A powerful extractor is essential in any kitchen, but particularly in an open-plan space where cooking odours and steam can cause a damp, noisy atmosphere. The size and style depends on your room and the sort of look you wish to create, so here’s our guide to getting it right.
By Hayley Gilbert
All prices are approximate; check with your retailer
KCIP1210 120cm Architect island hood from KitchenAid
Why Bother With A Cooker Hood?
Whether your kitchen is separate or open-plan, you still need a cooker hood to displace cooking odours and steam. At its best, not having one will create a noisy, damp environment as you sizzle and simmer with cooking odours seeping into the rest of the house. However, in extreme cases, you will have to cope with wet walls and furniture and even mould on kitchen units and carcases. Opening the window is not enough – you still need a powerful extractor and there are plenty of models to choose from.
Above: KCIP1210 120cm Architect island hood, from around £1,600, KitchenAid
BXX100ss 90cm hood, Baumatic
A ducted or extraction model is the most effective. It works by drawing steam and cooking odours through its grease filters then expels them outside via hidden metal ducting and returns clean air into the kitchen. You will need an external wall if you choose this type of design so if you live in a flat without access to an exterior wall, you will have to re-circulate the air instead.
Above left: BXX100ss 90cm hood, from around £899, Baumatic
Active 90cm island hood, Franke
Re-circulation hoods work by drawing stale air through a grease filter, passing it through a charcoal filter for purification then returning the clean, filtered air into the kitchen via an opening in the hood. Grease filters should be cleaned or replaced every three to four months and charcoal filters, every 18 months.
Above right: Active 90cm island hood, from around £1,320, Franke
Before you buy, you’ll need to calculate the volume of the kitchen to determine the minimum extraction rate required. The hood needs to be powerful enough to change the air in the kitchen at least eight times an hour but ideally, 12.
To do this, multiply the room’s length x width x height (for example, 4m x 3m x 2.5m = 30m3). If you wanted 10 changes of air per hour, then the extraction rate required would be 10 x 30m3, which is 300m3.
Remember, the higher the extraction or re-circulation rate, the more effective it is.
You should also take note of the noise level. This is calculated in decibels. Hoods below 60dB are extremely quiet but the standard is between 60dB and 65dB.
If you have a gas hob, the minimum distance between hood and hob is 65cm. With electric, it is reduced to 55cm or 43cm with a telescopic hood.
Need help planning your kitchen? Click on the link to go direct to our kitchen pages – you’ll find galleries of contemporary kitchen designs, more buying advice, plus all you need to know about planning and buying kitchens.
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