1. Introduction
The kitchen is believed to be the heart of a home and keeping it spic and span on a daily basis can be quite a challenge. Selecting the right chimney and exhaust fan can go a long way in alleviating the pain of keeping it clean. Since chimneys and hobs typically go hand-in-hand, I will also delve into selection of hobs/cooktops.
This blog post covers 3 topics:
- 8 factors to keep in mind when choosing a kitchen chimney
- 9 factors to keep in mind when choosing a hob or cooktop
- Kitchen chimneys vs exhaust fans
By the end of this post, you will be clear about how to assess these products, what features to look out for, which of them are critical and which ones are nice-to-haves. The objective here is to help you think through your needs in more detail, understand key aspects to keep in mind and select a model that’s optimally suited for you.
2. 8 factors to keep in mind when choosing a kitchen chimney
2.1 Chimney size
For a chimney to be effective, it must suck out unwanted smoke and food particles before they get a chance to settle anywhere else in the kitchen. For this to be possible, the chimney should be atleast as wide as the hob. Having a wider chimney is fine (in fact better), but it should definitely not be narrower than the hob. If you have limited space in your kitchen, it would be best to stick to a chimney that’s as wide as the hob/cooktop, since a wider chimney would eat into the space available for cabinets.
2.2 Filter types and auto-clean chimneys
Chimneys models vary based on the type of filter they use. There are 3 main types: mesh, baffle and charcoal, each with its own pros and cons. But they all have one thing in common – they all require regular cleaning. In fact, cleaning chimneys used to be a such painful exercise and many people would avoid buying one just because of this activity. Then chimney cleaning services arrived and provided the much-needed relief, but this became an additional ongoing expense.
2.2.1 Auto-clean chimneys and their benefits
Auto-clean chimneys have revolutionised the chimney industry. These chimneys have no filters. Instead, they have a heating element that melts all the oil, which then flows down along with other particles into a collector. All you need to do is empty the collector every few weeks. Auto-clean chimneys cost more, but they save you a lot of hassle as well as ongoing cleaning expenses. In fact, I’ll say that you shouldn’t even bother considering chimney models that don’t have an auto-clean feature. It is only a matter of time when all the other models get phased out. Auto-clean chimneys come in horizontal and slanting models. Both are good, but the latter gives you a better sense of space as the chimney is further away from your face.
2.3 Suction power
A good chimney sucks out not just smoke and moisture, but also tiny particles of oil, food and masalas before they settle anywhere in the kitchen. The suction power that your chimney should have depends on the size of your kitchen. There is a mathematical calculation to arrive at the exact figure, but if you are looking for a thumb rule, I’d suggest to go with a model that has a suction power of atleast 1200 cubic metres per hour.
Select a chimney model that has a suction power of atleast 1200 cubic metres per hour.
You might be tempted to buy a model with the highest suction power, but keep in mind that it may also mean higher noise levels. This makes it important to consider the power rating and number of fans.
2.3.1 Power rating of the motor
Suction power of a chimney ultimately boils down to the power of the motor used in the chimney. A chimney that uses a 200W motor has more suction power than one that uses a 150W motor. But if the 150W motor were to achieve the same suction as that of a 200W motor, it would need to run at a much higher speed, thereby making it noisy. So a chimney with a more powerful motor produces lesser noise while providing good suction.
Select a chimney model that uses a motor of atleast 200W.
2.3.2 Number of fans
Some brands will have 2 fans instead of one, but don’t be led to think that their suction power doubles. Yes, the air-suction is better distributed, but more moving parts (from 2 fans) would mean more noise as well. I’d recommend buying a chimney with a powerful motor that has a single large fan.
2.4 Noise levels
Standing in front of the heat and cooking is already tiring. Add to that a noisy chimney, and it really gets to you. A lot of people switch off the chimney simply because of the noise levels. Most brands mention the noise levels in their technical specifications sheet, but there doesn’t seem to be a uniformity in the measurement approach across brands, making it very difficult for you to make a comparison. Some brands will mention the lowest noise level and mention the highest suction power. I’d suggest checking the noise levels by visiting a physical store. Keep in mind that there’s little use of comparing chimney noise levels at their maximum speeds because they all get quite noisy and you will rarely use them at that speed. Try to check the noise level at the first 2 speed levels, since those are the speeds at which you will predominantly be using the chimney at home.
