Extractor hood: which one to choose?

Extractor hood, which one to choose? In this article we will try to answer this question as clearly and comprehensively as possible. We will take you on an interesting journey to discover the best extractor hoods for kitchens and kitchens with an island, providing you with some important advice and suggestions that will help you choose the best extractor hood for your specific needs and requirements.

Here is everything you need to know about extractor hoods.

Extractor hood, when is its presence obligatory?

The kitchen is probably the room in the house where functionality is of fundamental importance. In this regard, in this environment, more than in others, it is essential to find the right compromise between aesthetics and functionality. As far as functionality is concerned, the first aspect to pay attention to in the kitchen is air quality.

The main function of the hood is to create air recirculation within the kitchen space, thus eliminating air saturated by the fumes produced during cooking. As far as the mandatory installation of the hood is concerned, it is worth emphasising that in kitchens where a gas hob is present, law 46/90 states that the installation of this instrument is mandatory. In the case of an electric or induction hob, installation of the hood is not compulsory, but it is strongly recommended to purify the air inside the kitchen.

Extractor hood: the different models available on the market 

Which cooker hood should you choose from the many models available on the market today? Our first piece of advice when choosing a cooker hood for your kitchen is to opt for an efficient and silent model: these are the main features that your cooker hood must have, regardless of the style and design that characterises it.

For those who are lucky enough to have a kitchen with an island, the market can now offer hood models specifically designed and manufactured for this type of configuration. The island cooker hood is an instrument specifically designed and created to be placed in a hob in the centre of the room and not along the walls. In this configuration, as well as performing its main task of cleaning and air recirculation, the hood also becomes an important furnishing and design object. Island cooker hoods can be cylindrical or cubic in shape, or can even be elements that are similar in every way to suspension lamps of different sizes.

Is it better to have an extractor hood or a filtering hood?

With reference to the choice of hood, the main question that people ask themselves is whether to choose a suction or filtering hood. To answer this question, we can say that in general terms the filtering hood (suction hood without flue) is installed when it is not possible to use a flue pipe, into which the fumes produced by combustion for food preparation can be conveyed. On the other hand, the filtering kitchen hood is an instrument that allows external suction.

Another possibility is the choice of a concealed hood. A concealed hood is a piece of furniture that remains hidden until it is needed. Once the cooking phase is over, this type of hood can disappear again. A retractable hood can be integrated inside the hob or alternatively in the false ceiling.

Concealed hoods integrated into the hob are usually fitted behind or to the side of the burners or hobs. Some models of retractable hoods are raised and activated only when the hob is switched on, self-adjusting the relative suction power according to the needs and the extent of food cooking.