Chimneys are no longer a luxury but an absolute necessity in all modern day kitchens. In the earlier days, kitchens used to be separated from the rest of the house. But, in modern homes, kitchens are a very integral part of our living space. This is why chimneys gained immense popularity in the recent times. The last thing we want is for the odours and gases coming from food to lurk around in our living space. Chimneys are primarily designed to free your kitchen from all these gases and unpleasant odours that are released during cooking. In turn, it spares you the irritation that occurs to your nose from the smell of spices and other ingredients. But, the advantages don’t end here. A kitchen chimney does a lot more for you than you could probably imagine.
For starters, they protect all the expensive tiles and walls of your modular kitchen. Fumes and gases coming from food, eventually settle down on walls or tiles of your kitchen if they have nowhere to escape. Overtime, this can lead to your tiles becoming greasy and very unpleasant looking. Having a chimney solves this problem. They suck up all the fumes leaving your kitchen spotless. Apart from this, modern chimneys are also designed to have a classy and elegant look that can go well with your kitchen interiors.
Okay, all this sounds great. But, how do you choose the right chimney for your home? Don’t worry, we are here to help. If you are in the market for a chimney, then these are a few things that you will have to keep in mind.
1) Type of chimney
Just like all the other kitchen appliances, chimneys also come in a variety of types. Knowing each type and its functionality will help you choose the right chimney that can go well with the build of your kitchen.
There are usually 4 types of chimneys:
- Island Chimney: If you have an open kitchen design where your cooking platform is not against the wall but in the centre of the room, then you should go for island chimneys. They do not need a wall to be mounted and can hang directly from the ceiling.
- Wall mounted chimney: These are the most common types of chimneys seen in modern kitchens. They can be mounted on the wall above your cooking platform and easily suck up all the odours and gases coming from the cooktop.
- Corner chimney: If your cooking platform is not in the centre but built into the corner of your kitchen, then you should go for corner chimneys. They can easily adapt and fit themselves into a corner of the kitchen just above your cooktop.
- Built-in chimney: This is for people who don’t want their chimney to be really seen. Built in chimneys can easily be fitted into and furniture or racks above your cooktop and seamlessly blend into your kitchen interiors.
For more in-depth information on all these types, we recommend you to read our kitchen chimney buying guide.
2) Size
Now, size is another important factor that you must consider before buying a chimney. If you neglect this, you will be stuck with a chimney that is too big or too small for your kitchen. Kitchen chimneys usually come in two sizes of 60 cm and 90 cm. As a rule of thumb, you should measure the length of your cooking platform and choose the size that is closest to it. If you have a 2-4 burner stove, then a 60 cm chimney would be good for you. 90cm chimneys are for cooktops with 3-6 burners.
3) Maintenance
Chimney maintenance is a huge task and if you are a fairly busy person, then you should opt for chimneys that require the least amount of maintenance. These days in the market, we have auto-clean chimneys. As the name suggests, these chimneys are capable of cleaning themselves completely. These chimneys have a detachable oil collector located at the top of the chimney. It collects all the oil coming from the fumes so that the rest of the chimney is clean. This oil collector can be cleaned once in a month.
4) Filter
Filter is one of the most important parts of a chimney and you must choose it carefully before buying a chimney. There are usually 2 types of filters and they work in different ways.
- Cassette filter: Cassette filters are extremely common and they usually contain aluminium meshes stacked above each other. The gap between these meshes allows air through it. But a major downside of this filter is that the gaps get clogged with oil and other particles. They must be cleaned once in 2-3 weeks for best results.
- Baffle filter: Baffle filters are the best filters for an Indian kitchen. They contain multiple curves and folds that redirect air to the top of the chimney. Even if the entire baffle is clogged with oil and grease, the suction power is hardly effected. So, if you do not have time to clean the chimney on a regular basis, you should look for baffle filter chimneys.
5) Warranty
When you are buying a kitchen appliance, the warranty should always be checked. This will ensure that you are getting a trustworthy product. For chimneys a warranty of 1-2 years will be good enough. But, there are some companies that provide lifetime warranty as well. Read the sales page thoroughly before purchasing.
6) Budget and aesthetics
Chimneys come in different types and varieties to suit all sections of the society. They range from Rs.3000 to Rs.1, 00,000. Depending on your needs and requirements, you can set a budget before hand and shop in that range. Any chimney in the range of Rs.10, 000 to Rs.15, 000 will be good for regular homes.
Well, there you have it. A few tips to buy the perfect chimney for your home. Paying attention to these small factors will help you make the right decision while purchasing the product.
