The hood is an integral and, of course, the most useful part of the kitchen equipment. When faced with the need to choose a design, consider not only how the product fits into the interior, but also the rating of the manufacturer, its reliability. Technical characteristics are also important: type, dimensions, hood power.
Performance is one of the most important parameters, and for the device to function correctly, it must be powerful and cope with its goals. This article explains how to calculate the power of a kitchen hood.
Species diversity
Structurally, the hood consists of a body and an engine hiding inside it with coolers and filters. Dozens of companies offer hundreds of models, differing in:
- parameters;
- size;
- shape;
- design;
- materials used in production.
Butthe main thing you should pay attention to when buying a hood for the kitchen, especially if it is a combined room, is efficiency and performance. It depends on how quickly the room will be ventilated, getting rid of unpleasant odors, grease, burning and the like. To choose the appropriate option, it is worth correctly calculating the power of the unit, and for this you will need to carry out a few simple mathematical operations using the formula. It will not be difficult to calculate the power of the hood.
The harmonious appearance of the room depends on how concisely the design fits into the interior, so this item is also important.
Corner hoods
They fit well with the style of the corner headset, in appearance they are made in the style:
- high-tech;
- classic;
- retro and others.
Island hoods
This kitchen equipment option is suitable for large and spacious rooms, for example, if you have your own house. The hood is located in the center of the room, connected to the ceiling, directly above the island with a stove or hob. Such products differ significantly in cost from classic models.
Decorative hoods
The range of products on the market, differing in price, design, functionality and performance, allows you to choose a product from one manufacturer or another. Choosing a model and brand is not so difficult with the help of a consultant. Therefore, this version of the hood is more common than others.
Recessed hoods
This is a kind of models that are comfortable. It is assumed that the body of the product is hidden in a wall cabinet, but this requires an accurate calculation of its dimensions. You need to know not only how to calculate the power of the hood, but also this parameter, which will have to be calculated for the correct choice of product.
Recessed hood is ideal for rooms made in the style:
- high-tech;
- modern;
- other modern trends in interior design.
Some of these models are equipped with retractable bottom panels, which allows you to increase the working surface, and therefore the ability to minimize the accumulation of unpleasant odors. The cost of such devices depends not only on the brand, but also on the functionality of the hood itself.
Flat hoods
This is an affordable option. The most practical for rooms with a small area, where every square centimeter is worth its weight in gold. This type of construction differs from alternative options in the amount of power consumed, significantly inferior to the rest in this parameter. Therefore, before buying, it is important to figure out how to calculate the power of the hood.
Functional types for the kitchen
Of the abundance of goods, two types of hoods are distinguished, presented on the shelves of specialized stores: flow and circulation. Below are more detailed diagrams of the functioning of these products.
Flow hoods
This type functions as the removal of hot dirty airmasses into the ventilation through the air duct using an engaged electric motor with blades. The passage of air includes the stage of filtration through a metal filter that accumulates particles of fat, soot, soot and other contaminants on its walls. Such a cleaner needs to be cleaned or replaced periodically, otherwise the performance of the hood will decrease and its operation will become inefficient.
In addition to this filter, the design of the hood does not provide for the presence of spare air-purifying membranes, since these masses do not get back into the room, but are brought out into the street. The quality of operation of this type of hood depends on the rule that determines how to calculate the power of the hood, as well as on the general condition of the air ducts in the house. It is worth noting that performance, regardless of power, is partially lost if the ventilation is clogged.
Circulation hoods
This type of structure is not necessarily suitable for a centralized ventilation system. Devices work just fine without it. Getting inside the system with the help of ventilation, polluted air goes through several stages of purification, first encountering a special filter for initial purification. After that, the dirt settles on a special grate. Further, the flows pass through a carbon membrane filter, which is responsible for removing foreign unpleasant odors that occur during cooking. At the final stage, the air passes through a double filter, being completely cleaned and getting back into the room.
This kindhoods are most often installed in apartment buildings where the ventilation system has not been cleaned for a long time and cannot be repaired. In terms of power, they are superior to flowing ones. Below in the article is a diagram describing how to calculate the required power of the hood to work effectively in the kitchen.
Dimensions and other parameters
Before you buy a hood, you should decide on its size. Efficiency in functioning is shown by those models whose area corresponds to the area of \u200b\u200bthe hob or exceeds it. Such products fully cope with the goals and objectives set for them, namely, the purification of polluted air coming from the stove and its removal to ventilation.
Before you calculate the hood power for the kitchen, you should familiarize yourself with the standard dimensions of the ventilation modules. Traditionally, the width of the hood is fifty to sixty centimeters, which is equal to the dimensions of the hob or stove. Sometimes on the market there are non-standard models with a width of 80-120 cm, but these are already semi-professional, which are rarely installed in the home kitchen.
It is worth considering that comfortable use of the hood lies in the height of its placement, which should be at least 65-70 centimeters from the hob.
Do not neglect this rule, because the hood hung below will interfere with comfortable cooking, and above it will not be able to fully cope with the set volume of tasks and clean as much as possibleair.
Power indicators and their calculation
Power is a fundamental factor influencing the performance of the hood. The higher it is, the better the coefficient of air purification in the room. The power value is measured in m3/hour, and its minimum value without deviations from the norm is within 200-300 cubic meters per hour.
How to calculate the hood power for the kitchen using the formula or algorithm:
- Measure the dimensions of the room, convert units and calculate the volume of the room in m3.
- Multiply the volume by the air exchange rate. Air exchange - a value showing how many times the air in the room is updated (through circulation) per unit of time, that is, 1 hour. According to the standard, this number is equal to 10-12 times.
Then it is not difficult to understand how to calculate the fan power for the hood. But first, decide on the mode of operation of the device, noting for yourself the advantages and disadvantages of both flow and circulation models:
- The first ones are more efficient, but on condition that the air duct is brought out. In this case, experts recommend purchasing a device with a capacity of 600-1200 cubic meters per hour, even if this figure is slightly higher than the air circulation volumes you calculated.
- When choosing a second circulation hood, you will need to purchase an appliance with a power several times greater than the estimated volume of air circulation, and all because of the closed circle of air circulation inside the room. It is recommended to choose a model30-40% more powerful than a flow hood and be sure to replace the filter at least every 6 months of operation.
The hood is the most important part of the kitchen, and knowing how to calculate its power for a room with a particular area, you will save yourself from unwanted problems that arise during the operation of improperly selected kitchen appliances.
