Chimney Buying Guide for Indian Kitchen (2023): Must Read Before You Buy

We have already discussed why a kitchen chimney is necessary. However, buying a perfect chimney for your Indian kitchen is not an easy task. But today, I’m going to make it super easy for you.

Since I have expertise in the kitchen field, I can give you a better guide.

In this kitchen chimney buying guide, I will tell you everything you need to know before buying a chimney. Even after reading this article, you’ll know what to look for in a chimney and which chimney is best for your kitchen.

We have a lot of things to cover, so let’s dive into it…

What is Kitchen Chimney?

A kitchen chimney, also known as a range hood, is an electronic appliance installed above a cooking stove or cooktop to remove smoke, steam, heat, airborne grease, and cooking odors from the air in the kitchen. It is designed to exhaust these pollutants outside the kitchen, helping to maintain a clean and healthy environment.

A kitchen chimney typically consists of a hood that covers the cooking area, a high succession power motor or fan that draws the pollutants up into a duct, and a vent that expels them outside. Additionally, some chimneys also come with filter technology that can filter out grease and other particulates.

So, if you want to keep your kitchen healthy, you should consider having a kitchen chimney. Many people also use an exhaust fan over a kitchen chimney but I must tell you it does not work as effectively as a chimney does.

It’s good that you have wisely decided to choose a chimney. Now, let me tell you about the different types of chimneys.

Different types of Kitchen chimneys:

Chimneys can be classified based on their designs (mount type) and filter type. First, let’s take a look at different types of chimneys based on their designs and find the one that is ideal for your kitchen area.

Island Chimneys:

kitchen chimney buying guide: Island chimney — Source: buildingandinteriors.com

This type of chimney is ideal for large kitchens where the countertop and the stove are positioned in the center of the kitchen. This kind of chimney is also known as a ceiling chimney because it is directly attached to the ceiling and requires a greater number of PVC pipes to provide adequate ventilation.

This type of chimney is ideal for installation without a duct. (Read more: Duct Vs Ductless Chimney-Which is best for your kitchen?)

If you have an open kitchen with a countertop in the middle of your kitchen area, you may consider having an island chimney. However, there are very few companies (like Glen, Hindware, and Kutchina) that manufacture island chimneys, and one island chimney may cost you from INR 35,000 to 60,000.

Most Indian kitchens are not constructed in an open area where an island chimney can be hung, so you may look for a different type of chimney.

Straight-line Chimneys:

If you don’t want to showcase the presence of the chimney in your kitchen’s interior design, you may install a straight-line chimney. This type of chimney generally comes with a filter and is suitable for homes where oily foods are frequently cooked and fried.

A straight-line chimney has higher efficiency compared to other types of chimneys, but it also requires regular cleaning of its filters. I will discuss the different types of filters in a chimney later.

This kind of chimney may cost you from INR 6,000 to 20,000. However, with the popularity of wall-mount chimneys and auto-clean chimneys, the demand for straight-line chimneys is decreasing in India.

Inclined Chimneys/Angular Chimneys:

kitchen chimney buying guide 2023: Inclined chimney — Source: bosch-home.in

This is a quite modern type of wall-mount chimney that has a slanted or angled design, which helps to capture smoke, grease, and other cooking fumes more effectively. An inclined chimney is suitable for small kitchens having a slanted design, you will have more room available above the cooking surface.

Inclined or angular kitchen chimneys can be a good option for Indian kitchens, especially if you cook a lot of fried or heavily spiced foods. These chimneys mostly come with filterless technology that may also have good suction power, auto-clean and gesture-control features.

This type of chimney may cost you from INR 10000 to 25000 depending on the brand, size, and features.

Pyramid Chimney:

A pyramid chimney is an inexpensive chimney that generally comes with a baffle filter have lower suction power. These chimneys are named after their distinctive pyramid-shaped design, which features a wider base that tapers towards the top. It is also an example of a wall-mount chimney.

These chimneys are mostly available online to purchase and get at a lower price. Similar to straight-line chimneys, the craze for this type of chimney in India has gone. Very few brands manufacture Pyramid chimneys- Faber, Hindware, Elica and to name a few. You may get the best pyramid chimneys under INR 10000.

Curved Glass Wall-Mount Chimney:

Chimney buying guide: curved glass chimney — Source: Amazon

This type of electric chimney, mostly preferred by Indian kitchens, has a curved glass design. It can be considered an upgraded version of Pyramid design chimneys.

