Recirculating Hood: Aesthetic Design and Space-Saving for Modern Kitchen

A recirculating hood is an essential appliance in the kitchen to keep the air clean and free of odors. This allows those who love to cook to comfortably spend long hours experimenting in the kitchen.

The practicality of recirculating hoods, which do not require smoke exhaust ducts, makes them highly sought after, especially by those who like to have a minimalist kitchen. A practical solution, isn’t it?

But you still have to consider a few things before deciding to use a recirculating hood as your modern kitchen appliance. Want to know more? Read this article to the end!

What is a Recirculating Hood?

A recirculating hood is a type of kitchen hood that differs from other types. This device does not expel air outside the house; instead, it filters smoke and odors using an activated carbon filter to return clean air to the kitchen.

This device does not require a ventilation duct, so it can be installed anywhere. It is suitable for those who live in apartments or houses without outside ventilation.  

It should be noted that this device is less effective at handling large amounts of smoke. Another thing to consider is that because it uses a carbon filter to filter smoke and odors, you need to replace it regularly to keep it working properly.

How Does a Recirculating Hood Work?

Recirculating hoods work by filtering dirty air, steam, and smoke in the kitchen through a carbon filter and returning clean air to the kitchen. Here’s how it works in detail:

• Suctioning air: Air containing smoke, steam, and oil from the cooking process is sucked through a fan in the device.
• Filtering the air: The filter traps oil and grease particles and removes unpleasant odors from the incoming air.
• Recirculating clean air: The clean air is then blown back into the kitchen.

The Advantages of a Recirculating Hood

The recirculating hood system has several advantages, including easy installation, simple maintenance, aesthetic design, and space-saving. Here are some of its main advantages in detail:

Easy installation

This type of cooker hood is very easy to install because it does not require an external pipe. You also don’t need to bother making ventilation holes or dismantling your kitchen set. Installation of this device is fairly easy and quick without having to change the structure of the building. 

Can be installed anywhere

In addition to being easy to install, recirculating hoods can be installed anywhere to suit the position of your stove. Want to keep it in the corner or in the middle of your island kitchen? You can, because the placement of the device is more flexible since there is no need to vent smoke outside.

Simple maintenance

This device will not bother you with cleaning long pipes that are usually used to vent smoke outside. To maintain the performance of the device, you only need to regularly clean and replace the filter when it is dirty. 

Aesthetic design and space-saving

Do you have a small kitchen but still want it to be neat and stylish? A recirculating hood is perfect for you. This appliance is designed to be sleek and modern, making it easy to blend in with a minimalist kitchen.

The Disadvantages that You Need to Know

Although practical, there are several things you need to consider before choosing a recirculating hood. Here are some disadvantages you need to know:

Dependent on filters

This device relies heavily on carbon filters to filter dirty air, steam, and smoke in the kitchen. If the carbon filter is dirty, its performance will decline. Not only that, but cooking odors will also return.

Requires regular maintenance

To maintain the performance of a recirculating hood, you need to perform regular maintenance by replacing the carbon filter. Generally, carbon filters should be replaced every 3-6 months, depending on how often you cook.

Less effective for hot air

Although dirty air, steam, and smoke in the kitchen can be recirculated, this device cannot remove the hot air in the kitchen. Hence, the kitchen will still feel hot if you cook for a long time.

Now you know more about recirculating hoods. Hence, you can better consider how they work, their advantages, and their disadvantages before deciding to use one in your kitchen.

If you’re looking for a practical solution for a small kitchen or apartment, choosing this type of cooker hood could be a smart move to make your daily cooking activities more comfortable. Just make sure to maintain it regularly and replace the filters to keep the device performing well and keep the kitchen air fresh.