Installing a Modular Kitchen Chimney: All you need to know

A kitchen’s most important area is where the cooking happens, the stove top and chimney. While cooking a lot of smoke, food smells, and grease rises which is extracted by a kitchen chimney’s fan and filter? If the chimney is not installed properly it can lead to a pollution and health hazard.

Hence it’s essential to take proper care while installing the ventilation system and chimney in the kitchen.

The kitchen chimneys can be divided into ducted and ductless chimneys. Ducted chimneys release the stale air outdoors through a duct while ductless chimneys pass the stale air through charcoal filters and the purified air is reverted into the kitchen. Ducted chimneys are favoured more for Indian cooking as there is a lot of frying and masala used.

When there is no space for ducts to be fixed, ductless chimneys are installed. There are various chimney models – under cabinet kitchen chimneys, kitchen chimneys which can be mounted on the wall or ceiling, etc. These models can be chosen based on the kitchen’s design or the homeowner’s wish.

The kitchen chimney should be an important consideration while renovating a kitchen. Here are a few things you should know regarding a new chimney installation –

Size

The standard width of ducted chimneys is around 60 to 90 cm. For a stovetop having 2-4 burners, a 60 cm wide chimney is enough while for a stovetop with 3-5 burners, chimney with 90 cm width is recommended. The size of a chimney must be of a bigger or same size as the cook top as only then are all the fumes extracted properly.

Chimney filter

There are 2 kinds of chimney filters available – cassette and baffle. A cassette filter has a layered metal mesh to collect the pollutants of the kitchen, these are released through either a duct or a PVC pipe. This filter, however, clogs up sometimes and its effectiveness lessens over time. A baffle filter has alternating steel and aluminium layers which change the airflow direction. This filter can separate grease from smoke and does not clog up. Filters are only available in ductless chimneys; they demand a lot of maintenance and need to be replaced regularly.

Suction Power

The suction power of a chimney is an important factor; it is measured in cubic meters per hour. For the Indian style of cooking, 400-1000 cubic meters per hour suction power is recommended based on the size of the kitchen.

Ducts

The turns and bends in a duct and its size are important considerations. If a duct is long, the suction power needs to be higher for all the smoke and pollutants to leave the kitchen. A chimney duct’s optimum length is 12 feet and not longer. The chimney should be placed in such a way so that the outdoor connecting pipe is short and the suction power runs efficiently. However, most modern homes have obstacles like a wall or a window for the chimney to function properly.  Stainless steel is durable and is resistant to corrosion which is why it is favoured when making duct pipes. Aluminium and PVC are also used.  The chimney runs with maximum efficiency when there are fewer bends in the pipe.

Cut out for chimney duct

There should be a 6 inch cut out on an external wall for the chimney duct. The cut should place the chimney 7 feet from the floor or above the windows. A chimney installer can cut the circular shape on the external wall if there is no cut out in your kitchen and install the chimney. The cut out for the exhaust fan can also be used to pass the chimney pipe through. This is not an option for people living in rented apartments or buildings.

The distance of chimney from the kitchen platform

The distance between chimney cook top and hood must be within 26 to 30 inches. Even if the cooking range differs, the distance between chimney and stove remains the same. The kitchen chimney fitting height should not be less than 26 inches or more than 30 inches. A distance of more than the prescribed range will not extract the smoke properly from the kitchen area. And a distance of less than 26 inches hides the visibility of pans and vessels while cooking. Hence, this ideal distance between cook top and hood should be maintained.

After reading the types of chimneys, choosing a chimney best suited for your kitchen should be based on the space, style of cooking and personal taste. It can be helpful to consider the following factors before deciding –

Flexibility – See if you have the provision to go for a ducted chimney or not. Most rented apartments and buildings won’t have this option and going ductless is the only option. A ductless chimney is more flexible and you can even choose the type of hood depending on where your kitchen range and stove top are placed.

Humidity and air quality – A ducted hood should be preferred if the kitchen is humid. If you are ok with recirculating air and a little noise, a ductless hood can also be installed.

Budget –A new duct range and all the ductwork can be expensive. It is advisable to check the budget and the cost of chimney installation before selecting a hood.

It all comes down to someone’s personal style. You can research, make a list of pros and cons and understand which chimney will work best in your kitchen. However, even with all the research, it can be difficult to source modular essentials. Contractorbhai offers its services at transparent pricing and can aid you in renovating or designing every aspect of your home.

Contact us at contractorbhai.com for further details.