Duct vs Ductless Chimney – Which is Better for Kitchen?

There is absolutely no doubt that chimneys are taking over in this modern world, and they have significantly become a go-to for a marvellous cooking experience.

Whether for aesthetic reasons or the joy of comfort, the installation of chimneys has experienced a rise over the last few decades. Not only it gives your kitchen a sleek and fresh look but absorbs the smoke and odour to provide fresh air.

However, it is no doubt that you would only want the best for your kitchen, and the type of chimney that should be installed can be a real game changer. It can be a question of great puzzlement whether you should install a duct or ductless chimney, but worry no more since we’re here for the rescue!

What is Duct Chimney?

In a ducted chimney, a large pipe is present to expel the smoke and heat from the kitchen, by sucking the hot air from the entire room and expelling it off outside the house, filling the room with fresh and clean air. In simpler words, a ductless chimney is essential for areas with high smoke and heat since it transports large amounts of hot air at a time.

Ducted chimneys sound like a great deal, however, it is essential to look into the pros and cons of the same.

Pros of Duct Chimney:

• A duct chimney is competent for transferring the smoke and hot and dirty air from the kitchen to the outside of the house.
• Not only this chimney is durable but can handle heavy cooking as well which results in releasing a lot of smoke.
• It is convenient to maintain which would require fewer visits from the vendor.
• The suction motor of the duct chimney makes very little sound.

Cons of Duct Chimney:

• The biggest drawback of a duct chimney is its installation process as it relies heavily on the availability of ducts in the kitchen.
• The availability of a chimney hood is a necessity, otherwise, it won’t perform efficiently.

What is a Ductless chimney?

In contrast to the Duct chimney, a ductless chimney filters out dirty air and smoke with the help of an exhaust fan. A hood is present on the top of a ductless chimney, which can be considered responsible for cleaning out the air. However, it is worth mentioning that this chimney is not compatible with getting rid of smoke and dirty air.

Pros of Ductless Chimney:

• As pipes are not needed for their operation, the number one advantage that ductless chimneys offer is their easy installation.
• They are comparatively more affordable than duct chimneys, thus making them a go-to for the majority of people.
• They are pretty suitable for small kitchens since they require less space.

Cons of Ductless Chimney:

• Ductless chimneys don’t cool down the air in the kitchen, as they recirculate the air inside the kitchen once it’s purified.
• There’s no doubt that ductless chimneys require high maintenance and regular cleaning, which can add to the expenses.

Ducted vs Ductless Chimney – Which is best for Indian Kitchen?

It has become evident that both of these chimneys have their unique points, as well as downsides. However, when it comes to making a quick comparison, there is no doubt that Duct chimneys outperform Ductless chimneys.

Although they are slightly more expensive with a complex installation process, it is worth mentioning that they have a high suction power capacity as well as require low maintenance. They are also very effective in expelling heat, smoke and moisture from the kitchen and lowering the temperature of the kitchen.

Therefore, based on the functioning, Duct chimneys are better, nonetheless, if you have a tight budget and a smaller kitchen, then a ductless chimney would be more efficient and convenient for you.

Chimney Installation:

Duct chimneys usually have a more complex and costly installation process as compared to Ductless chimneys, which include labour charges and ducting material costs. Looking at ductless chimneys, they have no undue complications when it comes to installing them.

Steam Removal and Condensation Buildup:

When it comes to duct chimneys, they have been proven to be better at removing the heat, moisture and smoke from the kitchen and filtering the fresh air. Whereas, ductless chimneys are comparatively less effective since they can not expel moisture and steam nor they reduce the temperature in the room.

Power Consumption:

Being more effective while working and having a high suction power, duct chimneys require less power as compared to ductless chimneys. The reason why ductless chimneys require more power to work is that they have to suck dirty air into their carbon filter before blowing it back.

So the Duct chimney is better than the ductless one in this aspect.

Noise and Heat Production:

Once again, duct chimneys take the crown. It produces no noise or heat production since it releases smoke and hot air outside of your house. Since the ductless chimneys recirculate the same air throughout the house and they contain exhaust fans too, they often end up making a lot of noise along with heat production.

Maintenance:

Whether it’s a duct chimney or a ductless chimney, both of them require timely maintenance as they both have filters which work to get the cooking air out of the chimney. Duct chimneys are laborious to install, but require low maintenance as compared to ductless chimneys, which require high maintenance.

FAQ:

Conclusion:

So, if you have made it this far, you must have concluded what would be the best choice for your kitchen. If you have a small kitchen and you want a pocket-friendly chimney, then you would love a ductless chimney.

However, if we’re talking about the performance, then a duct chimney would be a go-to as it offers the best service and top-notch kitchen experience!