Page 16 - Designing Ways 286

KSA

KSA update,

January 2025.

Choosing an extractor for

your kitchen

pp liances take up a large portion
of a kitchen budget but when it
Acomes to an Extractor or Cooker
hood we often find that units are specified
or chosen based on aesthetics rather than
effectiveness. This is why we wanted to
focus on the extractor and what exactly
should be taken into consideration when
selecting or specifying – it is not just looks
and price.
An extractor should effectively remove
steam and cooking odors as well as
airborne grease from the kitchen. If you
have not purchased or specified the correct
unit, or had it installed incorrectly, your When choosing your extractor you island unit once this is ascertained, you
extractor will become nothing more than must consider five things: your kitchen need to consider whether you can duct
a glorified noise maker. size and volume, your culinary habits, the unit to the outside or not. Ducting is
your method of installation, your budget always preferable as it expels the odours
and your aesthetical preferences. from the home. To duct your extractor
Kitchen size and volume – if the either needs to be:
extractor does not have a powerful enough
motor to cope with the volume of air • on an external facing wall so the duct
in your kitchen it will be ineffective. To pipe can go straight through the wall
calculate the volume of air in your kitchen to the outside
and hence the m3/hr capacity you need in • be able to reach the ceiling so it can
an extractor motor you apply the following duct out through the roof space.
formula for a closed kitchen with a wall • be situated a maximum of five
mounted extractor: volume = kitchen metres from an external wall so that
length x kitchen width x kitchen height a length of duct pipe can be run,
= .....m3. This formula will ensure the with no more than one bend, to the
extractor motor, is capable of changing the outside either in a cupboard space, a
air in your kitchen ten to twelve times in an bulkhead or in the ceiling space.
hour. For an island extractor you will need
a higher rate of air flow than indicated by If opting to duct out, you will have to
the formula. If your kitchen is open plan order a ducting kit as an extra, which will
you must work out the total volume of the consist of pipe (ordered by the metre),
open space and not just the kitchen area. clamps and a non-return vent.
Culinary habits – the extractor you If you cannot duct then you will have
choose will be determined by how often to recirculate. You must factor in that you
you cook, the type of food you cook and will lose about 25% of your motor capacity
the type of hob you have. If you rarely by recirculating. The extractor will also
cook and then only plain foods with be noisier if you recirculate. You must
minimal frying and grilling, a basic unit also remember to order a recirculating
will be fine, but if you cook regularly with kit, which consists of charcoal filters that
fatty foods and a lot of frying and grilling, must be fitted into the extractor body, and
then a unit that can duct to outside with a a T-piece that directs the filtered air out of
higher capacity motor is vital. the flue vents. If you do not order this as
Method of installation – Firstly, what an extra over and above your extractor the
can you accommodate, a wall mounted or unit will be totally ineffective. It is vital for

16 Issue 286 • dw