Features of grease filters for exhaust

The hoods are designed to provide polluted air from the kitchen. Most often, the withdrawal goes to the street, especially the use of units that have only grease filters. What they are, how they differ and how they work - we will tell in this article.

On the modern market there is a wide range of products responsible for filtering fat particles. They have various sizes, types, can be made of different materials. In addition, the effectiveness of these products is also unequal. However, with all this fat filters are divided into 2 main types: disposable and reusable. Before purchasing items, you should carefully study their differences, pros and cons to make the right choice.

So, disposable filters.As the name implies, these elements can be used only once, that is, after contamination, they must be disposed of, replacing with new ones. Dirty filters are unable to work efficiently and cannot properly clean the air.

As for reusable filters, their use is provided throughout the life of the kitchen hood. However, in order for filtration to take place qualitatively, they should be cleaned with a certain frequency, removing fatty deposits and products of combustion. The materials used can be metals or synthetic and organic fibers. This is the main difference of products.

Elements made of nonwoven fibers can be based on acrylic, non-woven fabric and synthetic winterizer, in this case they can be called organic. To make the material more durable, it is usually glued. Such filters always have a lower price than metal counterparts, and for the most part are disposable. The exception is acrylic products, however, despite the fact that they can be cleaned and used several times, they are still not reusable in the full sense of the word.This is because each cleaning partially destroys the element, not allowing it to work equally effectively for a long time.

Some consumers tend to clean the filters in a more intensive way, for which they simply try to wash them. This is not an option at all, since the structure of the fibers will definitely be broken, respectively, the element will not be able to fully perform the functions assigned to it, which would entail premature wear of the main equipment.

As for the metal filters for the kitchen hood, they are always reusable, which means that they can be used for the same period of time as the unit itself. Elements can be made of foil, aluminum, and stainless or galvanized steel. If the material produced is a foil, it fits into several layers in which special holes are made. This helps to more successfully deal with pollution. Such products filter the air very well, but they are not the most durable and cannot be used for too long.

Stainless or galvanized steel components are exceptionally strong and durable., their service life in most cases is equal to the life of the exhaust itself. They are also safe, not susceptible to corrosive processes and very effective in work. It should be borne in mind that such elements require competent maintenance and care, otherwise they may appear rust. The main disadvantage of such products is their high price, so they are installed exclusively on expensive and high-quality models of hoods.

Aluminum filters, like steel, have a long service life, effectively purify the air, are durable. For their greater durability, anodizing of elements is used in some cases, after which it is possible to eliminate the oxidation process.

Any universal fat filter looks like a cassette. It has a solid frame, as well as sheets of material, consisting of cells. It is these sheets that help filter the air and trap contaminants. The angle of the cells allows you to effectively capture dirt.

The main element of the filter is a grid, asymmetric or uniform. It’s impossible to say which one is better or worse, so the choice of a certain type should not be a priority when buying. For a more reliable filtration, several layers of the mesh can be laid into the frame at the same time, this will contribute to changing the direction of the air flow, which will serve to better purify the air, more effectively delay fat and combustion products. In some cases, one filter is divided into several cassettes, this is done for easier cleaning and installation of elements.

Modern exhaust umbrellas have two modes. The first of these is that the air is taken outside or into the ventilation shaft, in other words, outside the room. The second involves circulation inside the kitchen, in this case, the air masses, after going through the cleaning process, come back.

The cleaning mode directly affects the functions performed by the filter. If air is discharged outside the kitchen, large particles of contaminants do not fall on the exhaust elements, such as the engine and other components. If the recirculation mode is running, the priority is to directly clean the air in the room, but the structural elements are also reliably protected.

According to the above, the grease filter not only helps to clean the air, but also protects the hood and all its elements from plaque and pollution. This is necessary in order to eliminate the fatty coating that may appear inside after just a few weeks of use. Accordingly, the load on the unit will increase, and during operation it may simply not withstand. And this can lead to serious damage, the elimination of which will require significant financial costs.

In the process of recycling the load on the grease element increases. If it is not properly cleaned, many problems may arise. This is because the air passing through the product is cleaned from both fats and impurities, and from odors. To make this possible, an additional element is needed, which is expensive and also needs protection.

Any contamination can quickly lead to a filter that traps the smell, unusable, so it also needs protection.

The fat-absorbing filter is located in the lower part of the hood, right behind the coal, if there is one in the complete set of the unit. Periodically, it requires cleaning, which can be done with your own hands. The first step is to disconnect the hood from the network, then you can remove the filter. To do this, pull the latch on the lock towards you, gently holding the grease catcher.

All reusable grease filters do not require serious maintenance. For the most part, they just need to remove the dirt that clogs the net. Elements fasten on special clamps with which help them it is easy to establish and remove. After that, they can be cleaned with a special brush in soapy water.

You can also use any cleaning products, for example, those that are used when washing dishes. In any case, after the procedure, the filter must be washed with plenty of water.It should be noted that washing powder is not the best option for washing these elements, because they can easily scratch the metal. For aluminum it is not recommended to use soda, acid and alkaline compounds.

After washing is finished, it is necessary to dry the filter before installing it. This is best done at room temperature, avoiding direct sunlight. If the element is put in a hood wet, corrosive processes may form on the metal over time.

With disposable filters, everything is much simpler. It is necessary to monitor their pollution, after which the element simply changes to a new one.

How effectively the kitchen hood will work depends on whether the consumer is competently caring for the filter. It is not necessary to purchase an expensive model, cheaper counterparts with proper maintenance will cope with their task no worse. According to customer reviews, the belief that the price of the unit directly affects the quality of cleaning does not always correspond to reality.

As for the care of the elements, the masters advise you to use the usual cleaning products when washingused to restore order in ovens. The composition is applied to the filter with a brush, left for half an hour, then washed off under running water. To save time and with this opportunity it is appropriate to use a dishwasher.

It is not recommended to use soda when washing filters. Its effect may cause staining from contact with metal. Also, we must not forget that aluminum does not tolerate exposure to high temperatures, under their influence it may darken and oxidize. You should wash the fat filters yourself once a month, using the dishwasher the procedure can be carried out 1 time in 2-3 months.

You can find out how to replace the fat filter screen for hoods from the video below.