Kitchen hoods without an air duct: types, tips for choosing

Today, almost every kitchen has a cooker hood. Thanks to this device, the products of combustion of fats and evaporation do not settle on walls, furniture and windows. Until recently, all secretions were removed to the outside through the ventilation system. But a few years ago, a new model appeared on the market - a hood without an air duct.

To install such devices, you do not need to make a ventilation hole, which is very convenient for owners of apartments and houses who do not want to block the ventilation duct.

Principle of operation

The hood for the kitchen without an air duct is equipped with a motor that drives the fan and turns on the cleaning units. Thanks to the fan, a draft is generated in the system, which helps to suck in harmful vapors from the kitchen.

Most modern models can operate in several modes - exhaust and circulation. Each of these modes directs polluted air to different locations.

Exhaust mode drives air to the ventilation shaft or to the street. This is achieved thanks to special clamps connecting the air duct.

The work of the circulating mode is to clean the dirty air and return it to the room.

Views

What are the types of hoods without an air duct? Manufacturers are currently producing flat and built-in models.

The latter look very neat in the kitchen and take up a minimum of space. The built-in hood can be easily disguised as a wall cabinet or panel. In addition, there are pull-out built-in devices that are removed after use, freeing up space in the kitchen.

The complete set of flat hoods includes a case panel, fan and filters. These models are also compact in size and fit into the space of even the smallest kitchen.

Advantages of hoods without a duct

Despite the fact that many consider the most effective devices that remove fumes from the room to the street, hoods for a kitchen without air ducts have a number of useful advantages.

1. During the operation of the device connected to the duct, everything works relatively well. But it should be borne in mind that ventilation systems are designed for a certain load, exceeding which the quality of ventilation significantly deteriorates. When the in-line kitchen hood is turned off, the natural exchange of air stops due to the blockage of the ventilation duct by the air pipe. Therefore, the in-line hood negatively affects the quality of the ventilation system, reducing its efficiency by at least two times. A hood for a kitchen without an air duct does not create such problems, it simply recirculates air during its operation. And when it is turned off, the natural air exchange planned during the construction of the house is not disturbed. This is the main advantage of models of this type.
2. The second advantage is the ease of construction. It does not include massive pipes that clutter up the space of the room. The hood for the kitchen without an air duct is a compact flat surface located horizontally to the floor. Such models do not overload the wall with their weight and do not spoil the interior of the kitchen.
3. Another plus is quite simple installation. To install the structure, you just need to fix it on the wall using household tools and connect the plug to the outlet.
4. The advantage of the hood is also considered a very simple replacement and maintenance of filters. These designs are equipped with two types of filters. As a rule, coarse filters are made of metal, making them easy to care for. The filters are washed with non-abrasive detergents by hand or in a dishwasher. If the charcoal filters are clogged, the old filters are thrown away and new ones are installed.
5. The undoubted advantage of hoods without an air duct is their price. These models cost significantly less than conventional designs. In addition, any man who does not have special skills can install a recirculating hood: for this, it is enough just to make mounting holes in the wall and fix the device.
6. Contrary to the popular belief that flow-through models clean the air much better, recirculation models also do an excellent job. The main thing is to properly care for the device and change filters on time.

disadvantages

1. Cooker hoods for kitchens without air ducts have charcoal filters that cannot be cleaned after being dirty. Therefore, they must be periodically replaced with new ones, which leads to additional costs. At the same time, many are interested in the question: how long does one carbon filter last? In fact, its service life depends on many factors: this is the number of people in the family, and the frequency of use of the hood. In addition, frequent cooking of fatty fried foods will clog the filters more quickly. On average, one filter is enough for 3-6 months. However, some modern models of in-line hoods are also equipped with filters that require periodic replacement.
2. Hood manufacturers without an air duct produce them in a small design variety. Most often, they have noble simple forms and laconic images, while flow models are made in a variety of options: from the most modest to luxurious fireplaces.

How to choose?

In order for a new hood without an air duct to please its owners for a long time, you need to know how to choose the right model that suits you. Today, you can find models on sale that differ in design, size, type of installation and additional functions. The simplest hoods are equipped with built-in lighting and a speed switch. More expensive options can be produced with sensors that automatically turn on or off the hood. Devices of a luxury class are capable of reacting to changes in air humidity and temperature, independently selecting the desired operating mode. Filters in such models are equipped with indicators that indicate contamination. Also, some hoods come with a control panel, thanks to which the device can be controlled from any corner of the kitchen.

Selection Tips

• When choosing a particular model, you need to pay attention to its performance. To do this, multiply the area of ​​the room by its height, and multiply the result by 12 (the SES norm for updating the kitchen air).
• Large devices are best avoided as they are noisier than small devices. In addition, a large hood will consume more electricity, which will incur unwanted additional costs.
• To choose the quietest model, you should pay attention to the noise figures indicated in the instructions. The smallest noise level is characterized by a figure of 40 dB.
• It is best to choose a device with a wide range of adjustments. This will allow you to adjust the hood more precisely.
• Before buying this or that device, it is advisable to read the reviews and recommendations of people who already use such models. It should also be borne in mind that a low price will save money for a short time, and after a while a cheap hood may start to fail frequently, requiring constant repairs or even a complete replacement.

Most popular brands

Currently, hoods without an air duct are offered by many manufacturers. By choosing one of the leading brands, you can ensure the uninterrupted operation of equipment at a relatively low cost.

• Ariston is a well-known manufacturer that has been producing various types of equipment for 15 years. The hoods of this company have proven themselves on the good side.
• Integra is also a fairly widespread brand that efficiently removes unnecessary fumes from the kitchen. Hoods from this manufacturer are distinguished by high-quality filters that ensure long service life.
• "Zigmund-Shtain" and "Bosch" - German manufacturing firms produce products that have established themselves in the world market as one of the most reliable. Therefore, every housewife can be sure that the air in her kitchen will always be clean and fresh.

Recirculation hoods have proven themselves to be efficient and long-lasting. In addition, these devices are a unique and simple solution to such a problem as the small size of some rooms and ergonomics.