2.5 Size of the exhaust pipe (diameter)
It’s important to stick to the size of exhaust pipe mentioned in tech spec sheet, so check for the feasibility of drilling a hole of that size in your kitchen wall. Broader pipes are fine, smaller ones are not. If the specification mentions a diameter of 6 inches and you try to use a thinner pipe, suction power is reduced and noise levels go up.
2.6 After-sales service
As a general rule, always research about the after-sales service level of a brand before buying their product. Service levels can vary significantly across cities and even across different areas of the same city. So make sure you check the service levels specifically for your locality. Consider a mix of reviews from physical stores, online reviews and feedback from people in your building or community.
2.7 Warranty
There isn’t much variation across brands when it comes to warranty but keep an eye out for it. Most chimneys come with a 1-year warranty and 5 years on the motor.
2.8 Other features
There are features that will look cool, but add little value. For instance, some chimneys will have motions sensors so you can switch the chimney on/off or change speeds by simply waving your hand in front of it. In my view, this feature is more a of nice-to-have, and shouldn’t take priority over the other factors that focus on the core purpose of the chimney. Similarly, the lights in your chimney shouldn’t be major a decision factor. A good ceiling light can take care of the cooking area as well as the rest of the kitchen, and will do so at a much lower cost.
3. 9 factors to keep in mind when choosing a hob or cooktop
In spite of being a very high usage appliance, a lot of people don’t put much thought into the purchase of a hob or cooktop. The most common approach to buying is to first decide between a cooktop (that stands on the kitchen counter, giving the flexibility to move it around) and a hob (that is embedded in the countertop and looks better). After that it is mostly about getting the best price for the maximum number of burners. It’s only after a few months do the issues become evident – space constraints making it difficult to use all burners together, some burners becoming unusable as they generate either too much or too little heat, and so on. A lot of these are not product issues as such; it’s just that the product doesn’t match one’s cooking needs.
Assessing these 9 key factors before making the purchase can avoid these issues and significantly improve your daily cooking experience.
3.1 Number of burners
Think through real hard about how many burners you really need. Don’t opt for a higher number of burners just because you are getting a good deal on it. Larger hobs take up more space, leaving lesser countertop space available for other tasks. Be objective and don’t fall into the “what-if” trap.
The “What-if” trap:
We often buy a larger size of a product to account for a one-off case when we may need it (say, when we are hosting a large party). I like to call this the “what-if” trap. The problem with this approach is that you not only spend more money on the appliance and subsequent monthly electricity bills, but it also takes up more space leaving lesser space for other activities. To avoid this trap, take an objective look at what you will need 95% of the time and buy that size.
Personal experience:
I had fallen prey to the “what-if” trap when I bought my first microwave, it was a top-end 32-litre convection model. Though it took up a lot of space, it had some really good features. Over the next 9 years, the grill was used a total of 3 times and not once did we bake anything; I realised that all we needed was a simple microwave to re-heat food. I was more pragmatic for my second purchase – a 20 litre solo microwave with very limited features.
3.2 Burner arrangement or layout
The 4-burner hob with the burners arranged in a square may be common, but it is very crammed and you may often find it difficult to use all 4 burners all at once. Not surprisingly, it is on these models that you will find good deals. If you really have the need to use 4 burners together, buy a model where there is enough space between the burners. For example, a model where the burners are placed along an arc.
3.3 Burner material
Burner material decides the heating capacity, efficiency as well as the life of a burner. Burners can be made of 2 materials:
3.3.1. Brass
- These burners are more efficient in delivering heat and hence have lower cooking time
- They are durable and last longer
- Consequently, they are more expensive
3.3.2 Aluminium
- These burners aren’t as efficient and take a little longer to cook food. However, with time, the aluminium bends marginally, the efficiency drops and food takes even longer to cook.
- They are cheaper than brass burners
Personal experience:
We had purchased a hob with aluminium burners at my parent’s house (got a juicy deal on a 4-burner model of a reputed brand). While it was ok the initial 4 years, it became quite irritating subsequently, when even making tea started taking a lot of time. Today, on one hand the cooking time irritates us (particularly during the summers), but on the other hand, we hesitate to throw away something that’s in working condition.
