Hood types and what each demands
| Type | Where it suits | Joinery implication | Band we observe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall mounted, pyramid or curved glass | Standard closed kitchen | None beyond a clear wall zone | ₹14,000 – 30,000 |
| Wall mounted, auto-clean flat | Kitchens with heavy frying | Clear wall zone, 150 mm duct | ₹20,000 – 40,000 |
| Built-in / concealed | Where the hood should disappear | A dedicated wall unit sized to the hood | ₹20,000 – 48,000 |
| Island hood | Hob on an island | Ceiling duct route and structural fixing | ₹35,000 – 70,000 |
| Downdraft | Island hob with no ceiling duct possible | Base unit space lost to the mechanism | ₹55,000 – 1,20,000 |
| Slim / under-cabinet | Compact kitchens, low ceilings | Fits under a shortened wall unit | ₹12,000 – 26,000 |
Buying observations only, not official prices. Type has a larger effect on installed cost than brand or suction figure does.
The island hood problem in a Mumbai flat
Island hobs are popular in renders and difficult in Mumbai apartments. Three issues come up on nearly every project.
- Duct route. The duct has to travel from the island, through the ceiling void, to a shaft or an external wall. In a flat with a 9 ft 6 in slab that route often forces a bulkhead across the kitchen, which changes the ceiling design.
- Structural fixing. An island hood hangs from the slab and can weigh 30–45 kg. It fixes to the structural slab with anchors, never to the false ceiling frame.
- Services in the island. A hob on an island needs a gas line, an electrical point and often a socket, all routed through the floor or a bulkhead. Gas line routing in a Mumbai society usually needs approval and is not always granted.
- The downdraft alternative. Where a ceiling duct is impossible, a downdraft unit rises from the counter behind the hob. It costs considerably more, consumes a base unit, and is less effective at capturing the plume from a tall vessel — but it is sometimes the only option.
- Our usual advice is to keep the hob on a wall run and use the island for preparation and seating. It is a cheaper kitchen and, in a Mumbai flat, generally a better one.
Noise, speed settings and living with it
- A chimney at full speed in an open kitchen can make conversation difficult. Ask for the noise figure in decibels at the working speed you will actually use, not the lowest setting.
- Motor position matters. Hoods with the motor further from the hood body are quieter at the point of use.
- Most households run a hood at medium, not maximum. A hood that is adequately sized at medium speed is more pleasant to live with than an oversized one at low.
- LED task lighting in the hood is the main light over the hob in most kitchens. Check the light level and colour temperature; 3,000–4,000K is right for a working surface.
- Touch and gesture controls are attractive and become unreliable when covered in cooking oil. Physical controls are easier to live with in an Indian kitchen.
Coordination with the kitchen build
- Fix the hood model before the wall units are made. A built-in hood needs a carcass built to its dimensions, and retrofitting one is a rebuild.
- Provide a dedicated 16A electrical point in the right place, usually behind the hood and above the wall unit line.
- Rough in the duct before boarding the ceiling and take a photograph of the route for the handover file.
- Allow 650–750 mm from the hob surface to the underside of the hood, and check it against the height of the tallest person in the household.
- Leave access to clean the duct at the discharge end. Grease accumulates in the first metre and it is worth being able to reach it.
Our position
Greenbox is an independent design and build studio and is not a dealer, distributor or service partner for Elica or for any appliance brand. We specify on merit, buy at market rates through Mumbai dealers, and pass through supplier invoices where we procure on a client’s behalf. All figures on this page are market observations, and manufacturer warranties apply on the manufacturer’s terms.
Frequently asked questions
Wall-mounted or built-in hood — which is better?+
Performance is comparable at the same suction. A built-in hood disappears into the joinery and looks cleaner; a wall-mounted hood is cheaper and easier to replace later. Choose the built-in only if the wall unit is being made around it from the start.
Is a downdraft chimney any good?+
It is a solution to a specific problem — an island hob with no possible ceiling duct. It costs considerably more, takes a base unit of storage and captures a rising plume less effectively than an overhead hood. If a ceiling duct is possible, use an island hood instead.
Is Greenbox an Elica dealer?+
No. We hold no dealership, distributorship or service arrangement with Elica or with any appliance manufacturer. We specify on merit and buy through the open market, passing through supplier invoices where we procure.
How noisy is a kitchen chimney?+
Noticeably, at full speed. Ask for the decibel figure at the speed you will actually use rather than at the lowest setting. In an open-plan kitchen this matters more than the last two hundred cubic metres of suction.
Can a chimney be installed after the kitchen is built?+
A wall-mounted one, yes, if the electrical point and a duct route exist. A built-in hood, no — it needs a carcass built to its dimensions. Fix the appliance schedule before the joinery is manufactured; retrofitting is the most expensive way to buy an appliance.