Secrets of the kitchen hood.
Not so long ago a hood appeared, or rather, “burst” into our kitchen, and today we can no longer imagine a full-fledged, finished look of the kitchen without it.
Initially, the main task of a hood or, as it is also called, an air purifier, was to rid the kitchen of unnecessary odors that arise during the cooking process.
Using a hood really helped remove unnecessary “odors” and reduce the frequency of repairs. Actually, this alone explained the need for this device.
Purifying the air in the room is really the main task of the hood. However, today it has also been endowed with aesthetic functions. Thus, a modern hood has become not just a “cleaner” of air, but also a beautiful highlight in your kitchen. It will highlight the style you have chosen to decorate your kitchen, be it country or high-tech.
The rich world of hoods
Today, choosing a hood that suits your liking will not be difficult. You just have to decide on the style of your kitchen, its size (this will determine how powerful the hood you need) and your own preferences.
On the household appliances market you can find a wide variety of hood models:
— classic is a standard hood with a flat body and, as a rule, one or two motors. It is attached to the wall or under a kitchen cabinet. The hood is located directly above the stove and can be of various colors. From the most extravagant to the classic. Such a hood can operate in filtration mode — the air is purified by passing through a removable carbon filter, and can also draw out all unnecessary odors, smoke, fumes into the ventilation shaft connected to the hood with a flexible hose — exhaust mode;
— built-in hood — it is also, as a rule, flat. It is built into a cabinet located above the stove or hob and has a retractable visor designed for greater air capture;
— fireplace hood — has a dome shape and is mounted above the stove. Often decorated in country style. Looks good in kitchens with large footage;
An island hood is a hood designed for the lucky owners of large kitchens, where you can easily place a stove in the center and form a so-called “island.” This hood is mounted directly in the center of the kitchen above the hob.
hoods with an inclined intake part are a fairly modern model of hoods, but they have already gained many admirers. The device is attached to the wall vertically with a slight inclination. This model does not hang over your head all the time and does not interfere with monitoring food preparation.
All hoods are equipped with work area lighting. These can be regular incandescent lamps of 40 W, fluorescent lamps of about 11 W, or halogen lamps of 20 W. Modern hoods have a mechanical or touch control panel, with which you can easily select or program the required operating mode. The kit may include a remote control, metal or carbon filters. Some hoods have a built-in electric motor that allows them to rise or fall.
Most modern models of electronically controlled hoods are equipped with an automatic on/off timer. Such hoods independently determine the temperature and humidity in the food preparation area. There are also hoods whose power does not have to be adjusted. They themselves determine whether the stove is working and the amount of evaporation, due to which they change the power.
The electronic filling of the hood allows you to recognize whether you are in the kitchen or absent. When you appear in the kitchen, the hood switches the motor power and increases the brightness of the work surface lighting. Sensors that detect the smell of gas can also be built-in. When such a smell appears, the hood will automatically shut off the gas and send you an SMS message.
Some modern hoods support a universal control system for all appliances — “Smart Home”. This means that wherever you are, whether not at work or on vacation, you will be able to turn on, turn off, and reconfigure your home appliances through a switch, which you can access from a computer or mobile phone.
Exclusive new products
Hood with TV panel
We have long been accustomed to a TV in the kitchen, standing on a shelf, on the refrigerator, attached to the top of the wall. It’s convenient, improves your mood and makes cooking easier. I was a little surprised by the new refrigerator with a TV panel built into the door. But have you heard of a range hood with a built-in LCD monitor and DVD and CD player? Or is it a TV made in the form of a hood and at the same time endowed with all its functions? This TV is equipped with teletext, and a PC can also be connected to it without any problems. The hood will deprive you of unnecessary visible wires from the TV and music player. In addition, it is equipped with all the latest air cleaning mechanisms, operates quietly and has an attractive appearance.
Countertop-mounted vario hood
Vario hood is another new product on the hood market. It allows you to collect unnecessary odors directly at the point of their formation, i.e. over the pan. The hood is built into the hob or countertop, from where, if necessary, it extends and is located above the level of the pan (can be rotated 90). This allows you to “catch” the smell before it spreads into the room. You can choose the height of the hood extension yourself, depending on the height of the pan or other kitchen utensils. The hood is equipped with a stainless steel grease filter that can be washed in the dishwasher. When the hood is not working, it can be hidden back.
Hood with air intake around the perimeter
What does “perimeter air bleed” mean? The steam rising from the stove does not immediately enter the hood. First, it spreads over the central part of the panel, and only after that it goes inside the body through a slot along the perimeter of the hood, inside of which there are carbon and grease filters. Experts say that this principle of air selection allows for a 10% increase in grease capture and a 10% reduction in noise during operation of the hood.
Hood with Meteo system
By purchasing such a hood, you can abandon the old, already rather banal thermometers attached to the outside of the window. The hood with the Meteo system will tell you the temperature, atmospheric pressure and other meteorological information during breakfast. And she will do this using a liquid crystal display and sensors installed on the outside of the building. In addition, the hood will inform you about the status of the filters, operating mode and the current time.
In a single ensemble with kitchen appliances
The list of possibilities of modern hoods and the rich variety of models does not end there. In addition to electronic filling and functionality, hoods can embody various design ideas. High-tech style hoods are popular: matte, glossy, stainless steel and aluminum, with dark glass, of various shapes — from classic to those reminiscent of “patched plates”. Such hoods will fit into any modern interior.
Country style hoods are also in demand. They mostly have a dome shape and wooden elements. Classic hoods with a retractable hood are often the only possible option in small kitchens. In terms of functionality, they are in no way inferior to all other hoods.
In a word, it’s not difficult to get lost in the rich world of hoods and air purifiers, but at least it’s interesting!
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