How To Choose A Cooker Hood
Welcome! Whether you are replacing an existing cooker hood, or you are in the process of creating your dream kitchen design - this little guide will help you find the perfect cooker hood for your space with ease.
Domestic cooker hoods are an essential kitchen appliance that remove smelly odours and steam from the cooking area. We want to make sure you are prepared. It can be confusing if you don’t do your research, and we know that you want to be confident in your decision.
To make things simple, this guide will help you choose your perfect Faber Cooker Hood by covering key questions to think about! By the end of this guide, you will know exactly what to look out for and what you'll need for your particular space.
Guide contents:
1. Design and Technology
2. Ducted or recirculating hoods?
3. Power settings, the noise level and extraction rates
4. How to work out your extraction rate
5. Cooker Hood filters
- Grease filters
- Charcoal filters
6. Final steps
1. Design and Technology
The design and technology of your cooker hood are one of the most key factors to consider. From the overall look to the functionality of the hood, everyone wants one to match their kitchen style and functionality needs to enhance their cooking experience.
Design
Whether the desired design is classic and traditional or sleek and modern, Faber has a large collection to choose from.
Styles include: island hoods, integrated hoods, wall hoods, ceiling hoods, t-shaped hoods, downdraft hoods and venting hobs. Most of these models are available in a variety of finishes to get the exact look you are after.
A key factor to think about is the cooker hood’s lighting. Do you want an extravagant light feature? Prefer something simple and elegant? Are you interested in something that will light up your cooking area? These are some questions to consider when choosing your cooker hood as many of Faber’s styles feature LED lighting.
It’s also important to know how much space you have as this can completely change the style you need. For example, for small kitchens you might prefer a ceiling or integrated hood to save space. Or you might be looking for a grand statement piece and therefore might prefer an island hood.
For more information on styles, check out our Complete Guide to Faber’s Cooker Hoods.
Technology
Faber’s styles boast innovative technological features to enhance your cooking experience. These include special functions to reduce noise and handy timers to help you.
To optimise the efficiency of your cooker hood, you need to be able to easily control it. Faber hoods come with electronic control, touch control, a remote control and other options. Make sure you check out these controls when choosing your cooker hood so that you pick the right one for you. Similarly, if there is a specific function you are after then you need to make sure you are looking at the right styles. For example, Faber's Up and Down technology is only available with selected island hoods.
Every product is unique, so be sure to check out our Product Pages for more information on individual design and technology.
Visit our Technology page for more information on Faber’s innovative features and functions.
2. Ducted or Recirculating hoods?
Many of Faber’s cooker hoods have the option of being used in either ducted or recirculation mode, with optional chimney kits supplied with most hoods. Ducted cooker hoods are the most effective at extracting cooking fumes, odours and steam as the air is drawn directly outside. However, recirculating hoods are more eco-friendly because they filter the fumes and steam from the air and then recycle the cleaned air back into the kitchen.
The benefits of ducted cooker hoods
- Effectively removes cooking odours, smoke and other airborne contaminants from the building
- Using 150mm wide solid ducting for your hood ensures the quietest noise output during use
- There is no need to regularly replace charcoal filters which can help to keep running costs to a minimum
If you are ducting your hood please click here to purchase a kit.
The benefits of recirculating cooker hoods
- Recirculating cooker hoods can be installed in any location
- Recycling cleaned air back into the home means that warm air and smoke is not pumped back out into the environment, thus making recirculating hoods an eco-friendly option
- You may be able to install your recirculating hood without the use of a chimney.
If you are recirculating your hood please click here to purchase filters.
3. Power settings, the noise level and extraction rates
It is important to think about the power settings, the noise level and the extraction rate when choosing a cooker hood. This is especially important for open-plan living spaces where you might prefer a quieter extractor.
The more powerful the motor, the quieter the hood can be as it will be effective on the lowest levels. Faber’s hoods come with 3 standard power settings with varying extraction rates.
Additionally, Faber have a number of technological benefits that work towards increasing efficiency whilst reducing the sound output. These include an additional Intensive Speed function, Perimeter Aspiration and Evo Diffuser technology.
Check out our Technology page for more information on these features.
Features vary on the model, so visit out Product Pages for more information on individual cooker hoods.
How to work out your extraction rate
Use a simple formula to estimate the minimum extraction rate that may be suitable for your kitchen. This is usually estimated by calculating the volume of your kitchen (length × width × height) and applying the guideline that a cooker hood working effectively should refresh the air around 10 times per hour.
EFFECTIVENESS = KITCHEN M² X KITCHEN HEIGHT X 10 CHANGES OF AIR
Example: If your kitchen is 5 metres long and 3 metres wide, the floor area is 15 m². Multiply this by the height of the room (in this case, 3 m), which gives you a volume of 45 m³. Then multiply by 10 (for the recommended number of air changes per hour).
Calculation: 5 m × 3 m × 3 m × 10 = 450 m³/h
Once you have the minimum extraction rate needed for your kitchen space, you can check the performance tables for Faber hoods to find a cooker hood that will meet the demands of your space. It is important to find a hood that will work effectively on the lowest settings as this reflects normal everyday use.
DISCLAIMER – This information should be used only as a general guide. Various external factors, including cabinet design and ducting methods can influence extraction efficiency.
Please note: if you have an open-plan kitchen, you will require more powerful extraction. For best results, we recommend choosing one of our most powerful hoods.
4. Cooker hood filters
Cooker hood filters play a crucial role in maintaining the effectiveness of your hood. Depending on usage, hood type, and filter, they will need to be cleaned or replaced regularly. Replacement filters for Faber cooker hoods can be purchased through our sister website, KitchenExtras, here.
Grease filters
All cooker hoods are fitted with grease filters, which trap grease particles and prevent them from settling on your kitchen surfaces. To maintain performance, these filters need to be cleaned or replaced regularly. Faber’s grease filter cassettes are dishwasher safe, and some models feature a filter alarm that alerts you when cleaning is required.
Charcoal filters
Charcoal filters are used exclusively in recirculating cooker hoods. They help absorb unwanted cooking odours before releasing clean air back into your kitchen. The replacement frequency will vary depending on the type of charcoal filter and the frequency of cooking.
If you need assistance with Faber filters, please email office@kitchenex.co.uk
5. Final steps
Congratulations! You’ve made it this far and you now know what you’re looking for – you’re a cooker hood whiz. Use our Find a Retailer page locate your nearest store or drop us a message. If you’re not entirely sure, don’t worry! Our Faber team are available for you to speak to and we will help you in any way we can.
For extra help or if you have any questions, please get in touch with our team at office@kitchenex.co.uk
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