Role Of Range Hood Filters in Air Purification
Range hoods play a key role in air purification of your kitchen space. A range hood effectively removes debris, grease, smoke and food particles during the cooking process and, most importantly, improves air quality in your kitchen.
It’s important to know that different types of range hoods are available for sale these days. When selecting a range hood, homeowners have to take into account its installation type. Range hoods are installed differently in your kitchen. There are island range hoods, under cabinet range hoods as well as wall mount range hoods. Range hoods can be ducted or ductless. Range hoods come with and without filters.
The work process of a range hood filter consists of several stages. Initially, a range hood filter captures polluted air that’s released during the cooking process. After that, a filter cleans polluted air. Finally, purified air is either returned back to your kitchen or extracted to the exterior of your house.
It’s necessary to select the right type of a filter for a range hood. There are different types of filters, which are used in range hoods. An air filter is selected depending on the range hood’s design and function.
Different materials are used in range hood filters. These include: aluminum, stainless steel and carbon. Each type of a range hood has its own purpose, features as well as pros and cons.
Today, we’ll talk about range hood air filters. We’ll dig deeper into each type of air filters and talk you through its functions, maintenance, etc. As a result, you’ll manage to explore all of your options carefully and decide what type of a filter is best for your range hood.
So, let’s get started.
Charcoal Filters
Ductless range hoods often come with charcoal filters. Carbon-based material is used in this type of filters. Charcoal filters effectively remove bad odors from air. It’s important to know that charcoal filters don’t remove grease. That’s why this type of a filter is not suitable for those homeowners, who do heavy-cooking.
A charcoal filters is suitable only for medium or everyday cooking. Charcoal filters would be the perfect choice if you need to turn a ducted filter into a ductless one. The filter purifies air efficiently. With charcoal filters, all pollutants and odors will be removed from the air during the cooking process.
It’s impossible to clean charcoal filters. However, filters of this type have to be replaced on a regular basis. The frequency of replacing filters depends on how often you use a range hood. On average, a filter has to be replaced once per 3 – 6 months.
Grease Filters
As we have already mentioned, charcoal filters don’t trap grease. The main purpose of a grease filter is to remove grease from range hood’s air stream. With such filters, greasy substances will be removed from extracted air.
Such a filter helps prevent grease from accumulating grease and dirt on cabinets, countertops, floors and stove in your kitchen. Grease filters are made of such materials as aluminum and stainless-steel.
The so-called grease filters come with metallic grids. Grease particle get stuck in metallic grids. As a result, grease is removed from extracted air. Keep in mind that grease filters have to be cleaned regularly. If you don’t clean a filter it will begin to lose its filtering capacity over time.
It’s recommended to wash filters. It’s possible to wash grease filters either by hand or in a dishwasher. If you wash a filter by hand, then you should use neutral detergents. Also, you can clean a filter in the dishwasher at a low temperature.
Baffle Filters
Baffle filters are worth considering if you fry a lot and often do heavy-duty cooking in your kitchen. Such range hood filters are well-known due to their grease-trapping properties. A range hood filter of this type removes grease and does air purification in your cooking area successfully. Baffle filters are usually made of stainless steel. You only need to use soap as well as water to clean baffle filters.
Mesh Filters
A mesh filter would be the perfect choice for medium use and everyday cooking. It’s worth noting that two types of materials are used in mesh filters. Aluminum mesh and charcoal are used in mesh filters. Each material provides its own layer of filtration. Aluminum mesh is used to remove grease as well as oil from air that goes through a range hood. Additionally, charcoal removes smoke, odors and pollutants from the air. As a result, purified air is returned back to a kitchen.
What Type of a Filter is Best for Your Range Hood?
With so many options available on the market these days, homeowners may find it difficult to pick a suitable filter for a range hood.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a range hood filter. It’s necessary to select range hood filters with your kitchen construction, cooking style, cooking habits and cooking needs in mind.
Charcoal filters would be a good option if you don’t spend too much time on cooking in your kitchen. This type of a filter will manage to purify air in your kitchen successfully if you cook light meals and don’t fry frequently.
Let’s assume that you are the kind of a homeowner who fries a lot, do heavy-cooking and prepares complex dishes. In this case, it would be better to give a preference to baffle filters. Range hood filters of this type will meet your cooking needs and do a great job in your kitchen.
Mesh filters are a golden mean between charcoal filters and mesh filters. Such a filter will be a good option if you love cooking, but don’t spend too much time on cooking.
Don’t hurry up to make a decision. First of all, you have to analyze your cooking style and cooking habits carefully. After that, you have to explore all your options and study their pros and cons carefully. As a result, you’ll be able to pick a range hood filter that suits your cooking needs best.
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