3.4 Heating capacity of burners
This is one aspect that most people (including store salespeople) are not even aware of. In fact, I too learnt about it by chance when I was researching for my house. What most of us often don’t realise is that there is no uniformity of burners across brands and even different models of the same brand. The smallest burner of one hob may generate double the heat of the smallest burner of another. People complain about the largest burner being unusable for generating too much heat even when it is set at sim, while the smallest burner barely generates any heat, rendering both the burners practically useless. The product is fine, they just bought a model that wasn’t suited to their needs. When buying a hob, ask the salesperson for the technical spec sheet or look it up on the product site. Heating capacity is expressed in KW (kilowatts) for each burner. Here’s a guideline for selecting burner wattage for a family of 4:
The optimal zone for burner wattage is from 1.5KW to 3.5KW
A burner with wattage more than 3.5KW is useful if you are cooking large amounts of food for 5 or more people, or cooking dishes where the recipe requires very high levels of heat
A burner with less than 1.5KW is just not practical. A 1KW burner takes forever to even make tea for 2.
Personal experience:
There are some convertible models where the largest burner converts to a small burner when you set it at the lowest level of heat; the burner keeps only the innermost ring of fire burning. So you could have a 3-burner hob with the 3 burners rated at 3.5KW, 3KW, 2KW and the 3.5KW converting to a 1.5KW at the lowest level. I opted for such a model, and even though it came for a slight premium, I am very happy with it.
3.5 Size of the hob
The most common sizes have widths of 2, 2.5 and 3 feet, though you get wider ones as well. Do keep in mind that the width of the chimney must never be lesser than that of the hob, else the chimney will not be effective. Also, a wider hob would mean that you need a wider chimney, which in turn would reduce your wall cabinet width. You need to strike a balance between these factors.
3.6 Features
There are 2 features you should keep an eye out for:
3.6.1 Flame failure detection
You must have heard of accidents that were caused due to cooking gas spreading in the house, wherein the knob was left on and the flame had gone off for some reason. Keeping this major risk in mind, a safety feature got introduced by manufacturers in the last few years. The flame failure detection feature uses a tiny sensor that cuts off the gas supply automatically in case the flame goes off for any reason. Initially this was found in only premium models, but given its importance, it is now becoming fairly standard across all models. Make sure you buy a model that has this feature – I think it’s a must-have.
3.6.2 Auto-ignition
This is a standard feature that obviates the need to buy a separate gas lighter. You just press the knob and the burner ignites. I think it’s more of a nice-to-have that adds convenience. Auto-ignition comes in 2 types – battery operated and electrical. If you already have a plug point near your hob, you could buy the electrical version. Otherwise, you can opt for the battery operated one. Auto-ignition barely takes up any power, so the battery easily lasts a year.
3.7 Material of the hob
Both steel and glass hobs are fine, you can choose one that you find more appealing. In case you are buying glass, just make sure the model uses toughened glass that’s scratch-proof.
3.8 After-sales service
As a general rule, always research about the after-sales service level of a brand before buying their product. Make sure you check the service levels specifically in your locality as service levels can vary significantly across cities and even across different areas of the same city. I have experimented with several brands and never had any issues for any of the hobs I bought, but it still is better to go with a brand that has good after-sales service. Browse through online reviews, check with physical stores and take feedback people living in your society or community.
3.9 Warranty
Though hobs are known to last for years, it is good to have a look at warranties of different models when deciding. There will be separate warranties for the body and the burners. Premium models will have long warranties of 5-10 yrs. Also, brass burners will have a longer warranty than the aluminium ones.
4. Kitchen chimneys vs exhaust fans
It is fairly common to see exhaust fans being compared to chimneys, even though they are very different products that serve very different purposes.
Exhaust fans don’t compete with chimneys, they complement them.
At this point you might be wondering why you need an exhaust fan in the kitchen even after installing a chimney. To answer that, take a moment to think about the last time you made parathas at home or grilled something; I’m sure the smoke would have spread and whole house was smelling of it. Smoke, in particular, can also be a problem for someone allergic to strong smells or with a strong dislike towards the odour of specific foods. Chimneys are closer to the cooking area and do a great job at sucking out larger/heavier oil and food particles. However, even if you install the best chimney out there, smoke will manage to find its way beyond the purview of the chimney. Smoke contains finer/lighter particles that settle down after a while. Exhaust fans ensure it doesn’t settle in your house.
