120cm extractor cooker hood

[jollyboys]

Finally decided to buy a chimney extractor hood. Our range is 120cm Smeg, the 120cm hoods are hugely expensive. Do you think a 110cm hood would be effective, as I measured the width of the rings and they are within 110cm. Next, which model? Rangemaster seems to get good reviews, Belling less so. I've joined Which? They mainly review Neff, Bosch and smaller sized hoods- and luckily they also rubbished the Smeg Portofino 120cm hood which saved me an expensive mistake! Then there is the question of extraction or recirculation of the vapours. Advice required!

OP’s posts:See all

A 110cm one would probably do but might look odd, especially if not perfectly centred.
Ours is a Stoves and pretty good. Recirculating is not as effective and uses a charcoal filter, extraction requires external vent somewhere. Long distances for extraction and ducting make the fan work harder so make more noise.

I think a larger hood or canopy is better as it catches steam or fumes that drift.

It should be an extractor. A recirculating hood is just an expensive ornament.

I favour the canopy type, which can be built into a top box matching your wall cabinets. If you need a really big one you can put two or more units in in.

Example:

Thanks both of you. PigletJohn, that is a genius idea. I wouldn't have ever considered doing that. Can two wall units be fixed flush together, side by side to house the extractors? What is the style of that kind of extractor, please? Again, thanks for the idea.

you usually buy (or make) a top-box to suit. You find out first what sizes or door are available in your chosen kitchen style. horizontally hinged doors have the grain (if any) running differently from vertically-hinged doors.

For example, here is a made-to-order topbox for a similar job (the supplier is still taking orders, but not online during lockdown). Delivery charge is expensive if you only buy one cabinet. They can make any other size or colour you want. Large ones are best sent unassembled to avoid damage.

in my own kitchen, the carpenter made a few cabinets into special sizes by cutting and reassembly, but I was lucky and had a large range of door sizes and shapes as I bought a warehouse stock at end-of-range

I call it a "canopy" extractor but Elica call it a "built in".

They have quite a range, for example (pic)

their website is quite hard to use, so email elica and ask for the glossy brochure. There are other makes but I am not familiar with them. Own-brands from kitchen merchants are notoriously poor value.

If the canopy has a bit of a lip (like an upside-down tray) steam rises up into it and is sucked away even if the canopy is bigger than the extractor. You must put it high enough that you can't bang it with your face while stirring the porage. it will be too high to try to put pans or anything into the cabinet.

when you get the brochure, you should find drawings of the thing that goes into the box, it has to be smaller than the box and there will not be much room left.

example pic

you need to have all the photos, drawings and measurements to hand, which is much easier with the brochure.

Hi PigletJohn. This is brilliant, thank you so much for spending the time explaining it. Have you bought an Elica product in the past, and would you recommend the brand for low noise and good grease extraction? Your insight is much appreciated.

Quick question for any qualified electrician: can I put two 60cm or 73cm extractor units adjacent to each other? both would need their own ducting kit/hose to extract the air. And then build a smart casing/cupboard to house the appliances?

they do list a 1162mm "Boxin" unit which I think would be more convenient. Should fit in a 1200mm box. About £405

elica.com/GB-en/hoods/built/boxin

I thought there was a 1200 Lux but I don't see it listed now.

but have a look at the brochure, then call them with any queries

yes, I have a 900mm Krea. Seems OK. Easy to clean. Formerly had a different one in another house, might have been a Concorde.

Mine is a bit noisy. Have a look at the dbA ratings.

I have a 110cm range with 100cm hood, you would not notice any difference to be honest.

I think this is a 900mm stainless Concorde fitted in a 1000mm space with a 1000 box, top-hinged door. For some reason 1000mm units were hard to find.

Thanks for the photo, that makes it clear.