Question 1

Why doesn't my cooker hood clear the steam and smells?

Accepted Answer

Usually because it is **recirculating rather than ducted**, and most people do not know which theirs is.

**Ducted (extracted)** hoods take air and expel it **outside** through ductwork. Steam, grease, smells and combustion products leave the building entirely. This is the only arrangement that genuinely removes moisture.

**Recirculating** hoods pass air through a **charcoal filter** and blow it back into the kitchen. The charcoal adsorbs some odour molecules. Crucially, **it cannot remove steam or heat** — water vapour passes straight through and returns to the room. If your kitchen still steams up, this is almost certainly why.

Recirculation is used where ducting is impractical — internal kitchens, flats, island units far from a wall. It is a compromise, not an equivalent.

**How to tell which you have:** look for a duct leaving the hood and going through a wall or roof. If the outlet loops back into the cabinet above, it recirculates.

**Other reasons a hood underperforms:**

**Saturated filters.** Metal grease filters need washing regularly — monthly with heavy use — and they are dishwasher safe. **Charcoal filters cannot be cleaned** and must be replaced every three to six months. Most people never replace them, at which point the hood is just a noisy fan.

**Undersized extraction rate.** Hoods are rated in m³/h. A rough guide is ten to twelve air changes per hour for the kitchen volume, and gas hobs need more than induction.

**Too high above the hob.** Typical guidance is 65–75cm above a gas hob and slightly less above electric. Higher looks better and works worse.

**Hood narrower than the hob**, so plumes escape at the sides.

**Restricted or over-long ducting.** Flexible corrugated hose, sharp bends and long runs reduce airflow dramatically; rigid, wide, short ducting performs far better.

**No make-up air** in a very airtight kitchen.

Question 2

How do you choose the right cooker hood extraction rate?

Accepted Answer

By calculating the air volume of the kitchen and how many times an hour it needs changing — and most hoods are undersized because the number on the box is measured in conditions that do not resemble

Question 3

What is the difference between vented, condenser and heat pump tumble dryers?

Accepted Answer

All three remove moisture from clothes with warm air. They differ in what happens to the moist air afterwards, and that determines installation requirements and running cost. Vented. Heats air,

Question 4

How do I ensure my kitchen chimney is working efficiently?

Accepted Answer

To ensure your kitchen chimney works efficiently, regularly clean filters, check ducts, use it properly, inspect the motor, and replace filters as needed.

Question 5

What does a pyrolytic self-cleaning oven actually do?

Accepted Answer

A pyrolytic oven heats itself to an extreme temperature — typically around 450–500°C — which incinerates food residue, grease and spills, reducing them to a small quantity of fine ash you wipe out

Question 6

How do I ensure my kitchen chimney is free from grease buildup?

Accepted Answer

Regular maintenance, including monthly filter cleaning and thorough inspections, ensures your kitchen chimney remains free from grease buildup, enhancing efficiency and safety.

Question 7

What is a combi microwave, and what does a steam oven do?

Accepted Answer

They are two different attempts to combine cooking methods in one appliance, and they solve different problems. A combination (combi) microwave adds conventional heating to microwave cooking.

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