Carbon filter for exhaust: device, principle of operation and replacement technology

What do you need to know about manufacturers?

To date, carbon filters for hoods without an air duct are produced by different companies. At the same time, the elements can be designed for exhaust systems not only built-in, but also wall-mounted and corner type. Many modern devices operate in silent mode. There are a few key factors to consider when choosing one over the other.

For example, it is important to decide on the number of carbon filters in addition to the grease barrier. You need to buy not only running filters: you need to start by choosing the model of the ventilation system itself

Today, brands offer customers options with economical power consumption and fairly efficient filters.One or two - each decides for himself. However, if they need to be replaced often, this may affect the budget.

When buying, you need to pay attention to the reputation of the store

It is important to choose a reliable supplier whose products will work out their resource, as stated by the manufacturer. Counterfeit products, as a rule, do not reach several months of operation, without differing in work efficiency.

Counterfeit products, as a rule, do not reach several months of operation, without differing in work efficiency.

Among the companies that are in demand among buyers, it is worth highlighting several brands:

• Jet Air - carbon filters from a Portuguese manufacturer, characterized by an acceptable price segment and high quality and performance characteristics;
• Elikor - domestic brand products designed for exhaust and cleaning equipment of private houses, apartments and offices;
• Elica - Italian round and rectangular air purifiers of various modifications, distinguished by their original design and ergonomics, designed for hoods from Elica and other companies;
• Krona - products in the form of a circle and a rectangle of different price categories, designed for 100-130 hours of work, which is equivalent to 5-6 months of use;
• Cata - replaceable carbon-type cleaners for hoods operating in recirculation mode;
• Electrolux - options of various configurations and shapes of an expensive price category, suitable for different models of exhaust systems.

In addition to these manufacturers, Hansa and Gorenje brand products are in demand among buyers. The first company is rightfully considered one of the best in its segment.It supplies the market with products characterized by convenience and cost-effectiveness. The second brand produces built-in and suspended hoods, offering carbon filters for them, ideally suited to the size of the models. The company is also betting on energy efficiency.

It is impossible to say unambiguously which filter is the best, because the opinions of buyers are ambiguous. Everyone likes their own version. In general, in the lines you can choose the types of air purifiers for push-button, touch and slide control systems. Good varieties of barriers are Jet Air products, designed for six months of use.

Pros and cons of hoods with carbon filters

You have already noted one of the advantages of coal hoods for the kitchen: polluted air is not removed from the room, but is cleaned, so this technique can guarantee you greater safety compared to other models.

To dispel all the myths about the quality of the carbon filter systems, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with other advantages of this technique:

One of the main features is compactness and ease of installation due to the small dimensions of coal hoods. This technique will not only become an assistant in everyday life, but also help to emphasize the harmony of the interior and the presence of exquisite taste in the hostess.

You no longer have to look for ways to mask the air ducts or plan the placement of furniture with maximum convenience for mounting exhaust devices.
Since these types of hoods do not block the ventilation duct, the room will be supported by the natural circulation of clean air: this is especially important if you are used to gathering in the kitchen with the whole family.
Unlike most hoods, charcoal models do not require additional air intake for full operation.

The cost of such equipment, despite the quality and functionality, remains low due to savings on materials. Many people think that the periodic purchase of filters will cost more: even with the purchase of a high-power hood, the total savings will allow you to stock up on filters for 10 years.
Unlike hoods with an air outlet, which must be connected to the ventilation shaft, coal models can be placed absolutely anywhere in the kitchen, providing only access to the mains.
Another significant advantage of installing such equipment is the possibility of embedding in kitchen furniture.

You receive not only stylish, but also ergonomic design of a working zone.

Hoods of this type are universal. This means you don't have to guess how to match the hood to your kitchen style or color scheme.

All charcoal hoods have a simple and concise design, which, by the way, is ideal for even the smallest kitchens.

When looking for a suitable model, you can also note the variety of sizes of such equipment.

There is an opinion that the use of coal hoods is inconvenient due to the need to search for special filters strictly from the manufacturer. In fact, almost every type of charcoal filter has analogues, and many of them are characterized by superior quality.

If you doubt the best performance of hoods with a recirculating cleaning mode, then you can also be mistaken, since their efficiency will depend on power, and not on cleaning features.In addition, the useful effect will depend on the frequency of filter changes, and on the correctness car care.

Tip: to get the right model, study the data sheet: it indicates for which rooms there is enough available power. The required performance can be calculated independently: multiply the room volume by 12 and 1.3.