Unlike other types of chimneys, it may have higher suction power, auto-clean technology, and gesture control features. Curved glass wall-mount chimneys come in both filterless and baffle-filter types. Depending on your personal preference, you may choose one.

Faber, Hindware, Elica, and Glen manufacture a variety of curved glass wall-mount chimneys. They generally come in two sizes: 60cm and 90cm. The cost of this type of chimney starts from INR 10,000 to 20,000.

Filterless chimney Vs Filter chimney:

Before I move into different types of filters in a chimney, let me first explain to you what are the differences between a filterless chimney and a chimney with a filter. It will also give you an idea of which chimney is ideal for your kitchen.

In simple words, A chimney that does not have any filter is known as a filterless chimney while, a filter chimney comes with a filter whose function is to prevent heavy oil particles from going into the chimney and getting trapped inside.

Filterless chimneys come with an auto-clean technology that includes a heating element that melts collected oil and drips it into a detachable collecting tray that needs to be cleaned later. While few chimneys with filters may have an auto-clean technology, however, to separate the oil and grease particles effectively is done by its filter which also requires periodic cleaning. Additionally, It has more efficient than a filterless chimney.

In my opinion, Filterless chimneys are ideal for homes that don’t cook and fry excessive oil and spices foods daily and if you don’t want to get concerned about the cleaning of the filters. However, if you frequently cook or fry foods that produce a lot of oil in your kitchen, a filter chimney may be a better option for you.

Different types of filters in chimneys:

1. Mesh/ Cassette Filter:

These filters are made of layers of aluminum or stainless steel mesh that trap grease and oil particles. The several layers of filters, preserve the small holes in them that allow excess smoke to flow through and dust and oil particles to be collected. They require weekly cleaning, but they are relatively inexpensive and easy to replace.

2. Charcoal Filter:

These filters contain activated charcoal that absorbs smoke, and other impurities from the air, preventing unpleasant odors in the kitchen.

They are often used in ductless chimneys. These filters can be used along with mesh and baffle filters (will discuss this in the next point). They are not washable and have to be replaced once in 3 to 4 months.

3. Baffle Filter:

Baffle filters are made of multiple layers of aluminum or stainless steel baffles that redirect the airflow in different directions, causing grease and oil to condense and settle. The filter panel is made of several patches through which the air travels, they are efficient in trapping grease and oil, but they require cleaning every six months.

In Indian kitchens, baffle filter electric chimneys are mostly preferred. Baffle filter chimneys mostly come in pyramid chimneys, curved glass wall mount chimneys, and straight-line chimneys.

Which type of electric kitchen chimney should you buy?

After looking at different types of electric chimneys and different filters of chimneys you may have confused. Right?

And, you may have these questions running through your head: Should you buy a filterless chimney or baffle filter chimney? What about a straight-line chimney?

Well, in this chimney buying guide I’m not here to confuse rather I’m here to explain everything. So, allow me to explain which kind of chimney you should go with…if you’re from India.

As I told you already the differences between a filterless chimney and a filter chimney. If you cook and fry oily food often and have no issue with periodic cleaning of the filter, additionally if you’re looking for a more efficient chimney, you must choose a baffle filter chimney.

Now with the design, you may have a personal choice. Either you can go for a straight-line chimney, a pyramid chimney, or a curved glass wall-mount chimney. However, I must tell you, Curve glass wall-mount chimneys are widely used in Indian kitchens.

On the other hand, If you are more concerned about cleaning the chimneys and want an auto-clean feature, you may consider a filterless chimney. Filterless chimneys are modern chimneys and slowly replacing filter chimneys.

In filterless chimneys, you can either consider a curve glass wall-mount chimney or an inclined/angular chimney. The choice is yours.

Factors to consider when buying a chimney:

When buying a chimney, you have to also consider a few important factors. Let’s discuss them one by one…

Type of mount:

As I have already discussed if you have an open kitchen and your countertop is in the middle position of your kitchen area, you may consider an island chimney. Or, if your countertop is attached to the wall, you better go with a wall-mount chimney that could be either an inclined, curved glass or straight-line chimney.

The suction power and speed level:

The power of a chimney to remove smoke and gases is known as its suction capacity or suction power, which can range from 1000 m3/hr to 1500 m3/hr. The higher the suction power, the better it will remove smoke. However, with the increases in suction power, the noise level will also increase. If you don’t produce a lot of smoke in your kitchen, consider a moderate suction power ranging from 1100-1350 m3/hr.

