External V Recirculating Extractors in Kitchen

3littlemonkeys

Hi
We are in the process of building a small extension and refitting our kitchen. We need to decide on the type of extractor (it will depend on where we put the hob) to fit. We think recirculating extractors are not very effective/noisy but not sure if this is unduly harsh! Any views on either type would be welcome.
Thanks

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Mine is excellent. Quite & does the job on low/quiet speed.

tony6403

I am not a fan ( excuse the pun) of recirculators. They are not "extractors". They try to filter out undesirable byproducts of cooking but in my opinion are no good. I regard them as more cosmetic than practical.
If you are going through the building regs process it is likely that an external extractor will be a requirement so if you are fitting a hood on an external wall it would be far better to go for external vent type.

latecomer

external every time, even if ours does sound like a tornado at 10 paces

iamcornholio

Besides recirculating extractors doing absolutely jack, if your new extension is a kitchen then you don't have much choice but to extract (or fit a fan)

Bettie

My recirculating one has done a fantastic job compared to not having anything at all, there is never any grease on the light fitting whereas before it was yellow and needed cleaning constantly. I initially bought an extractor to be vented outside but then found the wall could not have a hole to outside in the place I had chosen so I had to change to the recirculating one which is second best but as I said, better than nothing.
My biggest moan is the cost of the carbon and the sealed holder about £20 for the two inside the hood. I bought the cheap paper sort, cut it to size and sewed it into the metal of the 1st filter, it works but not so good as the carbon.
Given the choice I would go for the 'vent to outside' one if it is possible to fit.

fred7777

When I refitted my kitchen the extractor I bought could be external or recirculating so there would be very little difference in the sound produced.
the problem i found is that a recirculating extractor doesn't get rid of water vapour so you end up having to open a window which doesn't work as well as an external extractor.

yumyums

My understanding is that recirculating ones aim to remove some grease & smell through use of a carbon filter (which will need replacing every once in a while). Extracting hoods actually remove smells, grease & steam to the outside. I've just switched from a recirculating to an extractor and it's so much better! Far less condensation in the kitchen too.

Mankysteve

iamcornholio wrote: »

Besides recirculating extractors doing absolutely jack, if your new extension is a kitchen then you don't have much choice but to extract (or fit a fan)

This Poster is correct, you'll need an extractor anyway to meet building regs.

Recirculating help to reduce smells if you change the carbon filter often enough and keep steam out of your face, but they don't extract the moisture you create from the house. So end up with damp.

phill99

If you look at the number of posts on this forum about condensation mould and damp, you will see that the main cause of it is moisture in the atmosphere cased by, amongst other things, cooking. Therefore in my book, extraction is the only option.

Jonesya

There is quite a wide range of flat profile ducting available making it possible to conceal it above cupboards or box it in unobtrusively if you have the extractor on an internal wall.