Suction power (m³/hr)
Air volume moved per hour.
Why it matters
Rule of thumb: kitchen volume x 10 air changes. Most Indian kitchens need 1000–1400 m³/hr.
What to check
Quoted figures are free-air; real ducted performance is 20–30% lower.
Home appliances
Kitchen Chimney
Indian cooking makes heavy oil smoke, so undersized suction leaves sticky walls. But over-suction in a small closed kitchen just makes noise and pulls conditioned air out.
Find your fit
A few questions about your situation, not about the product.
Answer all 3 questions to see the spec sheet to shop with.
The spec sheet, decoded
Ducted vs ductless (recirculating)
Whether smoke goes outside or is filtered and blown back in.
Why it matters
Ducted is far more effective for Indian tadka; ductless only helps with mild odours.
What to check
Duct length and bends kill performance — keep it under ~3 m with one bend.
Filter type: baffle vs mesh vs filterless
How grease is separated from air.
Why it matters
Baffle filters handle oily Indian cooking; mesh clogs fast; filterless uses a spinning separator and needs oil-collector cleaning.
What to check
Mesh filters need washing every 2 weeks and are the top cause of 'weak suction' complaints.
Size & mounting height
60 cm vs 90 cm width, mounted 65–75 cm above the hob.
Why it matters
Chimney should be at least as wide as your hob; too high and it captures nothing.
What to check
4-burner hob = 90 cm chimney. 2–3 burner = 60 cm.
Noise (dB) and auto-clean
Loudness at full speed and whether it heats oil off the surfaces automatically.
Why it matters
Over 62 dB makes conversation hard; auto-clean saves a filthy annual job.
What to check
Auto-clean still needs the oil collector emptied monthly.
Before you pay
- ✓Calculate kitchen volume (L x W x H in metres) x 10 to get the suction you need.
- ✓Match chimney width to hob width and plan mounting 65–75 cm above.
- ✓Confirm a duct outlet exists within 3 m, else you're stuck with recirculating.
- ✓Check filter type and cleaning schedule you can realistically maintain.
Common traps
- !1600 m³/hr sold as 'better' for a tiny 2-burner kitchen — mostly noise.
- !Ductless installs sold as equivalent to ducted; they are not for oily cooking.
- !Installation charges (duct pipe, cutting, cowl) quoted only after delivery.
Basic wall-mount ducted units to auto-clean filterless islands.