From ventilation to cleanliness, chimney plays an important role in every kitchen. Almost everybody is aware about the necessity of a kitchen chimney. However, most people do not realise that the correct installation of kitchen chimney and knowing the ideal kitchen chimney height are also equally important. It does not only ensure better performance but also the overall safety.
There are certain factors like optimal height, suction capacity, and stove type that one must keep in mind while installing a chimney. In this article, we will be discussing everything that you are supposed to know about kitchen chimney height and suction capacity calculation.
With this guide, kitchen chimney installation will become easier like never before.
What should be the ideal height of the kitchen chimney from the stove?
While installing a kitchen chimney, it is necessary to determine the correct optimal height for effective functioning and safety. Note that there should be a balanced distance between the cooking surface and the hood of the chimney.
If the distance is too less, it might result in the chimney hood catching fire. It is highly unsafe. On the other hand, if the distance is too much, it reduces the exhaust rate. The chimney would also suck the fresh air and it would beat the actual purpose. That’s why it is important to find out an optimal height which compromises neither with the safety nor the purpose.
Typically, the height of the fitting or installation should range from 21 to 30 inches, depending on the type of gas stove.
Gas stove – 24 to 30 inches
Electric stove – 21 to 30 inches
Apart from the stove type, there are other factors like kitchen design and chimney’s size that also influence the ideal height of the kitchen chimney installation.
It is advised that you go through the chimney manual guide for better instructions or hire a specialist to install the chimney properly.
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Things to consider while calculating the height of kitchen chimney installation
Consider the following things while calculating the height of kitchen chimney installation.
Type of stove:
As mentioned earlier, kitchen chimney height depends on the type of stove. For an electrical or induction stove, the ideal height ranges from 21 to 30 inches whereas for a gas stove, it ranges from 24 to 30 inches.
The size of the chimney:
It is better to have a chimney whose size is exact or slightly bigger than the cooktop so that it can easily suck up smoke and can be installed at a fairly safer height. For a cooktop with 2 – 4 burners, a 60 cm wide chimney is perfect.
Distance between stove/cooktop and chimney:
This distance, which should be ideally 24 to 30 inches, should always be taken into consideration while installing a kitchen chimney.
If the distance is lesser than 24 inches, it can lead to the chimney hood catching fire. If it is higher than 31 inches, it will reduce the exhaust rate. In both the cases, the chimney won’t serve the purpose. An optimal height is important for the effective working of the kitchen chimney.
Chimney duct:
Always go for a duct that is not longer than 12 feet. A longer duct results in multiple numbers of bends which act as an obstruction to the fumes. It affects the efficiency of the suction. To avoid this, many people go for lower installation which is, again, unsafe. That’s why it is better to go for a small duct with less number of bends.
Suction capacity:
Suction capacity also plays a major role in determining the height of the chimney installation. If the chimney has low suction capacity, it should be installed below 30 inches from the cooking surface in order to suck out the fumes effectively. Always install the chimney according to the suction capacity.
What is the minimum and maximum height for the kitchen chimney?
When it comes to kitchen, the importance of an ideal height of a kitchen chimney is often overlooked but it is one of the most necessary things that one should be really careful about.
Typically, the minimum height for the kitchen chimney is 21 inches. If the height is lower than this, it can create a lot of inconvenience while cooking. It is also unsafe as the chimney will be extremely close to the cooking surface and can even catch fire.
Even the professionals would recommend you the same height because it is defined by safety tests to avoid any mishap in the kitchen.
The maximum height should be 31 inches for effective suction. If the height is greater than this, you won’t get the benefits of the chimney. It won’t be able to suck out the fumes effectively. This will lead to poor ventilation, odor and increase in the oil buildup.
Is the kitchen chimney height different for Indian kitchen?
No, actually. The minimum and maximum distance required for chimney installation remains the same everywhere. However, you may keep certain important things in mind.
Indian cooking style is known for its use of excessive spices and oil. It demands a lot of frying due to which Indian kitchens tend to be greasy and sticky. Hence, the installation of kitchen chimney in an Indian kitchen should cater to the Indian cooking habits.
First of all, for an Indian kitchen, go for baffle filter or carbon filter chimney. These filters are effective in dealing with oil and grease particles.
Secondly, an Indian kitchen should have a chimney with higher air suction capacity, generally ranging between 400 to 1000 m¬3/hr, depending on the kitchen size.
As you know now, suction capacity plays an important role in determining the ideal height for kitchen chimney fitting. Chimneys with higher suction capacity can easily be installed up to 30 inches. However, it is important to note that high suction capacity chimneys make a lot of noise and also consume more power.
Do go through the user manual or contact a professional to determine the perfect height for the chimney in Indian kitchen.
How to calculate kitchen chimney suction capacity according to the size of the kitchen
There is no point buying a kitchen chimney if it is not effective enough to suck out the fumes and maintain ventilation. That’s why it is important to choose a chimney with right suction capacity.
There are primarily 3 things that affect the suction capacity of the kitchen chimney:
- Dimensions of the kitchen
- Ducting size and number of bends
- Cooking habits
To determine the right suction power according to the height and size of the kitchen, you can use a simple mathematical formula. As per the common rule, the kitchen chimney should remove the dirty fumes and fill up the kitchen with clean air 10 times in one hour time.
Multiply the volume of kitchen with number 10 which indicates the standard number of times the dirty air should be removed and replaced with fresh air in 1 hr.
You can easily find out the volume by multiplying the dimension of your kitchen. Here is an example:
Height of kitchen (in m) = 5m
Length of kitchen (in m) = 8m
Breadth of kitchen (in m) = 8 m
Then, volume = 5 x 8 x 8 = 320m2
Minimum suction power required = 320m2 x 10 = 3200m3/ hr
Using this simplified formula, you can easily determine the minimum suction power that your kitchen needs, depending on the size of the kitchen.
A few things to remember while installing the kitchen chimney
A few important things that you should keep in mind while installing the kitchen chimney:
- Take into consideration everything ranging from your cooking habits to the kitchen space to determine the best hood/chimney for your kitchen.
- Always read the user manual so that you are aware about all the dos and don’ts related to the chimney installation.
- Install the chimney only after proper calculations of the height and suction power. Consider all the factors mentioned in the article for better calculations.
- Before installing, do check if the voltage consumption of the chimney matches your power supply.
- Make sure that your stove is placed at the outer wall of the kitchen. It leads to effective suction with least obstruction.
- Always make the cut-out for the chimney duct in the external wall. If there’s any restriction, you can go for ductless kitchen chimneys.
- Kitchen chimney needs to be cleaned routinely. Install the chimney at a height that’s not out-of-reach. It should be convenient to reach. Read the user guide to learn the correct way of cleaning.
- Every once in a while, get the kitchen chimney maintained or serviced by the technician for better functioning.
- Always contact a professional/technician for installing the chimney or any query related to the kitchen chimney.