Kitchen hoods are equipped with advanced features to purify the air, providing a pleasant cooking environment and protecting the health of your family. The following article will help you identify the distinct characteristics of each type.
1 What is a Kitchen Hood?
A kitchen hood is an appliance used in kitchens to minimize odours to the maximum extent possible, not only ensuring a comfortable cooking experience but also protecting the health of your family.
Kitchen hood
2 Structure and Operating Principle
The following are components of a kitchen hood:
- Control panel circuit board: allows you to fine-tune important operating functions such as smoke sensors, filter cleaning alerts, etc.
- Body: made of durable metal alloys to resist corrosion and oxidation. The unit is also coated with an anti-static paint to prevent scratching and dirt.
- Grease filter: usually made of aluminium or other rust-resistant alloys with the primary purpose of removing grease and oil from the air.
- Fan motor: the most important component as it creates the suction necessary to push air through the filter and grille, removing odours from your kitchen space.
- Operating principle: Kitchen hoods are designed to eliminate fumes, vapours and odours produced during cooking. Specifically, the types of gases that the unit can eliminate include food odours, smoke, chemical vapours, and dust particles. By drawing air through the filter and exhausting it outside or reusing the cleaned air. This helps to keep the air in your home clean and comfortable.
3 How to Distinguish Between Common Types of Kitchen Hoods
Categorized by Installation Method
Under-cabinet range hood
An under-cabinet range hood is a type of unit designed to be installed and concealed under kitchen cabinets, saving space and making your kitchen neater and more aesthetically pleasing. Under-cabinet range hoods are approximately 60 – 70 cm in size, which fits the common cabinet sizes in most households.
The unit operates through a turbine motor and fan blades that create airflow to draw and expel smoke outside. Additionally, the unit is also equipped with a mesh filter to trap dirt, grease and bacteria, further enhancing the air purification in your kitchen.
Under-cabinet range hood
Advantages:
- High aesthetics: creating a clean and aesthetically pleasing space. This design not only keeps the kitchen tidy but also adds an aesthetic touch to the cooking space.
- Affordable: ranging from only 1.9 – 13.4 million VND (updated 08/2023 and subject to change over time), making it a popular choice for many customers.
- Compact size: helps save space and kitchen space, suitable for kitchens with small areas or those looking to optimise space.
Disadvantages:
- Limited variety of models and sizes: due to the need to be installed concealed under cabinets, the units usually have fixed sizes and styles, not as flexible as freestanding range hoods.
- Significantly lower power than some other types: usually ranging from around 190 to 1200 m³/h, while some units can achieve higher suction power.
Wall-mounted range hood
Wall-mounted range hoods are designed with a sleek body that has a support point against the wall. This support is made of load-bearing brackets or expansion bolts, depending on the specific design.
When operating, the range hood uses a fan or fan system to draw smoke, odours and steam from the cooking area. The gases are then pushed through filters to remove odour particles and grease.
Common sizes for wall-mounted range hoods are 70cm and 90cm. These are standard sizes designed to fit common kitchen and wall space dimensions.
Wall-mounted range hood
Advantages:
- Odour extraction capability in wide and distant spaces: not only extracting at close range but also in more distant areas, ensuring that your kitchen space is always well-ventilated.
- Variety of models and designs: from curved glass, flat glass, slanted screens to L-shaped, T-shaped range hoods, etc., meeting the needs of all kitchen spaces, both small, medium and large.
- Easy to use and clean: as the filter system is made of aluminium, it also makes your cleaning process easier.
- High power, durable operation: units have a suction power of 300 to 1200 m³/h, quickly eliminating smoke, odours and steam from the cooking space.
Disadvantages:
- Some models have a rather bulky design: units with a curved glass design usually come with a fairly large and thick glass panel. Combined with a straight chimney, it will not be suitable for small kitchen spaces.
- High price: mostly imported from Europe, so the price is often significantly higher than the classic range hood models manufactured and distributed domestically. Depending on the brand and model, the price varies considerably from VND 1.7 – 26.9 million (updated 08/2023 and subject to change over time).
