Fireplace hoods for the kitchen: corner and dome type

A modern kitchen is unthinkable without a variety of household appliances. They make the cooking process simple and enjoyable, and also save us from many inconveniences. One of the important elements of any kitchen is the hood, which not only makes staying in the kitchen comfortable, but also allows you to extend the life of the finishes and kitchen furniture, ridding the air of an abundance of odors, water vapor and grease. A special place among the variety of these indispensable kitchen appliances is occupied by a fireplace hood. Let's look at what it is, how it differs from other models, and in what cases you should choose it.

Fireplace hoods for the kitchen: what is the device?

Fireplace, or dome, hoods got their name due to the shape of a truncated pyramid or cone, reminiscent of a dome. They differ significantly from other types of exhaust equipment both in structure and functionality. The devices are available in various designs and styles. The most common options are:

• metal, pyramid-shaped;

• metal with glass, often shaped like an inverted “T”;

• classic or “country” - reminiscent of the top of a fireplace or stove, decorated with wood or stucco;

• ultra-modern inclined with surfaces made of metal and dark glass.

The main functional difference of a fireplace hood is its higher performance and degree of air purification, due to its special shape and internal structure.

Exhaust (flow)

Devices of this type extract and discharge polluted air into a ventilation shaft or directly to the street. These devices have high performance and allow you to clean the room from polluted air and unpleasant odors in the shortest possible time. They have a built-in grease filter (grease trap), which allows you to efficiently clean the air from grease and dust. As a rule, it does not need to be changed; it is enough to wash it regularly.

Filtering (circulating)

Circulating hoods do not extract air from the apartment, but pass it through several filters. Such a device usually has two filters installed - carbon and grease. The first refers to consumables and must be changed periodically. Of course, filtering devices have lower productivity than output ones, but they have a number of advantages.

• Firstly, filter hoods are much cheaper.
• Secondly, they are much easier to install because they do not require connection to the ventilation shaft.

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The carbon filter must be replaced every 4–6 months. It is necessary to change it in a timely manner, otherwise the exhaust device will not be able to provide high-quality air purification.

Advantages of a fireplace hood

Fireplace hoods are the most popular. This is due to the presence of important advantages, which include:

• Appearance. If you purchase a fireplace-type device, there is no need to hide the device itself and the air duct in a closet. Such a hood will become a real decoration of the kitchen and will enliven the interior. Dome-type devices are available in different styles and colors, so choosing one for your kitchen furniture will not be difficult. Some models have a special shelf that can be used to store useful little things, which is very convenient.
• High efficiency. Fireplace hoods are usually much more powerful than other types of appliances. Their high performance is due to their special structure: most models have 2 built-in motors, as well as high-quality grease filters.
• Wide range of prices. This is not to say that a fireplace hood is the cheapest option. However, the cost of such devices varies greatly; you can choose a not too expensive model with wide functionality, which will be an order of magnitude higher than that of other varieties of this device.
• Easy installation. This is one of the important points, since embedded devices are often difficult to install. Fireplace hoods are easy to install; they are attached to the wall using screws and dowels.

Another important advantage: many fireplace hoods can operate in two modes - both in air exhaust mode and in circulation mode. For different conditions, you can select the appropriate mode, which helps save energy.

Configuration

The first thing you should pay attention to is the shape and principle of air filtration. There are 3 types in total.

Hanging hood

The flat or sloped design is installed directly above the stove on the wall or under a kitchen cabinet.

Experts recommend purchasing them for small kitchens, for example, in Khrushchev-era apartment buildings.

Built-in hood

The main difference compared to the previous type is the presence of a special box or cabinet.

Judging by the reviews, this is the most popular type. A wide range of models, many additional options... By the way, here is a good buyer's guide on how to choose the right built-in hood.

Dome or fireplace

They got their name because of their shape, reminiscent of a traditional hood for antique fireplaces. True, now they are quite diverse - many are suitable for the most modern design styles.

