cooker hoods

[georgedawes]

We are having a hob fitted on an island and need to purchase an island extractor hood. I prefer the look of a ceiling extractor e.g www.cda.eu/Products/extractors/EVX100 but am a bit confused by the recommended height. If we fit it flush to the ceiling it will be a lot higher than 650mm.

If it has to be that low I may as well pay less and get one of the hanging ones. Can anyone advise?

[PigletJohn]

IMO they are best at a height where nobody can bang their head on it. Maybe 1850mm.

The higher they are, the more the fumes and steam can drift around the room.

Usually the instructions specify the minimum height above the hob to protect them from excessive heat.

[georgedawes]

Thanks, didn't realise it was a minimum recommendation, that would make more sense. We have high ceilings, so at a guess if we fit it flush to the ceiling it'll be about 2m, maybe a little more.

I don't like the look of the ones that hang down as the room is open plan and it will detract from that..however if it is going to be rubbish at the extraction I may as well go for a hanging one and just make sure it's high enough not to hit your head.

Do you think that one at ceiling height will be ok?

[PigletJohn]

I expect so. If your kitchen is large or draughty the fumes will blow around.

The most important thing with extractors is to actually switch them on, many people don't

Grrrrrrrrr.

[wonkylegs]

The photo diagrams (at back of the pdfs) on the PDF user manual show the maximum height above the countertop as 150cm so if you have proper high ceilings this may not be the extractor for you.
It also says that this extractor has been designed for a room with a volume of less than 36m3 so it's worth checking that too.

[annalouiseh]

most ceiling extractors have a maximum height of 1500mm above the worktop
My dh has just supplied one of these to a customer and they are building a suspending box over the island like in the link below to have it at the required height
www.franke.com/kitchensystems/uk/en/home/products_information/special_features/ceiling_hoods.html

[PigletJohn]

typical worktop height 800mm + max height 1500mm = 2300mm is about 7ft 6"

I think a false ceiling mirroring the size and shape of the worktop beneath could look OK, and better than a hood-sized box.

Otherwise, a stainless chimney hood suspended over the hob, as big as you can find.

[Trigglesx]

The most important thing with extractors is to actually switch them on, many people don't

I wish we had one to switch on. I have a window across the kitchen and a door. That's it.

[kmdesign]

These extractors are very good products if fitted correctly. They can be used at a ceiling height of up to 2.8m depending on the specification. If you are going to get a ceiling recessed hood, get a good quality one. There are a lot of value engineered imitations around and they are neither quiet nor efficient.

IMO the best ones come from Gutmann, Falmec & Westin. Always install with 6inch section ducting.

[myron]

Have you considered a downdraft extractor instead?

[georgedawes]

Thanks for all the advice. Room size is 3.5x4.5m so think we're ok on that front.

I don't know what a downdraft extractor is - will google.

Ceiling height is definitely over that, can't find the measuring tape just now but ceilings are about 3m high. I don't know if I might just go for a typical island extractor rather than a ceiling one like that as it was only to keep it out of the way. Building in a box and so on is probably adding expense that we can't afford.

kmdesign - do you mean the extractor I've linked to or another type? Sorry I wasn't sure.

The reason I picked that one is it was offered to us by company quoting for our other kitchen products. We're on a tight budget and I can't afford more than about £750 for the hood. Other option I've been offered is www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/built-in-appliances/built-in-cooking/hoods-splashbacks/hoods/siemens-lf98ga540b-chimney-cooker-hood-stainless-steel-19357143-pdt.html

Think it's going to have to be something like that really. Just hoping it doesn't look too odd.

[georgedawes]

My maths is ridiculous - it isn't big enough either for the room is it?! Please excuse me I can't even cite having a drink as an excuse!

Downdraft extractor looks good but don't think we can fit it in, the island isn't much bigger than the hob.

[georgedawes]

www.appliance-world.co.uk/Neff_I89D55N1GB_Island+Chimney+Hood.html

I prefer the curved look, what do you think? Looks a better spec too.

[kmdesign]

OK as a thumbrule use 12 air changes per hour. With a 3.5 4.5 3m ceiling you are looking at 47.25 m3. So you need about 575m3 per hour extractor. This sort of figure is easily achieved.

If you have a 3m high ceiling, a ceiling recessed unit will work if mounted in a boxing type arrangement. I would personally go for a ceiling suspended unit since you have high ceilings to carry it off plus you wont be stretching your budget. Please remember though that to make the extractor efficient you want the install it with 6 inch rigid ducting and get a unit at around 750m3. It will be quieter too. Think of it as a 1 litre car doing 90mph. It will be pushed to its limit. A 1.5 litre car doing 90mph is not pushed quite as much and will be a come relaxing one to drive. Its the same logic with the hood - a hood at its limits will be making a lot of noise to get rid of odours so a higher rated one will make less noise.

CDA is very much a discount brand and not a patch on Siemens or Neff on quality. Looks wise, its a personal preference thing.

Downdrafts are not the solution. Heat rises and downdraft works against the basic principles of physics so are nowhere as efficient. Plus they are pretty dear. We do not specify them unless its the only alternative.

[wonkylegs]

If that's the size of your room with a 3m high ceiling its definitely not the one for you.
Have you looked on Appliances online or Appliance City? - usually give slightly cheaper prices on well known brands

[georgedawes]

thanks so much for the advice, it is really, really helpful. I have never had a cooker hood before so wasn't sure what to get.

Think it looks like between www.appliance-world.co.uk/Siemens_LF98GA540B_Island+Chimney+Hood.html or

www.appliance-world.co.uk/Bosch_DIB09E850B_Island+Chimney+Hood.html

Any prefs? The Bosch seems to have a slightly better spec? It's to go over a siemens induction hob, not that it bothers me if it doesn't match.

www.applianceworldonline.com/ovens/ovens-and-hobs-packages/neff-bosch-siemens.html - think getting from these guys or a local euronics place, have got a good deal on siemens oven/microwave oven/hob so far.

[kmdesign]

Technically there is almost no difference between Bosch Neff and Siemens appliances. Speak to your kitchen supplier or a local kitchen specialist. They should be able to give you better advise, service and prices than anywhere online.

Plus you support a local business which wont make you wonder why the high street is full of pawn, betting and charity shops.

[georgedawes]

I agree I want to go to the local place, they don't do Neff for the public though. And just trying to negotiate a bit to get it in budget.

[contortionist]

We have this Siemens, which looks fab.

[georgedawes]

that looks nice contortionist, just not quite powerful enough for the size of room unfortunately.