Best Kitchen Chimney in India – March, 2023

The best Kitchen Chimney on the market

Best Kitchen Chimney in India – Buying Guide

1. Suction power

The suction power of a traditional kitchen chimney ranges from 700 m3/hr to 1600 m3/hr.

While selecting a chimney based on the suction power, you need to consider your style of cooking, if you consume less oily food then you can choose a chimney with a suction power of 800-1000 m3/hr. But, in case if you consume oily, deep-fried (especially non-vegetarian food), then you should buy one with a power range of 1100-1200 m3/hr.

2. Placement

The next thing that you need to consider is the kitchen chimney placement. You should select the placement based on your kitchen construction and the location of the cooking platform, hob, and stove.

There are 4 placement categories:

• Wall-mounted chimney: The wall-mounted chimney is fitted against the wall and the cooktop, where the hob is located adjacent to the wall.
• Island chimney: The island chimney is located on the cooking platform, where the hob is in the center of the kitchen, and away from the wall.
• Built-in chimney: The built-in chimneys are integrated within the kitchen wood furniture against the wall.
• Corner chimney: The corner chimney is placed at the corner of the kitchen, where the cooking top, the hob is located at the corner against the wall. Corner chimneys are rare in India because they do not go well with most Indian kitchen designs.

3. Size

The best measurement for buying a kitchen chimney is to choose the one that fits the exact stove size or greater size. Never buy the one which is smaller than the stove hob.

One thing that impacts the size is design. There are two design types:

• Conventional chimney: These are the most popular designs manufactured using stainless steel. These are affordable and inexpensive than contemporary chimneys. Conventional chimneys utilize the circulation of heated air that moves up all the products during combustion and it works open or using glass fronted fires. The oxygen required for combustion is drawn using outer pipers, and then the smoke particles are pushed out via exterior pipes.
• Contemporary Chimney: These are expensive and they are available in multiple designs. The price of contemporary chimneys increases with the materials used as glass, crystals, steel-grade, etc. These are aesthetic chimneys that are created and pitched as a designer piece of art available in multiple colors, material options, form factor, etc.

4. Brands

There are multiple kitchen chimney brands that make high quality, aesthetic chimneys. Buying a kitchen chimney is a long-term investment and you should always buy a chimney from reputed brands like Elica, Hindware, Faber, Pigeon, Bright Flame, etc.

5. Price

Kitchen chimneys are available at a starting price of Rs 4500-5000, while the best kitchen chimney range can go up to 30000-40000. The price of the kitchen chimney changes according to its size, which typically ranges between 60cm -90cm. Also, you need to keep in mind the design, placement, and the right kitchen chimney brand.

6. Maintenance

Maintenance refers to the ease of cleaning, which can be a tedious task at times. But a lot of it depends on the type of filter used in the chimney. Therefore, I recommend that you use a chimney with a baffle filter which is far easier to clean than a mesh filter.

You can use a regular dishwashing soap/liquid, thinner, caustic/baking soda. Put the washing solution in a bucket and insert the chimney filter into the bucket. You can scrub it with a brush to remove all the dust and dirt. Repeat the process until the filter appears clear and clean.

7. Filter

There are 3 types of kitchen chimney filters available in India:

• Cassette filter: The cassette filters are made using an aluminum mesh that is stacked upon each other. The gap between the mesh regulates optimal airflow, where all the oil, grease, and dust particles go through the aluminum thread.
  After regular usage, the vents get clogged, and then, you need to wash and clean the chimney every once in a while with a bucket full of detergent water, and you need to scrub it as well.
• Baffle filter: The baffle filter is ideal for Indian cooking because it comes with a flow control panel. The cooking air flows across the curve and regulates the direction of the smoke. The smoke goes through the baffle filter, where it absorbs the grease. Once the baffle filter is fully filled with the grease, then the oil affects the chimney suction power.
  Baffle filters are easy to maintain and you need to wash the baffle filter every 3 months. But, based on your usage, the filter runs for a number of years without any replacement. Therefore, the baffle filter is ideal for Indian cooking because it is durable and goes with all the spices and cooking styles in Indian Cuisine.
• Carbon filter: The carbon filter is known as a charcoal filter due to the use of charcoal in the chimney filter. The carbon acts as an excellent material for absorbing all the odor and smoke particles. The best part about carbon filters is that they can be used in combination with the baffle/cassette filter.
  Keep in mind that the oil and the smoke particles clog the insides of the carbon filter and decrease the suction power of the chimney, so you need to replace them after every six months or earlier depending on your usage and style of cooking.