As you can see, this is a powerful unit that is irrational to consider for small kitchens. But it is ideal for a studio apartment: it is almost impossible for odors to enter the living area.

Island hood

Not so long ago, this type was found exclusively in restaurants or in foreign films. Nowadays, large exhaust hoods placed in the center of the room are not uncommon in ordinary apartments.

How to choose a device by size?

One of the main parameters of a hood is its dimensions. It depends on them how well the air in the kitchen will be purified. There is a general rule for determining the required size, which also applies to fireplace-type devices.

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To select the size of the device, you need to measure the dimensions of the kitchen stove. To effectively clean the air, the width of the hood must be no less than the width of the stove. In extreme cases, they may be the same. However, it is still very desirable that the edges of the hood extend slightly beyond the boundaries of the stove; this is when maximum performance will be ensured.

Fireplace hoods have a standard width of 50, 60 or 90 cm. There are also wider models for larger rooms.

Performance

This is the main indicator characterizing the operation of the hood. Capacity means how much air the equipment passes through itself per unit of time. This parameter is selected based on the area of ​​the kitchen.

To calculate productivity, you need to find out the size of the room: multiply the area by the height of the ceiling and multiply the resulting number by twelve. According to sanitary standards, exactly how many times per hour the air needs to be renewed. It is recommended to multiply the amount by 1.3 (bet odds). For example, for a kitchen of 6 sq.m., where the ceiling height is 2.7 m, the productivity is as follows: 6 * 2.7 * 12 * 1.3 = 253 cubic meters per hour.

If you need the most accurate calculation, subtract the dimensions of the appliances and furniture from the dimensions of the kitchen.

We hang the hood at a height of 65-85 cm from the stove. If you want to install the hood higher, we select equipment with greater power than is required according to calculations.

We also take into account the ventilation capacity of the house. This may be less than required. In this case, you should not choose a hood with higher characteristics. The performance reserve can be useful for those with a small kitchen because the concentration of food particles and soot will be higher.

Link. The productivity of modern hoods ranges from 180 to 700 cubic meters per hour. This is directly related to the power of the equipment. 500 W of power is enough for the highest level of performance.

Installation methods

Depending on the configuration of the kitchen, you can choose the appropriate method for installing a fireplace hood. There are several types of devices based on installation methods:

1. Wall-mounted. Suitable for the most common and simplest installation method, when the device is mounted on the wall directly above the stove hob.
2. Angular. Corner-type appliances have a slightly different design and are used when the stove is located in the corner of the room. This arrangement allows you to save space in the kitchen.
3. Island. They are installed if the stove or hob is located in the center of the kitchen, not adjacent to the walls of the room.

Step-by-step instruction

1. The installation height of the hood is determined according to the manufacturer's recommendations. The marking is carried out directly on the wall - a horizontal line is drawn to the required height, the evenness of which is measured using a spirit level.
2. The device height is set. If the indicators show that the hood is longer, the pipe is cut, since installing the hood below the required height is strictly prohibited.
3. Measurements are being carried out to determine the mounting points on the wall. These points are attached to the wall.
4. Based on the “beacons,” holes are drilled into which plugs are inserted.
5. The hood is attached to the wall from above with self-tapping screws. Only after complete alignment is the hood completely fixed.
6. The outlet pipe is connected to the chimney.

Important! Install a check valve at the outlet to prevent exhaust air from entering the room.

Popular manufacturers

Fireplace hoods are produced by almost all companies that manufacture kitchen appliances. The most popular of them are:

• Bosch, Siemens, Kuppersberg, Backer (Germany);
• BEST, Zanussi, JetAir, Elica (Italy);
• Cata (Spain);
• ELIKOR, “Hephaestus” (Russia);
• Gorenje (Slovenia);
• "Pyramid" (Ukraine-China).

