How important is Chimney for Indian Kitchens
Few days back I received a call from a modern Home owner asking, is having a chimney that important than an exhaust fan???
This is what I had to say…
In todays world where air pollution matters a lot, exhaust fan is not sufficient. I suggest all home owners to use chimneys as exhasut fan can only darw out the smoke from kicthen, and not other impurities like carbon and food particles, oilyness, heavy complicated gaseous, etc., that a chimney can draw out. Unlike exhaust fan, chimney can be installed anywhere in the kitchen. Chimney is installed 26”-30” above the cooktop.
In modern world, with modular kitchens in every house, there are cabinets made/installed for storage purposes. There are cabinets made below the platfrm, above the platform, side walls, etc. With Indian kitchens, where oily & masaledar food is been cooked, the smoke/heat generated carries greasy and other impurities settle on the cabinets above the cooktop. Over a period of time, the cabinets will turn yellowish because of the fumes and other heavy complicated gaseous molecule generated while cooking.
If there happens to be no cabinets above the platform, the particles would settle on ceiling or false ceiling. This way either the ceiling or cabinets get affected with impurities where exhaust fans are installed.
But in the same kitchen if home owner has a chimney installed, the smoke, impurities and food particles are drawn out through fan or filters of chimney. Having chimneys saves the ceiling above the cooking area from getting damaged and also smoke spreading to other rooms.
The cleaning task is reduced if you have chimney installed. Chimney can be cleaned every 10-12 days. Whereas with exhaust fan kitchen you will have to clean the cabinets and other furniture on daily basis to prevent them from becoming yellowish. So you see using chimney helps you keep your kitchen and kitchen furniture much cleaner.
If you have both, chimney and exhaust fan installed, then never use exhaust fan while cooking.
Few home owners can be quite lucky to have a huge window right at the cooking area. Home owners with such kitchen design can save on, but not installing chimney. They rather wouldn’t need one. But for others where window are not on the same side as cooking area, chimneys are best option to maintain kitchen environment.
Function Comparison- Exhaust fan vs Chimney
1 Ductable Chimney = 15 Exhaust Fans
1 Ductless Chimney = 8 Exhuast Fans
One ductable chimney will functions as much as 15 exhaust fans installed in a kitchen. Even if it a recyclable chimney, it functions as much as 7-9 exhaust fan installed in kitchen. So you see the performance level of chimney is much higher than 10 exhaust fan. And the fresh air maintained by chimney keeps you and your family healthy too.
Really useful info thanks
Hello
I am planning on installing chimney in my kitchen. I already have an exhaust fan. Is it necessary to keep the both of them? Someone told me I shouldn’t remove the exhaust fan even if i am installing chimney. I am really confused. Please guide a little.
Kindly specify electricity consumption
Mr Feroz, I do not have exact number to be honest. But I was personally surprised to know that chimney doesnt add to major power consumption. It is equivalent to regular bulb or fan like consumption. If you are looking for exact unit numbers, you will have to check company websites.
I have a window right above the kitchen platform and no cabinets directly above it. I am confused whether to install an exhaust fan over that window or go for a chimney.There is no other exhaust vent anywhere in the kitchen. The space between the top of that window and the ceiling is limited as there is a beam just below ceiling. It is difficult to make a vent there and install an exhaust fan as an electric plug point exists exactly midway. There is a door on the other side of kit
chen that leads to balcony. Kindly advice what is the best exhaust option for me… A chimney or exhaust fan fixed on window or exhaust fan fixed on top of window (a bit difficult option as electric wiring is to be reinstalled)?
First of all, it is extremely good to have your cooking range in front of window, everyone doesnt get that kind of arrangement. Exhaust fan will be just fine, absolutely no need for chimney. Only exception is if there extremely heavy wind coming inside from window then that can blow off burner flame. Latest designer exhaust fans are slim, do not make noise & take minimum space, just fit it to top corner of your window.
Namaste, it’s really helpful. Yeah, we have a three door window Infront of the stove. I have been searching for this information for more than a month. Finally i got it, Thank you so much.
Hi, We also have a window right above the kitchen platform and no cabinets directly above it. Also we currently have a good (Almonard exhaust fan) above the stove, but still both the sides of our walls and the window grills have turned black with grease accumulation. The exhaust fan is slightly protruded towards the inside of kitchen and probably when the fan is on, all the grease s getting splashed on the side walls. Hence request you suggest a remedy for this situation. Do we need to go for a chimney or purchase a much powerful and latest model of exhaust fan. If the the latter, please suggest names of few good chimney brands.
vinod ji, pls whatapps us few pictures on 9920620009. I will have my Interior designer talk to you to discuss solution.
Can we instal a kitchen chimney to a loft which is just up on the kitchen counter. I have a window too attached to the loft.
Sir the same problem m having bit confused whether chimney need to installed. But my kitchen is so greasy pls provide me no. I will send u the pic. Pls also tell whether the window size should expand or not
Thanks a lot
send picture to 9920620009 & end same message, we will have our Interior Designer look at it.
