Cooker hoods

How to choose a cooker hood

A cooker hood is the appliance you only notice when it is missing: grease settles on the cabinets and the smell of frying reaches the bedroom. The right model is chosen by hob width, kitchen size and mounting type — here is a short guide.

• Width. The hood must be as wide as the hob or wider: 60 cm is the standard, 45–52 cm for a small hob, 75–90 cm for a large kitchen or an island.
• Extraction rate. Work out the kitchen volume (m² × height) × 10 — that is how many cubic metres per hour the hood must move. A 10 m² kitchen needs 250–350 m³/h, 15–20 m² needs 450–650 m³/h. A 20–30% margin means the hood runs at a quiet speed.
• Mounting type. A telescopic or integrated hood hides inside a wall cabinet and shows only the grease-filter panel; a wall-mounted (chimney) hood is a design feature; angled glass models take up less room at eye level.
• Extraction or recirculation. Connected to a ventilation duct, the hood vents air outside — the most effective. With no duct, it recirculates through a charcoal filter, replaced every 3–6 months.
• Noise. 45–55 dB at normal speed is fine in an open-plan kitchen; 65–70 dB at maximum is the norm. Models with spare capacity and brushless motors are quieter.
• Energy class and lighting. An A or A++ hood uses 30–50 kWh a year, class C up to 100 kWh. LED lighting is brighter and lasts 10 times longer than halogen.

Hoods in our range

Telescopic hoods CATA TF, TFH and TFK series, Candy and Gorenje at 50–70 cm are the most popular choice — they fit a 60 cm wall cabinet and switch on as you pull the drawer out. Integrated hoods CATA GC Dual and Corona, Midea and Whirlpool hide completely inside the cabinet, with up to 850 m³/h. Wall-mounted chimney hoods CATA Thalassa, Arona, Armonia and GA Dual, Bosch Serie 4 and Whirlpool at 60–90 cm are the kitchen's centrepiece — angled glass or the classic pyramid. Compact under-cabinet hoods CATA FK Slim and Extender, Candy at 52–60 cm suit a rented kitchen or a summer house.

Brands

CATA is a Spanish maker that builds only hoods and hobs — hence the widest choice and the best price-to-airflow ratio. Bosch is the classic of quiet running and precise electronics, and Whirlpool, Gorenje, Candy and Midea are dependable choices at a sensible price.

Installation

Hood height above the hob: 55–65 cm over an electric hob, 65–75 cm over gas. For ducting choose a 150 mm pipe — 120 mm cuts airflow by up to 30%. Large wall hoods come by bulky-goods courier; telescopic ones fit a parcel locker.

Related products

Alongside the hood, see hobs, ovens and cookers; for clean air in the living room there are air purifiers. The full selection is in home appliances.

Frequently asked questions

How powerful a hood do I need? Kitchen volume times 10. A 12 m² kitchen with a 2.6 m ceiling = 31 m³ × 10 = 310 m³/h; with a margin, choose 400 m³/h so it runs at a quiet speed.

Does a hood work without a ventilation duct? Yes, in recirculation mode with a charcoal filter. It removes smell and grease, but not moisture and heat — so ducting is better where possible.

How often should filters be cleaned? The aluminium grease filter monthly in the dishwasher; the charcoal filter replaced every 3–6 months. If the hood starts droning and grease stays on the cabinets, it is time.

What is the difference between telescopic and integrated? A telescopic hood has a pull-out drawer that enlarges the capture area and switches the motor on; an integrated one sits fixed inside the cabinet with a panel in the cabinet's colour.

Does a 60 cm hood suit a 60 cm hob? Yes, that is the standard pairing. If the hob is 70–80 cm or the kitchen is large and open-plan, choose 90 cm — a wider hood catches steam better.