The difference between pyramid/decorative and flat range hoods, and the advantages and disadvantages of each type.

The Difference Between Pyramid and Flat Hoods

A kitchen hood is an indispensable appliance in your kitchen; it works to protect the walls and other appliances from the accumulation of oils, greases, and fumes that can spoil the space and require significant effort to remove. Despite the prevalence of fan hoods in many homes, several other types of hoods have recently emerged that extract fumes more efficiently, most notably the flat and pyramid hoods.

Before discussing the difference between pyramid and flat hoods, we will first tell you about the common types of hoods in the Egyptian market.

Types of kitchen hoods:
- Flat Hood: A flat hood can be installed directly under a kitchen cabinet, thus integrating perfectly with the kitchen cabinet design or above the hob. Accurate measurement of the area under the cabinet is essential for choosing an external exhaust.
- Pyramid Hood: One of the most common types, it does not require a special cabinet for installation, fits both small and large spaces, can be easily installed above the hob, and features strong suction power.
- Ceiling-mounted Hood: Suitable for island kitchens, as it provides a good ventilation system installed in the ceiling with fully vertical ventilation without the need for wall or under-cabinet mounting, because it is usually installed if the hob is in the middle of the kitchen. Please note that this style of hood requires the installation of an external chimney specifically designed before tiling.

In the following lines, we will review the difference between pyramid and flat hoods and the advantages and disadvantages of each type, as pyramid and flat hoods have become among the most popular types in recent years due to their high efficiency in eliminating fumes and airborne oils.

The pyramid hood is named "pyramid" because its design resembles a pyramid, and it is sometimes called a chimney hood. It is installed on the kitchen wall facing the hob surface, and there are two types of it:
- Pyramid hood with vent: This connects to a vent or air duct in the wall and relies on an external extraction mechanism, meaning it draws fumes, oils, and odors through a diagonal chimney, then the motor expels them outwards through the vent.
- Pyramid hood without vent: This relies on the filter concept, as it contains an external metal filter to absorb oils and greases, and a carbon filter that works to eliminate odors and purify the air, then returns the air to the kitchen through an internal extraction mechanism.

The flat hood is a relatively small and compact hood with a surface area similar to the dimensions of the hob, allowing it to absorb all rising fumes during cooking. It is hung under kitchen cabinets so that it is integrated into them directly above the hob. It features a design that allows it to be integrated into kitchen cabinets, thus not requiring space and eliminating the need to reduce the number of kitchen cabinets as is the case with the pyramid hood. It is preferable to choose a flat hood when designing kitchen cabinets to ensure the sizes of both are compatible and no kitchen space is wasted. There are also two types of flat hoods: one with a vent and the other without a vent, both operating in the same way as the pyramid hood.

As for the advantages and disadvantages of each hood, we will inform you about them in the following lines.

- Advantages of the pyramid hood:
- The powerful motor that efficiently extracts fumes.
- It is installed directly above the hob surface, which helps to quickly extract fumes during cooking.
- Carbon filters purify the air and eliminate odors.
- Its large size helps effectively eliminate all fumes and oils.
- Advantages of the flat hood:
- Its small and compact size will save you space in the kitchen, as it can be easily installed under kitchen units.
- Its sleek and elegant design.
- It does not cause much noise.
- Its large surface area allows it to absorb all fumes and oils as soon as they rise during cooking.
- Its relatively low cost compared to other types.

- Disadvantages of the pyramid hood:
- Its large size requires wall space, which reduces the size of kitchen cabinets.
- Its high cost compared to other types.
- If the vented pyramid hood is not suitable for you and you choose the non-vented hood, it returns filtered air, but does not cool it, meaning it returns hot air indoors, which increases the kitchen temperature.
- Filters in non-vented hoods need to be changed from time to time.
- Disadvantages of the flat hood:
- Filters need to be changed (for non-vented types). You need to make a wall opening (for vented types).
- Its suction power is less than that of the pyramid hood.

How to choose the right kitchen hood design:
There are several factors to consider before choosing the right design for your kitchen hood, the most important of which are:
- Kitchen area.
- Air suction power, indicated on each appliance.
- You can also measure the power of the gas used for cooking by the width of the hob; the wider the hob, the greater the need for a more powerful hood.
- Fan speed; many appliances come with multiple speeds, and some may automatically adjust to the appropriate speed.
- Cost; the more features an appliance offers, the higher the cost, so prices and costs should also be considered.

Signs of a problem with your kitchen hood:
It is normal for a hood to work less efficiently over time due to excessive use or a blocked vent due to the accumulation of grease and dirt. The filter may need cleaning or replacement depending on the type of hood you have.
The same applies to the fan; if the hood is noisy or making strange sounds, there is a motor problem. If the buttons or lights are not working, the problem is with the electrical circuit.
In general, if there is a problem, your first step is to clean the hood. If it does not work efficiently, you may have to resort to a maintenance center to have it checked.


You can browse the best hood brands from Al Reyada Store here