Hi,
I have a doubt that our kitchen is little smaller and there is no much ventilation. If I install a chimney, do I need to remove the ceiling fan which i am using now. I came to know that we should not use while using a chimney as the ceiling fan air will effect the quality of the chimney suction. Is it true. I can install a wall mount fan too, instead of ceiling fan.
Mr nagaraj, pls send pictures of your kitchen & whatapps us on 9920620009. Call us after that, I will have my Designer make suggestion. CHimney efficiency shouldn’t get affected by use of fan, I have never heard of it. Lot of homes we do, have small Kitchen, sometimes Kitchen made insside balcony or lobby. Chimney always does good job. Fan working can conflict with you cooking range(gas stove), that part you need to confirm.
Do we have to use cheminy only when we are cooking
yes, main purpose is to remove smoke / fumes formed during cooking
In my kitchen I have big window above the burner . I am confused wether to install chimney or exhaust
Someone told me that chimney require a lot of maintenance
Plz suggest
If you have big window near cooking area then probably you dont need chimney. However if you go ahead with chimney, there is not much trouble about maintenance. Chimney product has evolved over years, for little bigger budget you can find chimney with auto-cleaning option. Please do checkout chimney stores in your area & find out all features available before you make decision.
Which chimney would you suggest from those available in the market. I have been looking at Faber, Franke and Siemens. The price difference is quite huge.
most branded ones are good at what they claim. We have used Faber & Kutchina chimney in past & they have been good.
Namaste! You mentioned previously, that if our kitchen has chimney and exhaust both, then we should not use them together. Please explain this a bit more in detail. Also, in which case, for what purposes should we use the kitchen exhaust [where can it help then], as chimney needs to be ON, only when the “actual cooking” is been done. Much thanks in advance for your time and help!
as far as cooking is concern, chimney does it job. There is no need for exhaust fan. So we dont see why would someone would require exhaust at all in kitchen.
Do I need to use chimney even if I am only preparing tea or simply boiling water
if chimney doesn’t make much noise then it probably it will become practice to use chimney every-time you use cooking range. But its completely personal choice
Hi, We are a bit confused on whether we should install Chimney in our Kitchen or not. If we install chimney , is it necessary to have Exhaust fan too along with it ? OR only chimney should be sufficient ?
We do have a window in our kitchen and also there will be boxes built over the stove , as we are converting our kitchen to modular one.
Any suggestion would be appreciated
Thanks,
Nitin
Only Chimney is sufficient. All modular kitchen designers have good idea about keeping chimney in design.
Hello, I am lately seeing chimney for my kitchen but I see two types of chimneys. One that is the straight one and the other one which is in 45 degree angle. If i want to install an angled form chimney then how much is it effective then the straight ones?
Hello, is it OK to have a chimney near the kitchen window? because some say the chimney will suck the air coming from window also…Kindly suggest
usually people dont use it if there is big window available. It gets tricky to make decision in such design – whether to use window ventilation or go for chimney
I have a window and door side by side and have cabinets in kitchen guide me what to install exhaust fan or electric chimney
i have a 100 sq feet kitchen and dont have a window and any other ventilation what is best for my kitchen?
chimney with a duct
I have designed my new kitchen recently. The kitchen is small in size. There is a small window above the gas stove. But I don’t keep the provision of chimney in the kitchen. I have made the provision of exhaust fan. Is chimney necessary? Please suggest me
Chimney is not necessary in your case.
Could you please tell me what is the basis of saying that one Chimney non ductable is equal to 8 exhaust fan and ductable is equal to 15 exhaust fan?
I would be grateful if you kindly educate me on this issue.
inside kitchen cooking range/ gas stove creates heat and fumes, specially with Indian cooking with spices and oils. If you have chimney, it sucks most of these fumes immediately. The effect chimney creates is equivalent to multiple exhaust fan doing the job.
Hello..
There is cooking stove near my window..i want to install chimney..is it possible to install wall mounted chimney near window.. ?
I have huge window above my kitchen platform
And above it there is celing.i have seen Faber chimney and product name celo and it is ductless .should install it or what should I do
I am really uncomfortable about cooking right under chimney that is bound to be soiled with oil, unburnt carbon etc. please allay my fears.
Shall we buy chimney which is low in cost or is there any model should we ?dhivya
thanks for the important usefull information
thanks a ton for educating us by taking your time, regarding the chimney use. i appreciate ur concern in responding to each and every query posed. we owe you one, kudos…
Kindly tell can I install chimney pipe through centre of glass window in my modular kitchen.
I have one query related to my exhaust pipe of chimney..
I am using elica chimney having 1150 m3/hr air flow rate but i dnt have any exhaust near to my chimney so exhaust pipe will be extended for 18 foot…!! So in this condition chimney will work or not ?
Dear sir
Does a ductless chimney help in reducing heat in the kitchen?
I wanted to know if I want to use chimney in my kitchen then exhaust fan is necessary or not? Should I use both or only chimney please answer.
if chimney used then no need for exhaust fan.
If I install an exhaust fan on the outer vent of the chimney pipe, will it improves the effectiveness of the chimney and will it help in keeping the duct clean for longer time?
haha you can try some experiment like that, I have no idea about consequences. Also if there is any warranty on chimney, it may not be considered in this case.
