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Our elders often say, “The kitchen is the heart of the home” and this is undeniable because a nice and tasty meal keeps your family healthy and happy. Furthermore, a chimney makes it smokeless and odorless that allowing you to lead a healthy life. A chimney is one of the “must-have” appliances in your kitchen and it serves several purposes including facilitating adequate air circulation, avoiding greasy cabinet or countertop surfaces, and providing a pleasant aroma in the kitchen.

It is capable of absorbing the terrible scent of cooking as well as smoke, harmful gas, and hot air. In kitchens, a chimney is generally placed over the fireplace. Nonetheless, installing it in the kitchen may be daunting but if you’re a DIYer who enjoys taking on projects by yourself so you can attempt installing it by yourself which will save you money. If you are wondering how to install a chimney in your kitchen then this will be the eventual chimney installation guide but before going into the details of the procedure so let us first take a look at the different types of tools you will need for your kitchen chimney installation.

Tools Required For Kitchen Chimney Installation

If you plan on installing a chimney by yourself that you will need to keep the following tools in handy:-

• Scissors
• Hammer
• Pliers
• Marker pen
• Measuring tape
• All of the tools and spare parts are included in the chimney pack.

Things to Consider When Installing a Kitchen Chimney

The chimney installation process is not a complex procedure so anyone with appropriate guidance can do it by themselves without a hassle. However, there are certain factors you should ponder when installing a kitchen chimney:

1. Chimney Size

The size of the chimney is more crucial when it comes to installation or a large chimney can suck up smoke from your stove even when little smoke is displaced from it. However, if the size of the chimney matches the size of your hob that it is essential to install it just above end to end and you must match the center of the chimney with the hob that you keep a smaller chimney.

2. Type of Stove

The chimney’s size is more reliable on the size of your stove or you should also consider opting for a 60cm chimney if you have a 2 burner cooktop. But if you have an Autoignition cooktop with more than 2 burners then go for a chimney that is around 90cm. A less than 60cm chimney will show inefficient in sucking up smoke from more than 2 burners at a time.

3. Distance between Stove and Chimney

The ideal distance between your stove and chimney is said to be 24 to 30 inches which should be always in mind while installing a kitchen chimney but it is possible that the chimney hood can hold fire if the distance is less than 24 inches and a height over 31 inches will lead to a reduction in the exhaust rate. However, the chimney is going to be inefficient in both cases and your kitchen chimney must be at the right height to function effectively.

4. Chimney Duct

It has always chosen a duct that is less than 12 feet long and a longer duct will have a greater number of bends which will hinder the flow of fumes. This has an adverse effect on suction efficiency or the majority of people opt for a lower-cost installation to avoid this which is also quite unsafe. As a result that it is choosing a compact duct with fewer bends is preferable.

5. Suction Capacity

The suction capacity has a key role to play in determining the height of the chimney installation. The distance between the chimney and stove, the suction capacity is inversely proportional to each other but this means that when a chimney has a low suction capacity so it should not be installed at greater heights as it can show to poor motor performance.

The chimney should be found below 30 inches from the cooktop in case it has low suction capacity. Furthermore, if you desire a greater distance between your chimney and oven but you should go for chimneys having higher exhausting capacity.

6. Duct or Ductless Chimney

The ducted chimneys serve as a medium for the flow of fumes and dust that are supposed to be disposed of outdoors. Longer ducts should be avoided when choosing a chimney that results in more curves and bends which reduce suction capacity. However, to avoid this for many people install the chimney from the bottom side which is extremely dangerous.

When there is a large number of gases present for the chimney’s hold may catch fire, if positioning your stove for chimneys with shorter ducts becomes troublesome to search for a chimney with larger suction power and this will reduce the likelihood of inefficiency.

Kitchen Chimney Installation Guide

1. Location of the Chimney

 

You must ensure that your chimney is arranged perfectly over the stove and the chimney’s core section should be positioned above the furnace. The exiting smoke must be distributed evenly, thus your chimney must be installed over the significant cooking area. Besides, there are several types of chimneys available in the market and they are categorized primarily into three or four groups depending on the capabilities:

Wall Mounted Chimney:  The chimney is installed against the wall and cooktop that are fitted against the wall over the hob.

Island Chimney:  The chimney is installed above the cooktop with a cooktop placed at the center of the kitchen.

Built-in Chimney:  The chimney is installed within the kitchen wood fixtures fitted against the wall so that all the extra parts of the chimneys are not visible or extra woodworks have to be done for its installation.

Corner Chimney:  The chimney is installed in the kitchen’s corner above the cooktop and hob located at the corner against the wall.

2. Chimney Height from Stove

 

When it happens to determine a chimney’s efficiency to the distance between the chimney hood and the gas stove is essential. As a result, if the chimney is positioned too close to the stove but it is possible for it to catch fire. However, if it is put too high along with dirt and dust but the chimney would suck up fresh air as well. According to the experts that the ultimate height for fitting a chimney is between 24 and 30 inches.

