a fan will not harm human health.
Extra options
When choosing exhaust fans for installation in the kitchen, you need to pay attention to their functionality. Standard equipment is equipped with a non-return valve, which blocks the return of exhaust air into the room. Such devices are convenient, but not practical. They are connected to a light switch and work for a limited time. Sometimes this is not enough for complete removal of humid air.
Automatic models are considered more modern, but they are expensive. In such devices, hourly timers are installed, which allows you to adjust the intensity of their work. The equipment works when the lights are turned off for another 25-30 minutes. There are automatic exhaust fans with an installed air humidity sensor. After exceeding this parameter above the set mark, the device turns on.
Good technical characteristics of the device are not a guarantee of its long-term operation. When choosing an exhaust fan for the kitchen, you need to familiarize yourself with consumer reviews of a particular model. The user has the right to demand from the seller a quality certificate for the supplied products. The minimum permissible safety value corresponds to the ip 34 marking. Dimensional products will not always be of high quality.
Note! A good kitchen exhaust fan is not always expensive. A properly selected budget model can last from 3 to 5 years. Expensive household appliances are usually equipped with automation, humidity sensor and timer.
How to install an exhaust fan in the kitchen
When installing the fan in the kitchen, the following tips must be followed:
- Connect the hood to the ventilation duct at the highest possible height, this will make it possible to collect all the exhaust gases (hot air is always in the upper part of the room).
- For better circulation, the fresh air vents should be located on the opposite side of the room relative to the fan.
- It is forbidden to install the fan above the stove if its casing is not protected from moisture and high temperatures.
- If power surges occur in the power supply, then the fan is connected through a power filter.
In the case of using an air duct with a diameter different from the exhaust outlet of the hood, these parts are connected to each other using special glue or dowels.
Conclusion
An inexpensive exhaust fan with a simple design solves the problem of clean air in the kitchen. Any user can install this device according to the attached instructions. The device is mounted in the ceiling, on the walls, fixed in the transom windows in the kitchen.
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