All the smoke, gone All the aroma, kept

Start from the shape of the kitchen. Chimney, 16 models at 10,900–18,900.- special, is the biggest group and the standard answer for a kitchen with a wall to sit against. Built-in, 3 models at 6,890–9,890.-, hides inside the cabinetry with only the front panel showing. Slim line, 2 models at 4,990–15,900.-, pulls out when you cook and slides away after, which suits a small kitchen or a condo. Standard, 3 models at 4,990–5,990.-, is the easiest on the budget. Island, 2 models at 28,900–36,900.-, is for a counter that does not touch a wall. Ceiling, 1 model at 54,900.-, measures 60 x 120 cm and comes with a remote. Down draft, 1 model at 89,900.-, rises out of the worktop and drops back down.

MEX is most of what you see in this category and covers all seven installation types. METRIX is the premium Italian-design line, and in cooker hoods it means two models: PLANA BL, the down draft, and STILINO-BL, a wall chimney. Those two are METRIX, not MEX, even though they sit on the same page. MEX itself has models built outside Thailand as well — IS7010X90, the island hood, is listed as made in Italy, and SLIMTOUCH60 and TWEET are listed as made in Europe. Every one of them is distributed and serviced by MEX.

It depends on the model. Ducting out needs a real run of pipe; recirculating filters the air and returns it to the room, so nothing has to be cut. In the standard group, TUBE66, 2950X60 and 2950X90 can recirculate, and SLD62 in the slim line group does both. K611BFX90 ships with a carbon filter for recirculating. Going the other way, INNOVEN-B90, SLIMTOUCH60 and K626CR are listed as duct-out only. Warning: the catalogue states the venting mode for some models only. If the model you are looking at is not named above, please ask before you order.

Sizes in this category are 54, 60, 74, 90 and 60 x 120 cm. The simple rule is make the hood as wide as the hob or wider; any narrower and the smoke drifting out to the sides gets past it. Airflow here runs from 420 to 1,300 m³/h, and the higher figures suit a kitchen that stir-fries hard or deep-fries often. The catalogue lists both a maximum and a net figure for every model — read the net one, because that is what is left after the filter resistance. Two types have to be measured before you buy: island hoods, which specify a ceiling height of no more than 286 cm or 276 cm depending on the model, and the down draft, which needs a cabinet at least 80 cm deep.

A Honey Comb Baffle Filter is three layers of stainless steel with an open mesh in the middle layer to increase the surface the grease meets; what it catches runs down into a tray underneath, and the whole panel lifts out for washing. An aluminium filter is stacked mesh — five layers in most of this category, nine in the K626CR and ten in the TUBE66 — and washes out the same way. If your kitchen fries and stir-fries in a lot of oil, the baffle type with its drip tray deals with the grease more directly. Any questions, call 02-493-6565.