Of course, even the highest quality hood of this type will not be able to 100% clean the air of unpleasant odors. However, with the functioning of the filtering cleaning system, it will be easier to achieve maximum comfort. Another bonus is the solution to the problem with the flow of all odors to the neighbors through the ventilation duct.

The only negative that may affect your final choice is the high energy consumption. However, hoods with charcoal filters do not affect the temperature of the kitchen during operation, unlike models with open ventilation, which contribute to the flow of hot or cold air from the street.

You do not have to turn on the air conditioner or heaters to restore the microclimate in the room - and this is also a significant advantage.

Types of grease filters

There are three types of kitchen hoods: flow, recirculation and combined. Depending on the type of device that captures vapor above the stove, it has a grease or grease + carbon filter elements installed in it.

For the normal operation of the flow-through exhaust device, one filter is enough - a fat filter, which takes the “first blow” on itself, trapping fatty particles and preventing them from penetrating into the body.

The intake air in the flow-type hood, passing through the fatty element, is discharged through the air duct into the ventilation or passes through a deep filter and returns to the room already cleaned.

Grease traps are disposable and reusable:

• A disposable grease trap for a kitchen hood is used in cheap exhaust units once, until it is completely dirty. It is made of synthetic material (synthetic winterizer, acrylic, non-woven) and looks like a small rug. When it gets dirty, it is replaced with a new one. In such cases, washing is indispensable: after water procedures, the effectiveness of the grease trap is reduced to almost zero.
• Reusable grease traps do not have an expiration date. Such an element is a kind of mesh made of aluminum, stainless steel or galvanized steel. Passing through such a filter element, polluted air is cleaned of greasy particles, leaving them on the grid. It is easy to clean with detergents.

Grease traps for hoods differ in size, shape, materials of manufacture and efficiency. There are metal filters with a different number of mesh layers.

Grease traps made of synthetic and organic fibers

Filter elements of the disposable category are made of polyester, acrylic, synthetic winterizer or non-woven fabric with reinforcing sizing. For the most part, all fiber grease traps are disposable and the cheapest.

It is not recommended to extend the service life of disposable grease traps with different types of cleaning, since cheap products are not provided for this. Washing will disrupt the structure of the fibers - the element will not be able to clean the air with high quality, and the likelihood of accelerated wear of the equipment will increase.

Metal Grease Filters

The metal cassette supplied with the hood is used for the entire life of the hood. In fact, such an element is a frame with several thin mesh sheets of steel, foil or aluminum, which are responsible for the primary air purification.

All cells of the mesh cassette are angled for efficient filter operation. The more layers of meshes in the filter frame, the more often the direction of the air entering the hood changes. Its streams are better cleaned of dirt, grease and combustion products.

Materials for the manufacture of a reusable filter:

• foil;
• stainless steel;
• aluminum;
• galvanized.

In the case of foil, several layers of material are taken to make the filter element. To increase the productivity of the grease trap, perforation is used: holes in the material make the filter more efficient. The reusable foil element cleans the air with high quality, but has a short shelf life. In addition, such a filter is less durable compared to products made from other materials.

Steel grease traps will last as long as the hood itself, if not longer. Products made of stainless steel or galvanized are durable and safe, cope well with primary air purification and are not subject to corrosion.

The key disadvantage of the steel grease trapping element is the high cost. Therefore, such products are used on hoods of medium and premium class.

The aluminum filter for an extract is effective, durable, strong. In the manufacture of some models, anodizing is used, so that the grease traps do not oxidize. The disadvantage of the aluminum element is the high price, especially for non-oxidizing models.

For ease of care, manufacturers divide one cassette into 2-3 small ones. Small items are easy to remove and easy to wash.

Standard filter sizes

Reusable grease traps are durable and are used throughout the life of the hood. The dimensions of the elements responsible for air purification are indicated in the unit's passport. If the hood is equipped with non-standard removable elements, you will have to order new ones from the manufacturer.

In the case of a disposable grease trap, the issue of size is easily solved. If there was no element on sale that was suitable in terms of length and width, you can buy a larger grease trapping element and cut off the excess.

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Grease filter for hood ↑

It is in every hood. Without it, any engine would very quickly fail. It cleans the air streams from grease particles so that the motor blades and the inner surfaces of the air pipes are not covered with an oil layer. After all, heated fat eventually turns into a substance similar to drying oil - difficult to clean, smelly, sticky.