In addition, when you purchase a chimney for yourself that you will receive a user handbook that will contain recommendations regarding the appropriate distance between your chimney and stove. However, it has to tend the following points in mind when calculating the height suitable for erecting a chimney for your kitchen.

Type of Cooktop:  if you make ready for your meals on an induction stove then you are safe concerning the height at which the chimney should be fitted. If you are utilizing a naked flame gas stove to make sure the chimney is higher than 24 inches. If you are trying to place it below 24 inches then there is a chance it will catch fire.

Length and number of bends in a duct:  Installing a long duct can create the installation procedure even more problematic as it will have numerous bends causing the flow of smoky air to be caught inside. As a result, suction efficiency will be low and the rate of expelled air will be reduced, or installing a chimney at a lower height, on the other hand, is also not safe.

Suction Capacity:  This is an important consideration when purchasing a chimney, if the suction capacity of the chimney is poor that it should not be installed higher than 29-30 inches as it won’t be able to draw odors and fumes from such a long distance.

Stove’s position and design of the kitchen:  This greatly impacts the process of height calculation, if your stove is close to the kitchen’s sidewalls then you will need a duct with a longer length. As a result, the suction capacity and operational inefficiencies will be reduced but if the stove is positioned near the kitchen’s outer wall so it might help you save money on the installation cost as this type of installation facilities the flow of air with a minimum obstruction and maximum efficiency. However, this might not be possible for a chimney having high suction power.

3. Fastening Chimney to the Wall

 

The majority of the chimneys come with an installation kit that contains stands, screws, and various attachments that comes in handy while fastening the chimney. After measuring the suitable height to mark the points and drill holes for the screws. The only thing that would be left after attaching the chimney with the hood is fastening it and drilling holes of 6mm in the wall to check fits it well before fastening the chimney. If it is a green signal then you can now permanently fix the chimney.

4. Chimney with a Duct or Ductless Chimney

 

While buying a chimney to check if it is ducted or ductless. A ducted chimney is usually made of stainless steel and aluminum material that makes certain maximum strength and durability but its length should not be more than 12 feet because this might result in further bends and turns while installing. This can lead to a decrease in suction power so please go for a small duct pipe to make the chimney more effective.

5. Universal Spigot

 

Modern chimneys include a universal spigot as a built-in feature for ease of use that allows users to connect the exhaust pipe without difficulty. Universal Spigot comes in three sizes to fit pipes with diameters of 4, 5, and 6 inches but you can check the handbook provided by the manufacturer that generally contains helpful illustrations based on user needs.

6. Wiring

 

Wiring is a crucial step in the installation process in the kitchen chimneys and the installation of the chimney just like any other appliance involves several wires. Even chimney plugs must be properly installed for the convenience of the user and Green wires commonly known as earthling wires are also required to protect you against short circuits. Once you are done with the wiring to check if the chimney is operating properly by turning on the power button.

7. Airflow Methods

 

There are two ways to use a chimney as exhaust mode and recirculation mode, however, the exhaust mode is strongly recommended for the best outcomes as it drives out the sucked smoky air through a duct pipe out of the kitchen. A recirculation mode is preferred only in the absence of an exhaust duct pipe and in this mode that the air is recycled in the kitchen environment after carbon filters have purified it.

8. Carbon Filter

 

If you do not have access to suitable outdoor ducts for air exhaustion then you will probably have to ask for an extra carbon filter which will raise the cost of your chimney installation but there is a possibility that it is already connected to your chimney. If not, you must request this from the chimney service provider for optimal performance but it is advised that you replace the carbon filters at least once every three months.

Safety Precautions While Installing Kitchen Chimney

The chimney installation process should be carried out with proper safety measures because you would be dealing with a lot of electronic appliances here and a few safety precautions that you are required to keep in mind are:

• The installer should wear rubber gloves for the prevention of electric shocks and they also keep you safe from short circuits.
• Do not forget to turn off the main power supply before beginning the installation process and furthermore to lock and secure the panel box so that no one accidentally turns on the switches.
• To check that the wires and cables are inactive before holding them.

Conclusion

Chimneys have become a crucial necessity for almost every household in recent years owing to the rise in health concerns. However, it is pretty underappreciated as how to important it is to make sure your family’s safety and a chimney filter away undesired gases and particulars matter from the atmosphere while preventing the inhalation of incompletely combusted particles. Almost every type of kitchen chimney is used for ventilation reasons along with looking for brands and models for your chimneys but it is more important to pay attention to the installation process as well.  We hope this article provides you with all the necessary information and steps for installing a kitchen chimney or lastly the safety precautions are a must while installing a chimney should follow appropriate measures for your safety.