Island range hood
Island range hoods have a two-way suction-island mechanism, are installed independently and suspended from the ceiling instead of being mounted on walls or under cabinets like traditional range hoods. The unit has an integrated direct odour removal system using activated carbon, which is installed inside the unit.
Typically, island range hoods are approximately 90cm in size and are usually designed to be installed in the middle of the room, creating a central focal point and providing efficient odour and smoke extraction.
Island range hood
Advantages:
- Very high suction power: high suction power from 820 to 900 m³/h also ensures effective odour and steam removal, creating a fresh and clean kitchen space.
- Luxurious design: not only enhances the aesthetic value of the kitchen but also creates a luxurious and modern feel for your kitchen space.
- High quality: island range hoods are designed and manufactured to high standards, using quality materials and the latest technology.
Disadvantages:
- High price: the cost is usually in the range of 26.7 to 42.7 million VND (updated to August 2023 and subject to change over time).
- Large unit size: the unit is only suitable for large kitchen spaces, where there is enough space to hang the unit from the ceiling
- Control panel circuit board: Allows you to adjust settings and control functions like smoke sensors and filter cleaning alerts.
- Body: Made of durable metal alloys with an anti-static paint coating to prevent corrosion, oxidation, scratches, and dirt.
- Grease filter: Typically made of aluminum or rust-resistant alloys, it removes grease and oil from the air.
- Fan motor: The heart of the kitchen hood, creating the suction necessary to push air through the filter, eliminating odors.
- Under-cabinet range hood: Designed to be installed discreetly under kitchen cabinets, saving space and adding aesthetics. It has a compact size, is affordable, but has limited model variety and lower power compared to other types.
- Wall-mounted range hood: Sleek and supported against the wall, offering powerful odor extraction, a variety of designs, ease of use, and high durability. However, some models can be bulky and expensive.
- Island range hood: Installed independently from the ceiling, featuring a two-way suction mechanism and a direct odor removal system. It boasts high suction power, a luxurious design, and high quality but comes with a high price tag and is suitable only for large kitchen spaces.
- High aesthetics: Creates a clean and aesthetically pleasing kitchen space.
- Affordable: With a price range of 1.9 – 13.4 million VND, it’s a popular choice for many.
- Compact size: Saves space, making it suitable for small or space-optimized kitchens.
Disadvantages:
- Limited variety: Fixed sizes and styles due to concealed installation.
- Lower power: Suction power is typically lower compared to other types.
- Wide-area odor extraction: Effective at close and distant ranges, ensuring well-ventilated kitchen spaces.
- Variety of models: Offers various designs to suit all kitchen spaces, from curved glass to L-shaped hoods.
- Easy to use and clean: Aluminum filter system simplifies the cleaning process.
- High power and durable: Suction power ranges from 300 to 1200 m³/h, ensuring quick elimination of smoke and odors.
Disadvantages:
- Bulky design: Some models, especially with curved glass, may not suit small kitchens due to large glass panels and straight chimneys.
- High price: Imported models can be significantly more expensive than domestically manufactured ones.
- Very high suction power: Effective odor and steam removal, creating a fresh kitchen environment.
- Luxurious design: Enhances the aesthetic and modern feel of your kitchen.
- High quality: Designed and manufactured with high standards, using premium materials and technology.
Disadvantages:
- High price: Costing between 26.7 and 42.7 million VND, it is a significant investment.
- Large unit size: Requires a spacious kitchen for installation, not suitable for small spaces.
Tips for maximizing energy efficiency with your exhaust fan
A kitchen hood is an essential appliance to get rid of unpleasant odors caused by cooking and restore fresh air in your kitchen. However, using it excessively can consume a significant amount of electricity. At XANH Electronics, we understand the importance of energy conservation and offer you tips on how to use your kitchen hood efficiently while saving energy. With our expert advice, you can enjoy a fresh and clean kitchen without worrying about high electricity bills.