There are those who cannot imagine living and cooking in the same house. Sensitivity to smells is so strong in them that they are unable to reconcile these two worlds. This is because the settled smell of cooked food, even wonderfully aromatic ones, permeating every piece of furniture and clothing, becomes a nuisance to the senses. This happens in small interiors, poorly ventilated and in kitchens without access to windows.
However, there is a remedy for this! At least a partial one.
A properly selected kitchen hood can work wonders and restore comfort to our homes. Its task is to remove excess moisture and odors released during cooking. The hood can operate as either an absorber or an extractor. These names are sometimes used interchangeably, since both functions operate within the same device.
Hood in a minimalist interior
Extractor vs. absorber
Any hood is capable of acting as an absorber, when you install the appropriate carbon filters. At the same time, the absorber is not connected to the ventilation. Its task is limited to absorbing odors, but not removing polluted air to the outside. The hood in exhaust mode, on the other hand, is connected by a duct to the ventilation.
When choosing a hood for your kitchen, we will be guided by the available features and design aesthetics. The size of the kitchen and the location of the cooktop are also of great importance here. Any technical parameters will also be important. So which one is worth choosing?
Cylindrical hood in silver color
© Pexels
Why not necessarily an absorber?
Well, in order for the device to operate with adequate efficiency, it is important to replace the carbon filters every few months. This, in the long run, generates higher costs than connecting the hood to the ventilation, the ducts of which, after all, can be hidden for aesthetic purposes. The efficiency of canisters is estimated at only 20%. Kitchens with such a solution are also subject to the persistence of higher humidity. And this is because the purified air is not removed from the room, but returns to it. The filter suppresses the motor, which results in condensation on countertops, tiles or windows. Thus, the absorber removes the odors themselves, while moisture, dust and vapors continue to accumulate in the room. Such devices, are also often louder, which greatly discourages their activation, and inadequate air ventilation can cause the growth of fungi and lead to allergies.
Absorbing hood, however, draws the attention of owners of passive houses, which are designed to minimize energy consumption and use air from ventilation. Then it becomes desirable to retain the heat generated during cooking and baking.
A novelty is solutions with plasma filters that eliminate moisture, grease and vapors through electrostatic microcharging. Activation occurs automatically when air is detected by motion sensors. The filter eliminates dust, viruses, allergens and fungi from the air.
Hood in exhaust mode
So, the most common choice will be the installation of an exhaust hood. It effectively absorbs odors, removes dust and microbes from the air, and sucks in water vapor, pushing impure air outside. It is cheaper to use, works quite quietly and protects furniture from damage.
Trapezoidal and cylindrical kitchen hoods
Location and appearance
We distinguish between:
- chimney hoods, wall-mounted, hanging independently, in the construction of which there is a long chimney, inside which there is a pipe, leading to the ventilation shaft,
- island hoods, which differ from the chimney hood in their mounting to the ceiling,
- telescopic, having a special drawer (the pulling of which activates the hood) and an absorbing surface (it is suitable for kitchens with a small area, but loses its effectiveness because it is not connected to the ventilation shaft),
- countertop-mounted, which pulls out while cooking, or compact countertops integrated into the induction cooktop,
- under-counter, which are mounted under hanging furniture and take up little space,
- built-in, which are invisible from behind the cabinet front.
The size of the hood should, of course, be adapted to the size of the cooktop. We can choose from several types of control - mechanical, touch control with a display, gesture-activated or remote control. Some hoods allow variable adjustment of their height.
Cylindrical hoods white andelegant, with a form similar to a cuboid
Design
A kitchen hood does not have to be boring! On the market we can choose from classic rectangular devices, square or rectangular in cross-section, or in the shape of an inverted T, and those with a futuristic design, i.e. cylindrical forms, tubes, or ellipses, or slanted wall hoods. We can also purchase those in a retro style, maintained in a rustic climate.
The color and texture of the device depend on our taste, because in this matter we have a whole range of solutions to choose from. We can choose matte or shiny, in a conservative style or, for example, in gold. The hood, properly selected to match the decor of our kitchen, can even be a kind of elegant decoration.
Summary
So, if you're an odor sensitive and you like practical but also beautiful objects, it's worth taking care of your comfort by choosing the right cooker hood. After all, its absence, after all, can dampen our passion for cooking, and this will certainly have a not inconsiderable impact on other areas of our lives as well....