Exhaust fans are relatively cheap and provide great value for the amount you pay for them. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind when buying an exhaust fan for your kitchen:
4.1 Type of exhaust fan
It is a common mistake to assume all exhaust fans are the same. Exhaust fans come in different types depending on the area they are going to be fitted. Kitchen exhaust fans need to handle oil and grime, and therefore designed differently from, say, bathroom exhaust fans that primarily need to handle moisture. So whether you are buying online or at a store, make sure you mention that you need an exhaust fan for your kitchen.
4.2 Ease of cleaning
Exhaust fans collect a lot of grime over time that can’t be easily wiped off. Select a model where the front cover is detachable, so that you can remove it for cleaning.
Personal experience
Kitchen exhaust fans have back flaps to prevent insects and other particles from entering your kitchen from outside. The flaps open automatically due to the air-flow created when the fan is turned on. However, with time, oil and grime collects in the hinges of these flaps and the they don’t open automatically, rendering the fan completely ineffective. Cleaning the hinges can be tedious since they are on the outer side of the kitchen wall. I bought a model that addressed this issue by having a separate tiny motor to ensure the flaps open whenever the fan is turned on. The back flaps haven’t got stuck even once till date.
5. Conclusion
I know it’s been a long read and I may have gotten into a few technical details at places, but with these pointers in mind, you are definitely better equipped to assess these appliances for your kitchen and select models that are optimally suited for your needs.
Have questions or queries?
There are some pertinent queries that other readers have asked in the comments section at the end of this page; do go through them to see if any of them resonate with you. If you have a different question, feel free to mention it there; I will do my best to answer it. Please allow a few days for me to respond. If I (or any other reader) can answer it, then good. If not, atleast it will be something for the next reader to keep in mind. In case you have any learnings or experience to share, do mention it there for the benefit of other readers.
In case you are planning to design your kitchen from scratch, you can refer my guide on planning your kitchen design that details a structured approach on how to going about it. It takes a deeper look at design and material considerations you must keep in mind for different kitchen components like cabinets, shutters, drawers, countertop, fittings, etc.
If you are looking to buy new kitchen appliances, you can refer to my other post:
- A comparison of a microwave, OTG and convection oven delves into each of these products along with their pros and cons in order to understand which one is ideally suited for what purpose.
- A practical guide to buying a refrigerator looks at 9 key factors to keep in mind when selecting one, filtering out marketing gimmicks and focussing on those that really matter.
- The post on how to choose the right washing machine looks at different types of washing machines, their pros and cons and what to keep in mind when buying one.
- How to select the right dishwasher
In case you are planning on doing up other parts of your house as well, you could refer to some of my other posts:
- 4 factors to consider when designing or selecting a wardrobe – This post delves into factors like build material options, pros and cons of different types of shutters, designing wardrobe internals (shelves, drawers, fittings), buying readymade versus getting it custom-made.
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This is a great post! I made the mistake of choosing the crammed 4-burner hob. I’ve since replaced it with a conventional gas stove. Auto-ignition is a must because we keep losing the lighter in our kitchen!
Yes, auto-ignition is very convenient and reliable. I have seen some lighters also tend to malfunction during the monsoons.
I am planning to buy a kitchen chimney and I’ve been going through many online reviews and blogs which state that baffle type filter chimneys are best suited for Indian kitchens. Whereas I find all the basic chimney models from prominent brands are coming with cassette type filters. I am quite confused and not sure whether to go for a cassette filter or a baffle filter. Which one of these two is better and which brand would you recommend?
Yes, baffle filters are way better than cassette (or mesh) filters, especially for indian kitchens.
The problem I found with cassette type filters is that the holes in the mesh get quickly blocked by oils and masalas, which in turn drastically reduce it’s efficiency, to the point that it cannot even eliminate smoke effectively. Cleaning them is a bigger headache, since the only way you can clean them is to submerge them in a tub of hot water and add a cleaning agent. Cleaning the tub is another pain as the grime sticks to it.