Most chimneys also come in a 3-speed level which is a feature you must consider while buying a chimney.

Noise level:

As mentioned earlier, the higher the suction power, the higher the noise produced by the chimney. Some chimneys can be very noisy, which can annoy you while cooking. The noise of a chimney can range from 58-65 dB. Choosing a chimney with a low noise level and good suction power is always beneficial.

Curved glass chimneys and straight-line chimneys may produce very low noise. A few chimneys also come with a silent noise feature, which you may also search for but, It’s difficult to say that the noise level will be zero.

Performance and cleaning:

The performance and efficiency of the chimney are essential. By overall performance, we mean how well and efficiently the chimney work over the years. For example, an exhaust fan may not be as efficient at removing smoke and gases as a chimney.

Buying the best chimney will always give you the best performance. If you purchase a straight-line chimney or a filter chimney it may require periodic cleaning depending on which filter it has. With a filterless chimney, you don’t need to worry about cleaning but it could be also less efficient compared to a filter chimney.

Auto Clean and Gesture Control:

If you decide to buy a filterless chimney, also check for how effective its auto-clean feature work. As I have explained to you already, auto-clean technology includes a heating element that melts collected oil and drips it into a detachable collecting tray that needs to be cleaned later. So, make sure you purchase the chimney that also comes with an oil tray that can be cleaned easily.

Similarly, the Gesture control feature is another important feature to look for in a chimney. Many people neglect this feature but it could be useful when your hands are dirty while cooking and you have to turn on the chimney. In the gesture control feature, by just waving your hand, you can start and control the chimney. Isn’t it helpful?

These days all smart chimneys especially in inclined and curved glass designs, come with a gesture control feature that smoothly works.

Sizes of the chimney:

In India, Chimneys are typically preferred in 2 sizes: 60cm and 90cm. For a stove with 2 or 3 burners, a 60cm chimney is sufficient, but for 4 burners or more, a 90cm chimney is recommended. In these two sizes, you may find a variety of curved glass chimneys, inclined chimneys, pyramid chimneys, or straight-line chimneys.

If you want to install an Island chimney, this size can go up to 120cm. Remember that the price may vary depending on the size of the chimney.

Customer Service and Maintenance:

When purchasing a chimney, you must consider the customer service and maintenance provided by the chimney company. The customer service should be quick, easy, and hassle-free, and the maintenance should be of good quality.

Warranty and Price:

Most chimney companies offer a 1-year comprehensive warranty on the product and a 5-year warranty on the motor, although this may vary depending on the range of the chimney. Always look for a chimney that offers an extended warranty period.

Some best chimneys from different brands may offer you 2 years warranty on the product and 15 years warranty on its motors that you must consider when buying a chimney.

How to buy the best chimney?

In this chimney-buying guide for Indian kitchens, I have given you all the important information and factors that you should consider while buying a chimney for your kitchen.

Now let me tell you how you can buy the best chimney at an affordable price. When it comes to buying a chimney you have two options- Either you can purchase it from nearby shops by going there, or you may purchase it online from Amazon, Flipkart, or any other sites.

Here, I will always recommend you buy a chimney online either from Flipkart or Amazon because of these benefits…

Variety of range: When you search for a chimney to buy online, you get a wide variety of ranges with different brands and models that you may not find in any nearby shops and stores.
Affordable and discounted price: Compared to a store, you may buy a chimney from Amazon or Flipkart at a much cheaper price.
No delivery and Installation issues: When you buy a chimney from a store, you may worry about how to deliver it home or how long it will take for installation. However, if you purchase it online from any place, everything will be done on autopilot. You don’t need to worry about the delivery of the product and installation. Brands will automatically contact you for installation after a couple of days.

In addition to these benefits, the biggest benefit is no matter which places you live, if online purchasing works there, you can easily buy a chimney online without any struggle.

However, never buy a chimney from the brand’s website itself. For example, you may purchase a Faber or Elica chimney from their websites also but it may always cost you more than buying it from Amazon or Flipkart.

Now It’s your turn:

Buying the best chimney is not an easy task, as you are making a one-time investment for many years of use. Before buying a chimney, you must have a guide on what to look for in a chimney for your kitchen.

I hope you found this kitchen chimney buying guide helpful in improving your knowledge on this topic.

Now, I would like to hear from you: What kind of chimney are you planning to buy for your kitchen?

If you have any questions or concerns, please write them down, and we would love to help you.

Chimney Buying Guide for Indian Kitchen (2023): Must Read Before You Buy