Cooker hoods work hard to eliminate cooking odors, grease, and steam while we cook, keeping our kitchens healthier and cleaner. Extractor hoods naturally get dirty quickly since they are working so hard to keep our kitchens fresh and clean. Maintaining a clean cooker hood not only makes it operate more efficiently, but it can also increase the extractor fan’s lifespan. Another crucial safety factor is routine filter cleaning and replacement. Grease buildup in extractors can restrict airflow and cause the fan to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire. So, it’s crucial to routinely clean or replace the filters on your cooker hood. But how frequently should this be done?
Let us walk you through the basics of your cooker hood filters!
What is a Cooker Hood Filter?
On the underside of your cooker hood, there are filters. They are made to remove all the dirt and trash that are inadvertently released while cooking. A variety of materials, including ceramic, fleece, carbon or charcoal, can be used to make them. Cooker hood filters are crucial for the longevity of your hood since without them, the discharged oil would accumulate there. There are a few different cooker hood filter types to become familiar with in order to avoid future mechanical and financial headaches:
What Are the Different Kinds of Cooker Hood Filters?
1. Grease Filters
Every extractor hood has a grease filter attached, which is typically composed of a metal like steel or aluminum but can also occasionally be made of ceramic or fabric. To get the most use possible out of your grease filter, keep up with the cleaning. If left too long it will affect your cooker hood’s performance and create a fire hazard.
2. Mesh Filters
Grease filters are frequently substituted by mesh filters. They serve as both the grease filter cover and the cooker hood cover, yet they are virtually identical. These will need to be cleaned often to maintain peak performance, just as grease filters.
3. Charcoal Filters
If the cooker hood in your kitchen is recirculating, it will employ a charcoal filter to remove grease from the air. They take the air that has already been cleaned of oil and further purify it before pumping it back into the space. Charcoal filters are not standardized either, so check that the manufacturer of your cooker hood is able to provide replacement recirculation filters.
How Do You Know When to Change Your Cooker Hood Filters?
The frequency of use will determine how frequently you should replace your recirculation filter. Nonetheless, it usually has to be changed every four to six months. You could request a fresh carbon wood filter, depending on the manufacturer.
As long as they aren’t broken, you shouldn’t worry about replacing your grease or charcoal types if you clean them every 4 to 8 weeks. The bare minimum maintenance should take place once a year if you want to make sure your fume extractor works properly but are not into cleaning things up frequently.
If you are unsure of the replacement time, you can also look for these signs:
1. Your kitchen is still filled with the odors of cooking
The very purpose of a cooker hood is to be able to maintain the clean air of your kitchen. But what good would it be if the smell lingers long after you’ve finished cooking? When the smell doesn’t go away, this is simply a sign that it is time for you to replace your cooker hood filter.
2. You discover grease adhering to the ceiling and walls of your kitchen
We all know that when you cook, producing smoke is inevitable. But sometimes, the substances that are in the smoke stick to the walls and the ceilings. The cooker hood should be able to keep this from happening. Check your walls and your kitchen ceiling every now and then if there is grease sticking to it. Otherwise, if grease still continues to stick to the walls, your cooker hood filter is definitely defective.
3. The pattern on the filter has a reddish undertone and appears faded
It’s hard to tell whenever this happens. That is why you should also check your cooker hood filter every now and then to see if there is a difference in color. It is one of the indicators that your cooker hood might not be working as optimized as it should. Once you see that there is a reddish undertone to the filter, it is time for a regular clean up or a replacement.
4. Grease has totally soaked into the filter
Nothing is forever, and the same goes for your cooker hood filter. It can only take so much smoke and grease before it wears out. But of course, it may take a long time before the grease completely soaks into the filter. Try to check for blockages in your cooker hood filter especially from grease.
To prevent the need for replacement and keep your kitchen spotless, it’s vital to keep track of the debris in your cooker extractor and clean up frequently. Take special note of any warping, dents, rust, food particles, or other signs of damage when inspecting your hood.
As a general guideline, it’s a good idea to replace a grease filter at least every three to six months. How frequently you change the filter can depend on how frequently you cook and the type of food you prepare. Instead of a replacement paper filter, chimney-style extractors frequently use an aluminum mesh to trap oil and other particles.
To get rid of any light accumulation of grease and filth, the metal mesh can be frequently removed and cleaned with boiling water and dishwashing detergent. As an alternative, you might put the mesh in the dishwasher as long as you rinse it well afterward and carefully pat it dry before repositioning it.
How Often to Change Your Cooker Hood Filters
Grease filters are all that are required for cooker hoods that are vented outdoors because ducting is used to eliminate smoke and odors from cooking.
Recirculating cooker hoods force air through charcoal filters, which eliminate smoke and odors from cooking before returning the purified air to the kitchen. Grease filters typically need to be updated more frequently than charcoal filters. While some manufacturers advise changing carbon filters every three months, some versions only need to be changed every six to nine months.
The filter replacement indicator is now a common feature on cooker hood models. Some models even enable you to set the reminder yourself for a specific number of hours based on usage. In conclusion, carbon filters need to be changed at least once every nine months.
Keep Your Kitchen Appliances Spotless with Yeobuild HomeStore
When it comes to taking care of your everyday appliances, you should know the basics of how to find out whether they’re in good or in bad condition. This is so you can avoid mishaps in your daily routines in the kitchen. Whether you want to replace your cooker hood filters or buy a new one, it’s best to put your trust in the experts who can help you decide the best course of action.