Noise level

Any hood has such an important parameter as noise level. When purchasing a device, special attention should be paid to this factor, since powerful monotonous noise can negatively affect human health and psyche. The noise level when the hood is operating in standard mode is about 40 dB. This indicator can be compared with normal human speech at a distance of 1 meter. If the hood operates at maximum power, the noise level can reach 60–70 dB.

The best option are hoods whose noise level does not exceed 40–50 dB. It will not cause discomfort or unpleasant sensations during operation of the device.

Installation features

To install the hood you will need the following tools:

• roulette;
• electric hammer drill;
• building level;
• screwdriver;
• hammer;
• Hardware.

The chimney hood must be installed at a height of 65-75 cm from the hob. If set higher or lower than normal, it will not cope with its functions or will burn out under the influence of high temperature.

Installation sequence:

1. We determine the exact location where the equipment will be installed.
2. We create a marking of the place where the installation will be carried out.
3. We mark the places where the screws are attached.
4. Use a hammer drill with an 8mm drill bit to make holes at least 5cm deep in the wall.
5. We repair anchors.
6. We screw the screws into the dowels and check the quality of the fastening.
7. Then screw in the remaining screws.

When installing a hood, be sure to focus on installing ventilation ducts connecting the hood to the ventilation:

1. We mount a throttle valve on the air ducts.
2. We equip the entrance niche with a grille.
3. Do not run the duct from the basement due to the unpleasant odor.
4. The air is released from the windy side, this discharges the space inside the duct with air currents.

The temperature of the air leaving the device should not exceed 80 ° C. If installed incorrectly, this figure can almost double. The case overheats, and this is fraught with breakdowns and fire.

Installation work will not cause any particular difficulties if you have the necessary materials at hand and read the instructions in detail.

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Control

Many people are interested in the issue of controlling a fireplace hood. There are several types of control mechanism:

1. Push-button control. This is the traditional and therefore the most common option. There are buttons on the body of the device with which you can adjust the operation of the device.
2. Touch control. Another fairly common type of control. However, it is not convenient for everyone, since the buttons do not always respond well to touch and it is difficult to press them blindly. Also, devices with this control method are highly susceptible to voltage surges.
3. Slider (slider type). This type is considered not very convenient, since the controls are located at the bottom of the hood. In addition, they often become dirty.

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Recently, many models come with a remote control included. This is really convenient, since you can control the hood remotely, and in addition, there are no fingerprints left on the shiny surface.

Customer Reviews

Have you read a bunch of articles on the topic “how to choose a fireplace hood for your kitchen”, looked through dozens of photos on the Internet, but still don’t know what to buy in the end? Reviews. This is what will really help you.

If you follow the positive example of other people, the likelihood of making a mistake will be reduced to a minimum. The most popular, based on reviews, is the Krona fireplace hood. This model has an impeccable appearance and stylish design, since all its panels are smooth, even and white.

Despite its high performance, it is completely silent during operation. You can select the operating mode of the hood by lightly touching the special panel. The grease filter can be easily removed and washed.

This model will easily fit into any interior and will protect furniture and walls from odors and grease.

Service

The cleanliness of the air in your kitchen, as well as the service life of the hood itself, depend on proper care and maintenance. This is especially affected by filter elements, so their contamination must be removed in a timely manner. To understand exactly how to care for your hood, you need to find out which grease filters are installed in it. There are several types of such filters:

• Synthetic, non-woven or paper. Such filters are disposable and must be changed periodically. Through the protective grille of the hood you can see the marks on the filters. As soon as the signs disappear, the filter should be replaced.
• Acrylic filters. They are reusable and need to be washed with warm water and soap to clean them. This procedure should be repeated once a month.
• Aluminum filters. These filter elements are reusable. They need to be cleaned once a month with special products. A degreasing composition is best suited for these purposes.

Aluminum filters can be washed in the dishwasher, which is very convenient. However, it is important to remember that they need to be washed separately from the dishes.

With proper care, a fireplace kitchen hood will last a long time and will delight you with clean and fresh air in the kitchen, as well as a stylish appearance.