Baffle filters are better since their efficiency is not affected with heavy usage. It’s just a better design. The filter traps oils and masalas and the smoke is not blocked. Cleaning them is also much easier – you can wipe them clean with a cloth and cleaning agent every few weeks and do an occasional thorough cleaning using a tub and hot water.
I am planning to fix basic exhaust fans in all the bathrooms. Any suggestions on which type and brand I should go in for?
I’d suggest keeping these these 3 things in mind:
1) The suction capacity of fan should be adequate for the size of your bathroom. Suction is determined by sweep-size (the diameter of the circle made by the blades of the fan).
Here’s a thumb rule I use – If your bathroom is less that 40 sqft, you can buy a 4-inch exhaust fan, else go for a 6-inch one. I prefer the exhaust fans with 6 blades and a speed of atleast 2000 rpm – they have adequate suction power and aren’t too noisy.
Technically speaking, the 8-inch and 10-inch models have much better suction, I found them too noisy for a bathroom. The fan is not noisy in itself, it’s the sound of the air moving that fast that I found quite irritating.
There is actually a detailed calculation for arriving at the right fan this using the volume of the bathroom, rate at which you would like to refresh the air, speed of the fan, size, etc. But since you are looking for a basic fan, this should suffice.
2) Make sure you buy a model that has the flaps behind; it prevents mosquitoes/insects/dust from entering in when the fan is off.
3) I’d recommend going for the plastic/fibre fans. The metal ones are cheaper, but turn very noisy after a few months. And since the bathroom is a closed space, it feels noisier.
Moved to Bangalore recently, I don’t have a gas connection yet and electricity is expensive (compared to LPG) in India. Moving into an empty / unfurnished apartment next week so your guide is very very useful. Thanks for putting in efforts to describe all the fine details.
I am an avid baker so I need an oven. I was thinking of getting an Oven + Cooktop with burners but unable to make up my mind what kind I want.
Really confused about couple of things:
1. Gas vs Power
2. Go for combo Vs Separate appliances for baking and cooking. Keeping them separate is probably not a great idea if I go for gas, since I will need two cylinders?!
3. If it is easy to get Chiminey installed if there is no opening/outlet for it in the wall
Do you have any thoughts or opinions about these questions? Thanks.
Hi
Your situation is similar to that of my mom. She also lives in Bangalore and is an avid baker.
HOB/COOKTOP
For the hob/cooktop, definitely stick to gas. Bangalore has frequent power outages and an induction cooktop will affect every other meal of yours. If you have full power backup (including 15A plug points), you could consider induction cooktops as well.
GAS OVEN
It’s been a while since we used a gas oven. My mom used to use it in the late 90’s and I remember they used to be highly inefficient back then. We had to change the cylinder in 2 weeks if my mom baked anything. I am not sure if they are more efficient now. Another problem with going for a gas oven is that the cylinders will unnecessarily take up space, which can be an issue if you have a smaller kitchen. To bypass the issue, you could keep the cylinders in the utility and fix a metal pipe from there till the kitchen. A specific type of pipe to be used – it can be bent easily but doesn’t develop cracks. The gas company will give you it’s specifications.
Of what I’ve seen, most baked items need continuous heating, else the dish can get marred. So the biggest advantage of a gas oven is the assurance that your are not affected by the vagaries of power continuity. If you bake almost every other day, then it makes sense to go for a gas oven. So a combo would make sense in that case.
ELECTRIC OVEN
First check if your building provides power backup for the 15A plug points, as I have seen some building complexes in Bangalore do provide that. If they do, then great. If not, check how they provide power backup. There are 3 possibilities here:
Option 1: The 15A plug points are not even connected to the power backup. (most common)
Option 2: All plug points are connected to the power backup, and you are charged based on your usage. (Only a few apartment complexes have this)
Option 3: All plug points are connected to the power backup, but they give each apartment a power limit. To use the oven, you might need to switch off other power guzzling appliances (geyser, washing-machine, etc.). (I’ve seen this in quite a few apartment complexes).