Disposable filters are made of synthetic materials: interlining, synthetic winterizer, acrylic. They look like a light rug and are used in inexpensive hanging hoods that are mounted under a kitchen cabinet. Such hoods are called flat. Synthetic filters are replaced with new ones as they get dirty. There are extremely frugal housewives who believe that such filters can be washed with soap or powder. Do not follow their example: synthetics cannot be restored to their original properties, and washed filters will not purify the air.

Inexpensive models of hoods use disposable non-woven filters

The universal filter has a higher quality of cleaning the air passing through it

Reusable filters for the hood serve for the entire life of the device. Such filters are installed in hoods of medium and high price categories. These are metal filters that are much stronger and more reliable than disposable synthetic filters. You do not need to replace them, just wash them as they become dirty.

The metal filter looks like a cassette. It consists of a metal frame and a filter element, which consists of several layers of perforated or mesh metal foil. The perforation of the filter can be either symmetrical or asymmetric. Holes are necessary so that air flows can pass through the filter as freely as possible. At the same time, fat particles are retained on the filter surface.

The metal filter for the hood does not need to be replaced, but needs periodic cleaning

Metal filters are most often made from aluminum mesh or foil, but sometimes they are also made from thin sheets of stainless steel or galvanized steel. But there are other materials as well. So, in Elica hoods there is a filter made of anodized aluminum. A thin layer forms on the surface of this material, which prevents oxidation. From the same material filters in the hoods of the Spanish company CATA. Two cassette filters with a proprietary latch are used here. They are easy to remove and clean well with warm soapy water.Elikor hoods provide 100% protection of the engine of the appliance from grease particles, thanks to a five-layer anodized aluminum grease filter. In this case, the free passage of air flows is not limited. Hoods of the middle and high price category are usually equipped with two or three small cassettes instead of one large one. This makes them easier to remove for washing and put back in place.

This is the name of the novelties of the market - filters for kitchen hoods made of stainless steel. They are much easier to care for than aluminum filters, moreover, they are more durable and purify the air much more efficiently. The Elica extractor grease filter consists of asymmetric cells, through which the air moves like a maze, while the maximum amount of fat settles in the cells.

How to install carbon filters in the hood

All carbon elements are disposable and can be supplied with the hood or purchased separately.

The process of installing a carbon filter is similar to the replacement scheme. Those who do not know how to pull the filter out of the hood should follow the algorithm below.

How to replace the charcoal filter in the hood

1. The first step is to disconnect the hood from the network in order to avoid accidentally starting the engine.
2. Then you need to remove the anti-grease element and take out the cassette, which is designed for a carbon cleaner. Insert the charcoal cassette into the mounts until it clicks into place.
3. Next, put the anti-grease element in place.
4. It remains to connect the device to the network and make sure that it works properly without noise and vibration.

Thus, installing a carbon filter in the hood is a simple task, it is quite possible to cope with it without the help of specialists.

In order for the equipment to work properly, it is worth taking care of proper care. To do this, do not forget about cleaning the grease catching element and timely replacement of the carbon element.

To clean the grease filter:

• remove it from the equipment and place it in a basin or bath,
• pour it with detergent and clean it with a brush, pour boiling water over it,
• if cleaning with a detergent did not work, use a solution of soda and laundry soap, soaking the filter in it for 3-4 hours.

After drying, the fat element can be installed in place.

Kinds

There are two types of hoods: direct-flow and recirculation; The first type of equipment has a metal grease filter that removes fat deposits from the air and prevents them from "sit down" on the internal components of complex equipment. Such models do not have a carbon filter, since the rest of the air is removed from the room thanks to a special pipe - an air outlet. To ensure proper air circulation in the kitchen with the direct-flow hood turned on, open the window or window a little so that fresh air enters the room and makes the hood work even better.

The second type of hoods - recirculation with a whole system of filters, it requires an additional carbon filter through which the air passes the second stage of purification - from unpleasant odors. The air purified by the absorbent, which is activated carbon in granules or powder, enters the kitchen back and ensures proper air exchange, without opening the window.

Carbonic

Charcoal filters are found in models of hoods without air extraction, that is, without that large massive pipe that sometimes stretches along the ceiling of an entire kitchen. The recirculation hood works in this way: kitchen air is sucked in thanks to a powerful motor, the air goes through two stages of purification: first it is cleaned of fatty particles thanks to a metal cassette, then particles that form unpleasant odors are removed thanks to a set of carbon filters - they are based on an excellent absorbent - activated carbon.

The charcoal filter for the kitchen hood is used only in recirculating models and must be replaced in time to avoid damage to the equipment and ensure its quality work. The carbon filter is behind the fat filter and immediately “catches” the air that has passed the first stage of purification; it is based on an adsorbent - it is activated carbon, which can absorb excess aromas.

