Correctly calculated capacity and extraction power solve many more problems than we think. Unpleasant combustion odors, inevitable vapors from heating devices, hateful plaque on the walls and ceiling of the kitchen and much more are solved with the help of a hood. Add to this clean air (which is important for allergy sufferers, for example), saving money from frequent redecoration of the room and furniture (from humidity) and time for general cleaning (from plaque). Having connected all the components, you understand how important it is to choose the right hood that is right for you.
What you need to know first of all when choosing a hood:
- method of connecting the hood: it is important to know if you can connect the hood to an external ventilation duct for air purification. If there is such an opportunity – great, polluted air will be easily removed outside the premises. If this is not possible, it does not matter, the air will be purified by special filters that are built into the hood.
Osmin’s tip: – There is a misconception that a cooker hood should provide full ventilation in all conditions. This is not entirely true. The efficiency of the cooker hood directly depends on the type of installation and the organization of the air flow. Remember! The cooker hood is an integral part of the ventilation system, but does not replace it completely.
- dimensions of the hood: when choosing a hood for the kitchen, the ratio of the hob to the hood must be taken into account. Remember the basic rule: buy a hood with dimensions no less than the hob. Then the leakage of polluted air is minimal. If these parameters are neglected, the efficiency of removing vapors and combustion products may decrease.
- the type and size of the room (isolated kitchen, kitchen-studio, kitchen-living room, ceiling height, ventilation system in the room, etc.): knowing these parameters, you can calculate the performance (power) and noise level of the hood, thereby ensuring yourself and their loved ones with clean air in the kitchen.
Advice from Osmin: – There is an opinion that in a small kitchen, say 6-9 sq.m., the most primitive hood is enough. However, in a small room, odors spread faster and the concentration of combustion products is higher, because the amount of their release does not depend on the size of the room.
How to correctly calculate the performance and power of the hood:
There is still a lot of confusion when calculating the performance of kitchen hoods. Starting with the fact that different manufacturers indicate the parameters of their devices obtained in different ways. Someone declares the “bare” performance of the turbine, someone writes real measurements of a specific model. Serious companies in their catalogs indicate all possible parameters for all types of tests (additional information can be requested from managers in the Osmin store), and the main parameter is the parameter with a free air flow for each model.
The classic formula for calculating power:
P = V H12,
where P is the required minimum exhaust capacity (m3 / hour); V – kitchen area; H – ceiling height; 12 – optimal air exchange per hour.
Firstly , the number 12, the SES norm for air renewal in kitchens (12 times per hour), which will allow you to get the required performance for your room at the maximum (!) Speed of the hood operation, which means that you have no power reserve for emergency situations. In addition, the hood at this power will operate in the noisiest mode.
Secondly , if the hood is hooked up to the air outlet, then a power factor of 1.3 should be added, and if it cleans with the help of carbon filters, then 1.5-1.7. Filters that capture grease and odors have a high resistance to air flow, so the power factor is higher.
Thirdly , the calculation coefficient may still vary depending on the type of hob. So, for electric hobs, a coefficient of 1.5 is needed, and for gas hobs, 2.0 (since in this case, in addition to fumes from cooking, there are also combustion products of the gas itself).
Thus, for a kitchen of 3×4 meters and a ceiling height of 2.7 meters with an electric hob, an extractor hood with a minimum capacity of 486 cubic meters / hour is required, and for a gas one – 648 cubic meters / hour. For comfortable use at medium modes and the availability of a performance margin, we recommend 600 and 800 cubic meters / hour, respectively. ceramic cookware pros and cons
Fourthly , it is worth using the boundaries of an isolated room as a calculated area, that is, bounded by walls, doors and windows. If the kitchen does not have a closing door or it is not used, then to calculate the area, it is also necessary to take into account the area of the adjacent room, which is not separated from the kitchen. In cases where the kitchen is combined with the living room, dining room, performance requirements increase dramatically due to the very rapid spread of odors and vapors into adjacent rooms, because they automatically become kitchen rooms.
So, let’s summarize how to correctly calculate the hood power:
Given: kitchen 3 * 4 meters, with a ceiling height of 2.7; family of three; an electric hob that cooks three times a day. There is an air outlet.
Task: find a hood suitable for its capacity
Solution: (3 * 4) * 2.7 * 12 * 1.5 = 583.2 cubic meters / hour
On average, the performance of the hood you choose should be at least 600 cubic meters per hour, that is how much it can move cubic meters of air per hour in your room. Congratulations! This is the performance of a medium range hood at the most common price point. The choice here is huge in shape, color, and price.
What you need to know more about hoods:
- Pay attention to the additional functions of modern kitchen hoods: which bulbs will illuminate your work surface above the stove; whether there is a residual fan stroke that allows the air to be completely purified after the end of cooking; whether there is an interval operation of the hood, it is sometimes called the “24 hour mode” so that the flow of fresh air into the room does not stop and keeps the air in your kitchen clean. Timer, air ionization, online recipes, designer lighting, working from a remote control or starting from a mobile device – more and more technological models appear every year.
- Design of the room and kitchen furniture: is of great importance when choosing a cooker hood. Pay attention to the design of the hood, the method and place of its attachment, the materials used, the color scheme, what kind of hob you have and what type and size of the oven you have chosen.
- Your habits and lifestyle: when choosing a hood, take into account whether you have a large family, how often and how much you cook food, the presence of allergy sufferers, animals, children who smoke indoors, etc. Because all this information will help you choose a device specifically for your family and for your home.
We hope that in this article we have removed your questions about how to calculate the power of the hood. What else to focus on when choosing a hood, read the article on how to choose the right kitchen hood.
Now you can independently choose a cooker hood from the range of the Osmin company. If you have any questions, call or ask us online. We will definitely help you to buy the hood for the kitchen that is right for you.
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