As an interior design company in Singapore, we’ve had countless homeowners approach us with the same problem in kitchen design – How to rid the home of pungent smells?
Poorly-ventilated kitchens trap smoke, smells and steam that leave your kitchen smelling stale. Not only this, the odors circulate across your entire home.
Your clothes absorb them too leaving you smelling like a pickled onion!
Installing a Kitchen Hood Might Be the Answer
The options in range hoods are plenty! And choosing one for your HDB kitchen design can get overwhelming.
Fret not! We’ll walk you through the factors to consider before buying a kitchen hood for your kitchen design.
Do You Need a Kitchen Hood?
If You Are Still Debating the Idea, the Answer Is a Resounding Yes!
Fitted with powerful fans, the kitchen hood draws in odors, smoke and fumes given off by your cooktop. It passes through the air ducts, from where it is filtered out.
The kitchen hood, thus, helps get rid of harmful particles and strong smells giving your kitchen a clean and fresh vibe.
Select a Mount Style Based on Your HDB Kitchen Design
Under the Cabinet, Against the Wall, Island and Recessed Are the Four Main Styles.
Under the cabinet styles are installed on the underside of the cabinet with the ductwork hidden inside the unit. It is very compact due to its low space requirement. The wall mounted style is suited for kitchen design that has a range fitted against a wall without any cabinetry above it.
The pathway for the ductwork is connected behind the chimney cover. Fit an island hood if your modular kitchen has an island stove. Island hoods are suspended from the ceiling and hover directly above. They have a wider surface area and a higher-power blower.
Recessed hoods boast of the most ergonomic kitchen design. Built into a cabinet or the wall, with only the mesh visible, it is the most compact. It may, however, require custom cabinetry. Thus, the placement of your cooking range and the kitchen layout will decide the type of mount you need.
Ducted or Ductless?
A ducted hood is connected to an air duct. It draws out the grease, smoke and odor from your kitchen by means of a vent, transferring it outside. A ductless hood, on the other hand, has in-built charcoal filters.
It removes the impurities and returns the clean air back into the room. There are designs that can double up as ducted or ductless designs. Ductless hoods are the most convenient in an HDB kitchen design that does not have easy-to-access ducts. Also, fitting a ducted model might not be allowed in HDB renovations.
Nonetheless, a ducted hood does a better job sucking out the impure air, since it can be fitted with a more powerful blower. If you have a pre-fitted vent, ducted is the best option.
Size of Range Hood
First, take a look at the size of your stovetop. The hood should be as wide as the stovetop. However, if you do not have any restrictions on space or budget, invest in a wider range hood; 3 inches on either side offers that extra coverage and traps stray streams of smoke and fumes.
Considering a hood for an outdoor kitchen design? Extend it by 6 inches on both sides of the range.
Ease of Maintenance
To keep your kitchen hood functioning at its optimum, it must be maintained periodically. The best hoods are those designed for hassle-free and straightforward maintenance. It should be easy to remove and fit back.
Higher-end models feature self-cleaning functions that clean up grease and grime periodically.
Noise Levels
From fans that sound like a jet engine to those that barely make their existence known, a hood fan can range in the noise it produces when operated. The noise level is measured in decibels or sones and is marked on the model.
We recommend a hood with lower decibel range, 40 to 60 decibels or 1 -3 sones. You may have to pay a little more for one, but it is worth the peace and quiet.
Cubic Feet Per Minute
The CFM rating on a kitchen hood reflects its airflow capacity or its power range. There are several factors that will dictate the best CFM for you.
A large-sized cooktop will require more power. Opt for a higher CFM, if your kitchen sees a lot of high-heat cooking or you cook greasy, fried food often. The next consideration is the type of cooking range – gas or electric.
Gas ranges demand a more powerful hood than their electric counterparts. A cooktop with multiple burners used simultaneously will require a more powerful range. Finally, consider the length of the duct (for ducted kitchen hoods) too.
Choosing the wrong kitchen hood can prove an expensive mistake. Add value to your HDB kitchen design through a careful selection of a high-performing hood that is built to last.