The universal charcoal filter in the kitchen hood reduces the work of the equipment: the air is sucked in a little worse than in the traditional model, however, a properly installed hood can work perfectly in the kitchen if the cooking area is not too large. A typical charcoal filter looks like a plastic base (round or rectangular) with a hole for activated charcoal. Filter replacement is required on a regular basis: for about 3-6 months, the used filter must be removed and a new one put on so that the hood does not lose its functionality.

Fatty

There is a grease filter in every hood, and its main task is to retain small particles of fat; without this component in any exhaust technology, its inside would acquire a hard-to-remove oil coating within a month.

Grease filters are conventionally divided into two types: disposable and reusable filters.

Inexpensive designs of hoods with replaceable filters provide for the presence of flat “mats” inside them, which we call grease filters. By the way, reusing a dirty filter can lead to equipment breakdown, so do not skimp on buying a new one - the hood will last longer and better.

The basis of a reusable grease filter are materials such as aluminum, stainless steel or steel with an admixture of zinc. The most practical filter will be a stainless steel fragment - it is more durable and has high cleaning properties. The traditional shape of the filter is a rectangle with a mesh center and a dense metal edging, which form a fat-absorbing cassette.

Among budget flat hoods, the Turbo brand model with three speeds and a simple operation system is especially popular. It is based on two filters - fat and carbon, which adequately clean the air released during cooking and return it to the room without fatty particles and unpleasant odors.

Features and benefits of Elikor air purification equipment

The domestic manufacturer started its activity in 1995, and today the company's production capacity is 500,000 units per year. Hoods and air cleaners Elikor are not inferior in terms of reliability and functionality to foreign analogues.They are equipped with Italian motors - one of the best in the world.

Most Elikor hoods are capable of operating in two modes - exhaust and recirculation, air cleaners are equipped with fine filters that trap the smallest particles.

Technique can be chosen for any interior. The manufacturer has several collections of cleaning equipment. Elikor air cleaners have a low noise level and multi-stage speed control. So the device can be made almost silent by setting the minimum power.

Features of hoods and filters

Air purifiers operate in two modes, the removal of polluted air into the ventilation shaft and recirculation or filtration. Any device must be equipped with a filter for the kitchen hood, which protects the interior and mechanisms from contamination. Each type of hood has its own design features and certain installation requirements.

Branch structure

The hood of the outlet structure, during installation, must be connected to the ventilation duct using a special outlet. By creating draft, the hood collects combustion products and odors, and directs them through the air duct to the ventilation shaft. In the path of the air flow, a grease filter is installed for the hood, which is able to trap soot, fumes and small particles of fat.

Grease filters for hoods, depending on the material of manufacture, are disposable and reusable, and are divided into several types. Filters used once are made of synthetic materials, they cannot be cleaned and, as they become dirty, they need to be replaced.Cleaning of the fabric structure is not possible, after washing the material loses its absorbency and will not be able to perform high-quality filtration. This will lead to soot getting on the working elements of the hood.

Reusable filters are made of metal, in the form of a multi-mesh mesh and a cassette. To clean them, they must be washed periodically. Reliable and efficient metal grease filter for extractor hood can last for many years and does not need to be replaced.

Filter structure

Recirculating hoods, absorbing air, purify it with special filters and return it back to the kitchen. The device of such hoods is not tied to the presence or location of ventilation, they can be mounted anywhere in the kitchen. The filter should carry out not only cleaning from soot and fats, but also from odors and other small contaminants.

For fine purification of the air flow, carbon filters are used for exhaust, which absorb well any type of polluted substances. Coal is an effective absorbent, so it copes well with any vapor impurities and gases.

Cleaning the carbon filter is impossible, therefore, over time, the old one is removed and a new one is installed in its place. Some models of air cleaners are equipped with a special sensor that detects when the filter is dirty and signals the need to replace it. The optimal period of use of the carbon filter is 3-4 months. With intensive use of the hood and frequent cooking, the charcoal filter can become dirty faster and need to be replaced sooner.

To prolong the effective use of the charcoal filter for the kitchen hood, it is recommended not to turn it off after the end of cooking and to drive clean air for several minutes. As a result, moisture particles will be removed, the charcoal will retain its loose absorbent structure longer and the cartridge will last longer.

The performance and quality of the kitchen hood depends on the timely cleaning and replacement of filter cartridges. A dirty filter is not able to pass the required amount of air flow. The hood motor has to work with much more power to drive air through the filter, this can lead to failure of the entire unit.