How to choose the right kitchen chimney design

Natasha Kurien Natasha Kurien
3BHK Interiors , Fabmodula Fabmodula Klassische Küchen
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The kitchen is the heart of a home. It’s the place where one spends many hours cooking up delicious meals for family and friends. It’s rewarding to see the joy on faces of loved ones after a well-cooked meal, but cleaning up the kitchen afterwards can be a messy affair. Besides the black soot left behind by smoke, the kitchen is likely to be filled with layers of oil and grime stuck to the kitchen counter, cabinets, tiles and stovetop. Here’s where the role of the chimney in kitchen design becomes significant as it can help to save a great deal of time and effort spent in cleaning up the area afterwards. Professional kitchen planners look at several factors before deciding on the right kitchen chimney design for a home.

What is a kitchen chimney?

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A kitchen chimney is an appliance that is installed above the stove-top and is accessible with the press of a button. When switched on, the powerful suction takes away the oil, smoke, and fumes, leaving the kitchen smoke-free. The elements that are sucked out are either expelled from the kitchen via a duct or recirculated to keep the air fresh. Selecting the right chimney design for kitchens can be a daunting task simply because of the plethora of options available in terms of the models, types of filters and cost. Irrespective of whether one prefers steel chimneys or modular kitchen chimney designs, awareness about each of these aspects is the key to finding the right fit for any kitchen. 

Kitchen chimney designs

The ideal chimney design for the kitchen largely depends on the layout and space available in the kitchen. The following are the most commonly used kitchen chimney designs in Indian homes: 

  • Wall-mounted kitchen chimney:  The kitchen chimney is fit against the wall above the cook-top or hob. Usually, this type of chimney is recommended by planners when space is a constraint or when there are restrictions against cutting the exterior wall for ducting. 
  • Island chimney: If the kitchen counter is located in the centre of the room, then an island chimney is ideal. The chimney is fixed on the ceiling and hangs above the stove-top right in the middle of the room. 
  • Built-in chimney: The integrated or built-in chimney is installed between the kitchen cabinets. The suction power of these chimneys is excellent as the smoke and fumes are sucked in and routed out of the kitchen via a duct. 

Types of filters

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Based on the type of filter, kitchen chimneys can further be classified into the following: 

  • Baffle filter: This kind of filter is quite common in Indian kitchens. It makes use of overlapping layers of steel and aluminium to change the direction of airflow, thereby separating grease and oil from the air. The suction power is not affected even when oil is collected in the first layer. However, the filter has to be cleaned regularly for optimal performance. 
  • Cassette filter: The cassette filter is made up of multiple layers of aluminium mesh that have tiny holes to trap particles or residue and purify the air. Oil and other residue cling to the mesh as the air passes through it, thereby boosting the purification process. The filter needs to be washed with detergent on a bi-weekly basis to keep it functional and to prevent it from getting clogged. 
  • Charcoal filter: Charcoal granules are present which effectively eliminates odour. This filter can be used along with the baffle or cassette filters, especially for ductless chimneys where odours cannot be flushed out of the kitchen. The charcoal filters need to be replaced every three to six months to keep the chimney efficient.

Ducted versus ductless chimney designs

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In every kitchen design with chimneys, there is the option to install the unit with or without a duct:

  • Ducting: This type of chimney needs pipes to be fixed for the air to be sucked in and flushed out of the room via the duct. The oil and grease generally stick to the filter while the air goes out of the kitchen through the installed pipes. The ideal suction power for the chimney is decided based on the length of the tube or duct along with the number of bends present in it. Ducting is best combined with baffle or mesh filters. The downside of these chimneys is that once installed, they cannot be re-positioned. 
  • Ductless: Ductless chimneys do not require ducts or pipes. They generally come with a mesh or baffle filter with the addition of a charcoal filter. When air is sucked up, it passes through the filter where the oil and grease are trapped. The filter mostly sucks in the smoke and odour, letting the purified air out in the kitchen again. These chimneys are high maintenance as the filters need to be replaced frequently. The advantage of this type of chimney is that the unit can be re-positioned easily. 

Pricing of kitchen chimneys

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Kitchen chimneys come in a range of prices as well as a choice of multiple brands. Usually, each brand has a variety of products at varying prices. On average, the price of a kitchen chimney begins at INR 3000 for a basic model while designer ones can cost over a lakh. A 60cm kitchen chimney from a reputed brand is priced anywhere between  INR 4000 and  INR 6000 while a 90 cm one would cost upwards of INR 12000. The price varies depending on the brand, model, type of filter and suction power of the chimney. The installation generally comes free of cost; however, additional charges are levied for the installation of ducts or pipes.

The secret to designing an affordable modular kitchen lies in proper research and budgeting. Browse through these interesting ideas for the kitchen cabinets and incorporate them right away to make your kitchen stylish!

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