Kitchen extractor hood with metal grilles

[BabycakesMatlala]

We have a kitchen extractor hood with metal filters (so no separate grease filter), and it just seems quite crap. It pulls air and smells through OK to the outside vent, but doesn't seem to trap grease at all - if you take the filter panels out, you can see grease on the motor and the inside of the hood, and we're always getting build-up on surrounding shelves etc.

Am I doing something wrong, or are these types of filter just a bit crap?

Ps I've obviously been cleaning them, but even so ....😁

How often, and how are you cleaning them? I've got a hood like this, I put the filters into the dishwasher every few weeks (a little light starts blinking when they need doing) or sometimes I fill the sink with very hot soapy water and leave them to soak for a while before washing. I don't get a grease build-up - that doesn't sound right at all.

I use disposable cut-to-size filters too and put them inside on top of the washable, metal filter.

So do you mean it has the metal mesh bits but no separate paper/fabric filter?

If so I think that’s pretty normal for modern extractor fans. Ours only has the metal mesh filters and it’s pretty effective. We run them through the dishwasher every so often.

Ours is quite new so they need replacing after a number of years, not sure??

Or maybe I have misunderstood entirely 😆

Thanks all for your replies to my scintillating question

@pickingdaisies, yes that sounds similar to how I'm cleaning them.

@hedgehoglurker - aha, see this is what I was wondering about....I may give it a try.

@minipie we've had it a few years, so I'm wondering whether they just need replacing. There's no guidance in the instructions about needing to replace them, and they don't seem gunked up after a wash, but it may be worth a go.

Having done some more research, I don't think the extractor is really powerful enough for the space anyway, but I think that's a separate issue from the grease just sort of gathering and dripping rather than being caught by the filter...even straight after cleaning 🤮

Thanks all...off to have a think about new filters/extra grease filters/new hoods.....

Sorry, I missed out a crucial word - I meant to write maybe they need replacing after a few years. I have no idea!

If the motor / fan is not powerful enough for the space, that’s not a separate issue, that could be why the grease isn’t getting sucked into the filters.

what make and model?

how fine is the metal screen?

photos open and closed please

@PigletJohn (I said to DH "It's actual PigletJohn...On My Thread!")

It's a Russell Hobbs chimney style hood, RHSCH601SS.

Will try to attach photos now...

Photos attached. The screen is quite fine.

Oh yes, I have a very similar looking metal grid on my Elica. I don't think it has the facility for a paper or foam supplementary filter. The previous one had spikes and clips to hold a sheet in place.

Do you keep the fan running? No chance fumes might drift up there and not get sucked away? Are you sure the duct is not blocked or the backdraught shutter jammed? Hold a smouldering Joss stick up there and it should whisk the smoke away.

Thanks @PigletJohn - even on maximum setting, it's only just pulling the smoke from a Joss stick... there's still quite a lot of smoke escaping around the hood rather than up it.

With the filters off, there's enough draw from the fan to (just) hold a flat sheet of kitchen roll (I did this v carefully so it didn't get sucked in!), but with filters in place, not enough draw to hold even a sheet of toilet roll, it just flops down onto the hob again.

I think the duct and shutter are OK - you can see the shutter flapping open when the extractor is on, and can smell food smells being sent out through the duct.

It sounds like the problem is that it's just not powerful enough....

I wonder if it might still have a charcoal filter fitted to the motir/fan unit? If so ut probably comes off with a quarter-turn and pull.

I find an ad that says it has 400 cu.m/hr capacity (will be less if the duct is long)

Instruction booklet on mda.russellhobbs.com/default/rhsch601ss.html

I reckon it's the filters on the motor

My understanding is that carbon filters are only needed in recirculating mode, so you can take them off. It's also possible that, if old, yours might be clogged. You could try a new pair, might cost £30 or so.

400 cu.m/hr seems quite normal for an ordinary hood, more expensive ones are 650 or 800, then I think it would be a commercial type (some examples on

www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Cooker_Hood_Index/index.html

Thanks so much, @PigletJohn - definitely no charcoal filters in place on either side of the motor (and I've just double-checked the instruction manual and YouTube to make sure I know what I'm looking for 😁). I'm wondering whether to fork out for a couple of charcoal filters anyway, so see whether they make any difference in extraction mode...