Extractor fan in new kitchen not doing a good job

firefox1956

At 220 m3/ hour it is a pretty poor extraction rate.
I don't wonder it not shifting the steam !!
I have fitted several of these cooker hoods not expensive but look at the extraction rate.........580m3/hour.
http://www.premierrange.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_premier_info&cPath=290_1_24&products_id=775
HTH

getmore4less

cherydee wrote: »

There is a 5 ft run from extractor to the chimney breast.
Chimney is capped, while kitchen was completely empty extra airbricks were put in chimney breast and there was a strong draught from it.

Your extractor is fighting against that.

Maybe (subject to the regs) what you need is another fan sucking air out of that enclosed blocked off chimney.

cherydee

firefox1956 wrote: »

At 220 m3/ hour it is a pretty poor extraction rate.
I don't wonder it not shifting the steam !!
I have fitted several of these cooker hoods not expensive but look at the extraction rate.........580m3/hour.
http://www.premierrange.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_premier_info&cPath=290_1_24&products_id=775
HTH

It's a Lamona 60cm shallow canopy extractor model LAM2300
This states it as being 365 rate per hour, but when I look at technical specifications in manual it states 220 rate per hour

Aylesbury_Duck

For comparison, mine has an extraction rate of 650m3/hour. The hood is 500mm deep compared to yours with a depth of 275mm. I just don't think yours will ever cope with any serious level of steam and certainly not powerful enough to draw steam away from any pans on the front jobs.

The secondary problem of the evacuation looks like it needs addressing as others have said. The company should really have discussed this with you, advised whether it was suitable or not and suggested alternatives if not.

cherydee

Its not as if buying a kitchen is an everyday occurrence, last one we bought was 22 yrs ago. We know now what to ask.
Planner came out from Howdens, drew up the plans. I was more concerned I didn't want the wine rack or book shelves she had put in, extractor fan never came into it, to be honest I just thought it sucked air up and that was it. Thought everyone would be fit for purpose. I don't know what our Lamona one was designed for if it's no use. Suction seems strong on it but just not in the right place.
Saw the plans at her office, discussed colour of units and work tops and price.
I am going to get back onto Howdens, wish I had a contact for Lamona as well.

trailingspouse

What's puzzling me is the amount of steam/condensate that you are producing in the first place. I don't have an extractor fan at all (I always hit my head when I try to see in to the pans at the back...), and despite generally doing quite a bit of cooking, I never so much as have to open a window. So I think you have a bit of a double whammy going on here - a small capacity extractor, and also a steamier-than-average kitchen (stop it, stop it now - you know what I mean...)

Aylesbury_Duck

cherydee, it sounds like Howdens did the cosmetic design bit but didn't advise you or ask the right questions to ascertain how best to work the extraction. Did they install it for you as well? If so, their installer should have connected the vent in accordance with regulations and advised about the problem of extraction into the chimney breast.

It's probably a perfectly adequate extractor for some settings. Probably where there is a small hob and where the unit is on the external wall so that it can extract directly to the outside rather than running through several feet of ducting. What you're asking it to do is beyond its power and position it would seem.

I would get in touch with them, show them how the ducting is routed and ask if it is a compliant set-up.

cherydee

trailingspouse wrote: »

What's puzzling me is the amount of steam/condensate that you are producing in the first place. I don't have an extractor fan at all (I always hit my head when I try to see in to the pans at the back...), and despite generally doing quite a bit of cooking, I never so much as have to open a window. So I think you have a bit of a double whammy going on here - a small capacity extractor, and also a steamier-than-average kitchen (stop it, stop it now - you know what I mean...)

Strangely I never noticed it with my other kitchen, hob was across a corner with oak wood units and a stronger extractor (according to fitter who ripped it out and put new one in), now hob is in the middle of a long length of units and they are smooth white gloss, so shows the moisture straight away. Tonight though I purposely cooked on the back two hobs and there was no problem with steam. I know not ideal but not often I will have all four on. Maybe pan lids and turning the heat down will all add to making the situation better

cherydee

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

cherydee, it sounds like Howdens did the cosmetic design bit but didn't advise you or ask the right questions to ascertain how best to work the extraction. Did they install it for you as well? If so, their installer should have connected the vent in accordance with regulations and advised about the problem of extraction into the chimney breast.

It's probably a perfectly adequate extractor for some settings. Probably where there is a small hob and where the unit is on the external wall so that it can extract directly to the outside rather than running through several feet of ducting. What you're asking it to do is beyond its power and position it would seem.

I would get in touch with them, show them how the ducting is routed and ask if it is a compliant set-up.

No Howdens didn't give any advice. The fitter put in a relatives kitchen and also a new bathroom, so happy with when I went to look at theirs before we went ahead. To be honest it's been a total nightmare for him, after it had been measured up and plans drawn we found the three outer walls were damp and the wall that shares my neighbours yard was leaking water one night when we had a torrential downpour, none of this we would of known if kitchen had been put in in the summer months. So damp seen too, extra air bricks in, then had to be boarded and plastered which took the measurements in, so it ended up being plan as you go, luckily Howdens is less than a mile away as he was there most days changing units and adapting. in the meantime the planner had left for pastures new. If I'd bought it from anywhere else I think we would of been in a right pickle
Just a shame the hob is on my neighbours wall otherwise it would of went directly outside. Fitter is talking about maybe taking it now through the void that's at the side of the chimney breast and directly outside, but that will add at least another few feet on to he ducting but I don't think we will gain anything regarding the steam, I think it's working as best it can do.

Aylesbury_Duck

cherydee wrote: »

Tonight though I purposely cooked on the back two hobs and there was no problem with steam. I know not ideal but not often I will have all four on. Maybe pan lids and turning the heat down will all add to making the situation better

That's good. Yes, using lids saves energy and reduces evaporation into your kitchen. It takes the same energy to heat a given quantity of water from tap temperature to boiling, whether you raise the temperature slowly or quickly, and evaporation will be the same, so turning the heat down won't make a difference. What you perhaps don't need to do is have the pans boiling frantically once they've reached boiling point. Just keep the lids on and let them simmer.