Devices that clean the air in our kitchens, hoods, are presented in a huge range. Meanwhile, the main components included in their composition are the same - this is the engine, the catching plane, the control panel and the filter for the kitchen hood.
Grease filters
In any kitchen air cleaner must be provided fat filter. It is designed to clean the air stream passing through the device from small suspended fat particles. If it were not there, it would not have passed a month, as the internal surfaces of the hood, including the engine, were covered with a layer of oil suspension.
The grease filter can be disposable and reusable - it is clear that the latter type is better and more practical. Disposable models are made of padding polyester, acrylic or non-woven and often installed in the budget design of the flat type. Such "mats" of synthetic fabrics are thrown away as soon as they become dirty.
Disposable fat "catchers" can not be washed, they lose all their properties from washing. That is why they are disposable.
Using the “updated” product in this way is fraught with engine breakdowns.
But the metal fatty filter will last as much as the hood itself - it is distinguished by its quality, safety, reliability and durability. Such designs are better because they do not need to be replaced, but only require periodic washing.
A traditional grease filter is a cassette in the form of a metal frame and a mesh element made of foil (in the form of a mesh or with perforation). The perforation here may be uniform or asymmetric, and the provided cells are needed to change the direction of the air flow. This allows you to retain fat particles on the surface.
The fatty metal filter can be produced from aluminum, galvanized steel or thin stainless steel. In high-quality technology, aluminum is additionally anodized, which protects the product from oxidation. Such designs can have several layers or can be performed in the form of several modules. Two or three separate cassettes are easier to maintain - they are easy to remove, wash and return to their place.
Stainless steel grease filter is considered better than aluminum, since this material has a longer service life. In addition, products of this type more effectively clean the air.
Carbon filters
If we are talking about recirculation models that clean the air in the kitchen and re-send it to the room, then there is a mandatory carbon filter for exhaust. Indeed, in such models it is important not only to remove soot and grease, but also to clean the air from foreign odors.
The installation of a coal "catcher" is provided behind the grease catcher. This element is based on a high-quality adsorbent, activated carbon. He perfectly absorbs all the smells.
It should be remembered that in the recirculation mode, the capacity of the exhaust drops by 15-20%, and the installation of the absorbing product reduces it even more. If the carbon adsorbent accumulates pollution in itself, the air through it will get worse and worse.
Carbon filter for exhaust is often not included in the basic package, and is purchased separately. In addition, it is a replaceable item, which will have to be purchased as it is constantly worn.
Externally, such an element may look like a rectangular cassette or a circle. The body in the product is plastic, and the coal is held by a special net. Activated carbon is here in the form of powder or granules.
The larger the total area of absorbent particles, the better the “catcher” works. Due to the accumulation of coal in one place, the efficiency of extraction decreases.
Filters of this type are considered disposable - it is provided to replace them every 3-4 months on average. However, the service life of an element is not determined by "age", but by the duration of operation - it all depends on how long the hood operates every day.
To keep the carbon adsorbent working for a long time, you can leave the hood turned on for 3-7 minutes after use. During this time, the remnants of moisture from the coal evaporate, which means that it will not condense and will not lose its adsorbing capacity.
Care and Replacement
The grease filter accumulates all the dirt on the cells, preventing them from penetrating into the internal parts of the device. What is the best way to clean it in practice? It is necessary to comply with the following simplest technology:
- Filters are removed from the hood. This may require dismantling the decorative panel (if it is in the design). To remove the lock snaps off and the cassette is pulled out.
- The metal filter is immersed in an aqueous solution of standard detergent. It can also be washed in a dishwasher by installing it vertically.
- This will allow contaminants to wash off easily. If you wash by hand, it is better to use brushes and constantly wash the mesh under the pressure of hot water. But from such a tool as soda, it is better to give up, because on the metal after it may remain brown spots. It is also not necessary to choose the high-temperature mode in the dishwasher - from elevated temperatures, aluminum can oxidize and darken.
- Washed filters should dry at room temperature.
At the final stage, the filters are installed in place. For this cassette is placed in the cell, after which the lock is latched.
The grease filter should be washed once every 2-3 months in the dishwasher - if this equipment is not present, then the mesh should be washed manually every month. It is not difficult, especially when you consider that its installation is elementary.
And the process of replacing the carbon filter is as follows:
- The hood is disconnected from the network (this is necessary for safety);
- The anti-fat filter is removed;
- The carbon filter is removed from the cassette;
- A new carbon filter is being installed - a click shows that the operation was performed correctly;
- The hood is turned on and checked for the presence of vibrations and extraneous noise, which could be caused by improper installation of the filter elements.
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- We clean the hood from fat - quickly, simply, efficiently
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It is all the liberal masons who invented this technique in order to empty the Russian soul and take the last penny out of the worker’s pocket.
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