Types of Kitchen Chimney Filters

A filter is like the heart of a kitchen chimney. The main purpose of the chimney is to suck the smoke, oil particles, and grease from the air. This depends on the filter you have inside your chimney. There are three types of chimney filters available in the market. Each filter comes with different abilities and cleaning processes, as well. These are –

• Cassette or Mesh filter
• Baffle filter
• Carbon or Charcoal filter

Cassette/Mesh filter:

These filters are composed of multiple layers of aluminum mesh. The mesh has tiny holes in them through which the air passes, and the oil particles, grease are captured.

It could be made of aluminum or stainless steel. The stainless steel filters are more expensive than the aluminum ones. The pores of these filters get clogged and require cleaning every fortnight.

If you have aluminum filters, then you will notice that it is lighter but needs to be handled carefully while cleaning. On the other hand, stainless steel filters are quite heavy but are effortless to clean. They require more maintenance compared to the other filters.

Pros –

• They are less expensive than the other filters.
• Dishwasher safe.
• Lightweight and can be removed from the chimney easily.

Cons –

• It is noisy.
• It cannot withstand extreme temperatures.
• Gets clogged very often and needs cleaning

Baffle filter:

Baffle filters are made with layers of aluminum/steel. The panel through which the air passes resembles multiple curves that are overlapped. Most baffle filters are made of stainless steel. It uses “Cut and chop” technology during this process and retains the oil, smoke, and grease.

These filters are perfect for the Indian style of cooking as the oil and grease collected by it do not affect the flow of air. It is sufficient if you clean the filters once every 5-6 months. However, the stainless steel may rust after using it for a long time, decreasing its efficiency. You need to change this baffle filter after five years of usage.

Pros –

• Premium corrosive resistance.
• High durability.
• Cost-effective than the other filters.
• Easy to clean and low maintenance.
• Perfect for the Indian style cooking.

Cons –

• Mostly made of stainless steel. Hence, it is expensive.
• Heavier than cassette filters.

Carbon or Charcoal filter:

Carbon filters are secondary filters that are used with mesh/baffle filters. Its primary purpose is to absorb the odor and help the primary filter absorb oil particles, grease, and smoke. They are made of charcoal, and hence the name charcoal filter.

The absorption power of this filter depends on the size of the charcoal granules and the thickness. It is usually used in the ductless chimneys and will never come as a built-in filter. You will have to pay an extra amount to have this filter in your kitchen chimney. These filters need to be changed within six months because they are not washable.

Pros –

• It is a secondary filter used with a cassette/baffle filter. Hene, it helps absorb the oil particles and grease with more efficiency, reducing your efforts in cleaning your kitchen.

Cons –

• You cannot wash and reuse these filters like the other filters. You will have to replace the charcoal filter every 5-6 months (If you use moderately).

A chimney is as good as its filter. Research about the filter and get the best one to be satisfied with the chimney’s performance. Adding filters like charcoal filters may be a little expensive, but it will be beneficial in the long run. Make sure to go through our article to know more about kitchen chimney filters so that you can make an informed decision.