Have you tried installing exhaust fan on the outer vent of chimney pipe already? What is the result?
wowww! never seen anything like that. Is that a commercial kitchen? Why is normal chimney not sufficient?
My Kitchen has a chimney installed adjacent to the window. Should I still need to install the exhaust fan on the hole above the window?
not required. However if there is easy provision, no harm in installing a small exhaust and keep for occasional usage.
Hello sir,
We are planning to take a flat on rent..
Kitchen is small but there is no window, ventilation in kitchen..
There is chimney over the cooking gas..
Is it sufficient? As we have heavy oily cooking being indian..
Also there is hall outside kitchen so is there chance that food smell or smoke comes to hall?
if chimney is in doing its job then there is no need to worry.
Hi. We are planning to set modular kitchen . As it is already built and purchased flat , we don’t have much option in my kitchen. It is Avery small kitchen and have two big window and a balcony. As I don’t have much space for cabinets, can we install the cabinets just above the gas stove (instead of chimney).. will it affect the life time of the plywood/PVC which we use for our cabinets? Please reply
space is more costlier and necessary then anything else. The cost of storage utility vs laminate getting spoiled over next 5-10 years is what you have to compare. Keep it clean regularly so that oil fumes do not settle, will it affect surface ? Yes it will over period of time.
Hi, I have installed cabinet just above the gas as there is lack of space in my kitchen but I have window left side of my kitchen platform so there is necessity to install chimney ? Plz reply
chimneys are always suppose to be on top of burner/cooking range. NO, dont go for chimney, instead now use a exhaust fan somewhere inside kitchen.
I want to install chimney in my kitchen but problem is I m staying in a rented house. So my concern is if I will shift to other place can I remove it.
yes, use ductless chimney. You can easily remove and take it to new place and re-use it.
Hi,
I am in planning stage of my house and I have planned a kitchen of size 360×316. I have the provision to go for 3/2 windows above the cooking area (facing east) and 3/2 windows above the washing area (facing north). Now we have the below 2 confusions
1. Should I go for chimney or exhaust fan?
2. How many minimum windows I should keep in the kitchen to get enough light and ventilation?
Kindly provide your suggestion.
as many windows you can keep is better. chimney always gives better result than exhaust fan. chimney can be installed by covering partial window if it is right above cooking range.
Hi Nitin,
I have purchased a flat where the kitchen has an adjacent utility space. The outlet for chimney duct opens to the utility space. So, my question is, will it dirty my utility walls ? Should I get another hole in the wall and let the chimney duct out of the house/utility ?
Please advise.
Thanks in advance.
over period of time, yes, utility wall area will become dirty. Indian kitchens, we use lot of masala, oil, there are lot of fumes.
Hi,
We propose to go for redevelopment of our housing society.
None of our members so far have used chimneys in our kitchens.
How do we generally specify our requirement of ‘a chimney in our kitchen’ to our developer?
Thanks in advance
New buildings using Chimneys is very common. I am sure your builder’s design will handle it. Also there is nothing very specific needed for chimney to install, so don’t worry about it.
Sir, I am facing a peculiar problem. I have purchased one Hindware 60 cm chimney for two burner stove. The suction capacity is 1100 CMH.
I observe that some fumes and smokes from the left burner goes up to ceiling. Whereas, all smokes and fumes produced by right burner are sucked by chimney completely.
For your convenience, I would like to add that it is placed 70 cm up from the burner as suggested and placed at the middle of the two burner. I have tested with cardboard that the suction power with from both side of the chimney is same.
Also, I would like to add the empty space from the kitchen wall upto the chimney in the left side is less and the space in the right side is large. Please reply as I am very much worried.
Minor fumes will always get escaped from chimney, however overall working of chimney makes sure air is kept out of room. Also on the other end, try to find out at what occasions fumes are caused & see if those things can be take care of. No chimney can absorb 100% fumes in Indian kitchens.
Bro, I am buying a house in which there is a Window and it’s an open kitchen. Where can I install the burners and if I do it near the window. Then is there any requirement if chimney??
Harsh ji, it is very difficult to answer liek that. Yes usual place is always close to window. However there are so many functionality related factors in kitchen.
What is the use of exhaust fan if we have installed both exhaust fan and ductless chimney
If you have sufficient ventilation/windows in kitchen. No need of exhaust if chimney there.
Hello … My kitchen is under construction . There is no window in it but it has another door which opens to ots ..so pls guide will it be sufficient for ventilation or window is must? Will install duct chimney in kitchen
Hello … My kitchen is under construction . There is no window in it but it has another door which opens to ots ..so pls guide will it be sufficient for ventilation or window is must? Will install duct chimney in kitchen
Hello sir… We dont have window in our kitchen but a door which opens to ots… And will be installing a duct chimney in kitchen.. is it sufficient for ventilation or should we incorporate window also on cook hob side wall?
Hello Sir,
We are planning to install kitchen chimney with exhaust outlet outside towards the terrace. Society is not giving permission to install chimney . Is it illegal ?? Ordo we need to take permission for installing it ??
Society committee has to give permission for any action you are taking outside of your house premises.