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.
Quick answer
Suction 800–1200 m³/hr for 3–4 burner stoves.
Ducted is better than ductless for Indian cooking.
Baffle or filterless for easy cleaning.
Keep duct length under 3 m.
In the shop
Ask the salesperson this exact question
Read these off your phone at the counter. The answer tells you more than the price tag.
1.“What is the suction in m³/hr, and what size kitchen is that meant for?”
A good answer: 1200+ m³/hr for heavy frying and daily cooking. They should ask your kitchen size first.
2.“Auto-clean or baffle filters — what is the yearly cleaning cost?”
A good answer: A rupee figure per service. Filterless chimneys still need oil-collector cleaning.
Find your fit
A few questions about your situation, not about the product.
0/20
Add one short need not covered above.
Answer all 3 questions to see the spec sheet to shop with.
What it costs to run
The sticker price is one part of owning a kitchen chimney. Adjust the numbers to your own usage and tariff to see the electricity cost a star rating actually translates to.
Units per year
99 kWh
Cost per year
₹792 (≈$9.50)
Cost over 5 years
₹3,960 (≈$48)
Often more than the price difference between two models.
Filter cleaning affects airflow more than motor wattage does. Estimates only — actual consumption varies with ambient temperature, settings and unit condition. USD values are approximate.
Extended warranty & AMC — what to check before you say yes
Every new appliance already carries a brand warranty. An extended plan or AMC only adds value where it covers the parts that actually fail, with on-site service in your city — so read the cover, not the discount.
Ask these five questions
- ✓Which parts are covered, and is the most expensive part (motor, compressor, panel) covered in full?
- ✓Is service on-site at home, or carry-in to a centre?
- ✓Are periodic services and consumables included, or billed separately?
- ✓How many claims are allowed, and is there a per-claim or total payout cap?
- ✓What does a claim need — original invoice, serial number, purchase within X days?
Usually not covered
- ×Physical damage, liquid ingress and pest/rodent damage
- ×Voltage surge damage where no stabiliser was used
- ×Consumables: filters, gaskets, belts, batteries
- ×Cosmetic parts and accessories
Rule of thumb: a plan is rarely worth it if it costs more than ~15% of the product price, if the item is cheap to repair locally, or if the brand's own service network in your city is already strong.
These are comparison links, not recommendations — we don't sell plans and we don't rank providers. Some outbound links on KnowBeforeBuy are affiliate links. Cover, exclusions and pricing change; read the plan document before you pay.
Buy it locally
Shops near you that stock kitchen chimney
Sometimes the local dealer beats online on price, installation or the exchange offer. Tell us where you are and we'll list nearby stores. We don't rank or take money from any shop; results come from Google Maps.
The area you enter, or coordinates rounded to about 1 km if you use your location, are sent to Google Maps through Lovable to find places. Lookups are temporarily cached for up to 30 minutes.
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 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.