The daily preparation of various dishes is certainly accompanied by the emergence of a variety of odors, which, if spread throughout the home, create certain inconveniences. Kitchen hoods cope well with such troubles.
Such devices trap the air above the stove, quickly removing it along with various odors from the apartment through the ventilation system. The most important element of any modern hood is a grease filter, without which the engine of the device would quickly fail.
The principle of operation and the device of filters for hoods
- air removal along with odors;
- recirculation of air.
Let's consider such modes of operation in more detail.
The first mode implies the presence of a ventilation shaft. At the same time, pipes are connected to the hood that remove air from the kitchen. The motor of the device creates a draft by its work, thanks to which fat and combustion products are quickly and efficiently removed into the ventilation shaft.
In this case, pressure drops arise, as a result of which new air enters the room. Old air is removed and new air enters from one ventilation duct, so it is difficult to call it clean, but at least it does not contain any unpleasant odors. Hoods operating in a similar mode are flow-through.
Devices operating in recirculation mode are more complex in design. From the kitchen, air with odors and grease is sucked into the hood, where it is first cleaned by a grease filter and then by a charcoal filter. After that, the air purified from odors and various particles returns to the kitchen again.
It is clear that the disadvantage of such equipment is the lack of fresh air. The advantage of this type of hoods is ease of installation, as well as the absence of various pipes that exhaust air. Therefore, such a hood just needs to be installed above the working surface of the stove, and it does not matter at all at what distance from the ventilation hole it will be located.
A grease filter for the hood is used in every model of such cleaning equipment, regardless of its operating mode. Such an element cleans the air from fat particles so that it does not cover the moving parts of the motor and all internal surfaces of the device.
Disposable filters
Filters in cooker hoods can be disposable or reusable. It is clear that the second type is of higher quality, but the first is also encountered quite often.
Some synthetic materials are used to make disposable cleaning devices:
- synthetic winterizer;
- non-woven fabric;
- acrylic and some others.
In appearance, these grease filters resemble a small thin rug. They are usually used in budget models of suspended hoods installed on a kitchen cabinet. They are called flat.
Replace synthetic filters as soon as they become dirty. Some housewives even manage to wash such devices by reusing them. It is not recommended to do this, since it will not be possible to return the initial cleaning properties of synthetics, and with each next use, air purification with a filter will be less effective.
Reusable filters
The reusable extractor hood grease filters are used throughout the entire service life of this household appliance. Such cleaning devices are installed in devices of the middle and high price category.
This type of filter is made of metal; in operation, they are more durable and reliable in comparison with disposable models. It is not necessary to replace them at all, but it is important to periodically remove the filter and clean it.
Reusable filters are usually aluminum and look like a cassette. Structurally, it consists of a frame made of metal and a filter element, which is used as many layers of foil - perforated or mesh. In this case, the perforation can be asymmetric or symmetrical.
The filter freely passes air currents through itself, but fat particles settle on its surface. Reusable cleaning elements are most often made of aluminum foil or mesh, but sometimes models of galvanized steel or stainless steel are also found.
But you can often find cleaning elements from some other materials. For example, Elica brand products are often made from anodized aluminum. The surface of this material is a very thin metal layer that prevents oxidation.
Elikor's products perfectly capture fat particles in the air in the kitchen after cooking there, thanks to a five-layer filter made of the same type of aluminum. Despite such a large number of layers, air flows pass through the element as freely as possible.
Devices of the middle and high price category in most cases are equipped with not one large, but 2-3 small cassettes, which allows you to easily and quickly remove them, wash them and put them back in place.
Semi-professional filters
A novelty on the market is reusable hood filters based on stainless steel. Such elements are easier to maintain than aluminum models. In addition, they are more durable and do an excellent job of cleaning the air.
Among such novelties, the products of the Elica brand deserve attention, which is a set of cells located asymmetrically. The air moves through such cells like a labyrinth, which contributes to the retention of the maximum amount of fat particles in the filter.
Grease filter care
As noted, the grease filters do not need to be replaced, but it is important to periodically clean them. This is done as follows:
- The filter is removed from the hood.
- The cleaning element is immersed in a normal detergent solution. It can also be washed in the dishwasher, but it is advisable to install it vertically.
- When washing by hand, use a brush while holding the filter under a pressure of warm water.
- Dry metal filters at room temperature.
- After complete drying, the cleaning device is put back in place and the hood can be used again as intended.
It is not recommended to use baking soda when washing the grease filters, as it leads to the formation of brown spots on the metal. When washing in a dishwasher, do not use the high temperature setting - this can oxidize and darken aluminum.
In the case of cleaning the filter with a dishwasher, it is recommended to do this once every 2-3 months, in the case of manual washing, cleaning should be carried out once a month.
Thus, the grease filter is one of the main parts of modern hoods, which protects the device motor from contamination.
