The enticing aromas draw the whole family – young and old alike – into the kitchen. However, when these smells become stronger or mix together, we need to ensure proper ventilation and remove grease, smoke and other cooking odours, as well as steam and moisture, from the kitchen. This is where the cooker hood comes in, and there are many different types available. We’ll be looking at these one by one.
Conventional cooker hood
These are the cooker hoods that everyone is bound to have come across in one form or another. Thanks to their affordable price, they can be found in a great many kitchens. We recommend them primarily for smaller kitchens, where it is important that the cooker hood is both practical and space-saving. A further advantage is that they do not require a wall cabinet or a complicated installation process; they can be fitted on their own above the cooker or hob.
Pull-out / built-in cooker hood
These are the most popular types of cooker hoods. Pull-out and built-in cooker hoods must always be fitted into a wall unit. As with traditional cooker hoods, key advantages here are space-saving and practicality, making them the perfect choice for small kitchens. It is important to seek advice from a kitchen fitter when making your choice, as the size of the kitchen cupboard into which you wish to install it does matter.
Wall-mounted chimney-style extractor fan
Chimney-style cooker hoods – as their name suggests – are designed for wall mounting and feature a wider glass or metal chimney. This enables them to extract larger volumes of steam and odours. We recommend them for kitchens where there is slightly more space available than in a very small kitchen. Where possible, this type should always be connected to the ventilation duct system; if this is not feasible, an activated carbon filter must be used.
Corner extractor fan
A corner cooker hood is the ideal solution when the hob is fitted at an angle in the corner of the kitchen worktop. Due to their unique design, they are priced above average. However, as they have a wide duct, they are capable of extracting large amounts of steam and vapour. As with wall-mounted ducted cooker hoods, if connection to the ventilation duct system is not possible for any reason, an activated carbon filter will be required.
External motorised cooker hood
In an external motorised cooker hood, the motor itself is not housed within the hood but in a separate unit. This can be installed in a loft, an attic, outside the wall or even on the roof itself. A major advantage is that it is much quieter than other types of cooker hoods, as when in use you cannot hear the motor at all – only the sound of the airflow.
Sziget cooker hood
An island cooker hood is most commonly used when the kitchen worktop or hob is situated on a kitchen island. We should also opt for this type if, for whatever reason, we are unable to use other types of cooker hood. For example, with hobs positioned in front of a window where there is no side wall into which the cooker hood can be fitted. In such cases, particular care must be taken to ensure that the surface on which the cooker hood is mounted is sufficiently sturdy, otherwise it may fall.
Given the numerous factors to consider when choosing a cooker hood, it is definitely worth seeking the help of a kitchen design specialist to ensure you find the best possible solution.
