A kitchen chimney gets chosen last and regretted first if it's rushed — it's easy to default to whatever's cheapest or most familiar, and then live with weak suction or a noisy unit for years. Here's what we tell customers to check before buying one for a new modular kitchen.
Suction Power (Airflow)
Suction is measured in m³/hr (cubic metres per hour), and it's the single most important spec on the box. As a rough guide, Indian cooking — with its regular use of oil, spices and high-heat frying — generally needs at least 1000–1200 m³/hr for an average kitchen; larger kitchens or heavier daily cooking benefit from 1200–1500+ m³/hr. Don't rely on the chimney's width alone as a proxy for power — check the actual suction rating.
Ducted vs Ductless
- Ducted: vents smoke and grease outside via a pipe — more effective at fully removing cooking fumes, but needs an external wall or duct route.
- Ductless (recirculating): filters air through carbon filters and releases it back into the kitchen — easier to install anywhere, but less effective long-term and needs regular filter replacement.
Filter Type
- Mesh/baffle filters: reusable and washable, better suited to Indian-style heavy oil cooking.
- Charcoal filters: absorb odour but need periodic replacement — common in ductless setups.
- Auto-clean chimneys: use heat to separate oil from air automatically, reducing manual cleaning — worth the extra cost if you cook daily with a lot of oil.
Sizing It to Your Hob
As a rule, your chimney should be at least as wide as your hob — ideally slightly wider. A 60cm hob generally pairs with a 60cm chimney at minimum, though many homeowners upsize to 90cm for better fume capture, especially with a 3-4 burner hob or an island kitchen layout where smoke can disperse in multiple directions.
Plan your chimney and hob together with your kitchen design — not after installation. Duct routing and electrical points are far easier to place correctly the first time.
Noise Level
Check the decibel (dB) rating before buying — a chimney running above roughly 60-65 dB on its highest setting can be genuinely disruptive in an open-plan kitchen. Auto-clean and higher-end motor designs tend to run quieter at equivalent suction power than budget models.
Frequently Asked Questions
What suction power do I need for an Indian kitchen?
As a general guide, 1000–1200 m³/hr suits an average kitchen with regular oil-based cooking; larger kitchens or heavier daily frying benefit from 1200–1500+ m³/hr.
Is a ducted or ductless chimney better?
Ducted chimneys are more effective at fully removing smoke and grease since they vent outside, but need duct access. Ductless is easier to install but requires more frequent filter maintenance.
What size chimney should I buy for my hob?
Match or slightly exceed your hob's width — a 60cm hob needs at least a 60cm chimney, though many homeowners choose 90cm for better fume capture.