My mom uses an electric built-in oven and her building has option 1. Though she complains a lot about power outages, but over the years she’s kinda figured out a trend and is able to predict when the power outage will happen, but it took her a while to get there :-). Power outages generally don’t happen on Sundays, so she keeps the critical baking dishes for Sunday. It’s not ideal, but she’s adapted to the situation, and still bakes at least twice a week.
If you bake less frequently (say twice a week) and have some flexibility around when you bake, you could consider an electric oven.
CHIMNEY OUTLET
There are charcoal filter chimneys that don’t need an outlet. They basically trap the grime and re-circulate the air within the kitchen. You need to change the filter from time to time. I wouldn’t recommend using them.
If you don’t have an outlet, see if there is an opening for an exhaust fan, you could probably use that. If there isn’t one, you will have to get a hole drilled into the wall. This is done with a special machine and not the normal drilling equipment. You can ask for recommendations in your building on who can do this. Even the store from where you buy the chimney will know.
Lastly, try to minimise the number of bends in the exhaust pipe before it reaches the exit. With each bend, suction efficiency drops and noise levels go up.
Hi Pradip, Wanted to respond sooner but got caught up in getting bare essentials like local SIM, gas, internet etc going.
I intend to bake frequently, our apartment power backup situation isn’t really great so I will have to go with all gas. I think an integrated one with both cooktop + oven. Its going to be tricky to figure out how much energy is required for a typical baked item vs how much gas is remaining, probably a fun problem.
Thanks again, you helped me come to a decision fairly easily.
Hi Josh,
Given your high usage, it might be a good idea for you to consider a piped gas connection. I switched to piped gas last year and its just too convenient.
– Piped gas is cheaper than cylinders
– Calorific value of piped gas is higher, so heating is better, food cooks quickly.
– No gas cylinders so you free up space
– Continuous supply so no hassle of ordering hassle and waiting at home for the cylinders to get delivered
– Self-billing on the app is a breeze
Its a govt. company called GAIL gas. No need to visit any office, it’s a one-page online application. There’s been a massive demand for piped gas connections in Bangalore in the last 3 years, so I think it may take them a month or two for them to give you the connection. You could manage with cylinders till then.
I think the application is to be filled by owners (not fully sure about this, the form should mention it). So if you are renting, you need to ask you landlord to fill the application.
Indeed it is a great solution to get metered gas straight to your kitchen. PNG is what I looked for but it is not available in J P Nagar (7th phase) yet. I get the feeling J P Nagar is not as well planned as other neighborhoods in Bangalore. I am out of luck.
Thats unfortunate :-(.
I believe they started with the newer areas first since it’s easy to get it done there.
They started the old areas earlier around Feb this year.
J P Nagar is an older area, lots of greenery, the last time I went there.
Hope they cover your area soon.
Hi,
I am looking to buy a hob and chimney for our home which is being renovated. We are a family of 4 adults and 2 kids. Also, looking to buy a washing machine – fully automatic. Please can you suggest some models for both and which would be better. We stay in Mumbai. For washing machine, the width available is 22 inches. Height and depth is no problem. Looking to buy on an urgent basis and a prompt reply would definitely help. Many Thanks. My number is 9869270096 and you can call me if required.
Thanks for sharing a complete guide for deciding hobs, chimneys and exhaust fan.. Great Effort..
Thanks Raj.
Hi Pradip.
I am planning to buy a chimney for my home kitchen. Would you suggest a Filterless or Baffle filter model ? And also BLDC motor or normal AC motor chimney ?
Which combination would be best ? (ELICA has all the combinations as per my research and price difference is also not much)
Hi Rohan,
– Filterless models are generally costlier. But if price is not a constraint, I would go for a filterless model any day as they are hassle free.
– Cleaning baffle filters is a pain. However, some companies have models where you can simply put the baffle filter in a dishwasher. So if you have a dishwasher then you could consider a model with a baffle filter.
– Space is another aspect to consider. Filterless models are mostly slanted, so the cooking area feels more spacious while cooking. I have found most baffle filter models to be horizontal; so you may find them a bit claustrophobic.
An ideal combination would be a filterless model that uses a BLDC motor. Filterless makes it hassle-free and the BLDC motor makes less noise.
So much to gain for your blog sir…
Thank you for this selfless service sir!
Thanks Sagar. I’m glad you found it useful :-).