7 good tips for cooker hoods

  1. Use the cooker hood properly.
    A cooker hood uses circa 1½ times more energy at the highest setting than at the lowest. Only use the highest speed for smoke or steam.
  2. Ensure ventilation.
    Cooker hoods do not function optimally in situations where they extract more air from the kitchen than they are able to draw in. Leave a door open to other rooms in the home, or open a window.
  3. Clean grease filter.
    The grease filter in a cooker hood must be regularly cleaned – about once a month. A dirty filter means that the extractor fan has to be run at a higher setting to achieve the same effect, and this increases the energy consumption and noise.
  4. Recirculation.
    Nearly all cooker hoods can be used as recirculation extractors which do not vent outside. They can extract grease particles and food odours but not moisture, because the air is not renewed. Remember that, apart from the grease filter, this type should always be fitted with a charcoal filter which should be changed 1-2 times per year.
  5. Check the ventilation flap.
    Make sure that the ventilation flap in the cooker hood opens and closes as it should. Cold air will be drawn into the hood if the flap is continually open. If the flap cannot open, the extractor will not work.
  6. Good draught.
    A good draught is important. The shorter the exhaust hose, and the fewer bends in it, the better the extraction power. Thin exhaust hoses and flexi hoses that are not completely sealed reduce the suction effect.
  7. Light in the cooker hood.
    If the lights on the cooker hood are halogen spots or tungsten filament bulbs, then remember to switch them off when you have finished cooking.

Page last updated 06.10.2008