How to Choose the Right Size Kitchen Chimney in India

Picture this: You're making tadka for dal, and suddenly your kitchen fills with smoke. Your chimney barely helps. Sound familiar?

The problem isn't a faulty chimney; it's the wrong size. Indian cooking involves high heat, frequent frying, and strong spices. Getting the right size keeps your kitchen clean and your cooking pleasant.

Why Does Kitchen Chimney Size Matter?

Kitchen chimneys in India come in three sizes: 60cm, 75cm, and 90cm. Glen offers all three to match different cooktop widths.

The size determines cooking area coverage. Proper sizing creates an effective capture zone that pulls in smoke before it spreads.

Size matters because:

• High-heat cooking needs wider coverage

• Multiple burners require adequate width

• Oil splatter spreads quickly

• Strong spices create dense smoke

Too small leaves gaps, too large wastes energy. Understanding chimney dimensions helps avoid sizing mistakes.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Chimney Size

Selecting the right chimney size involves more than matching the width to your cooktop. Several interconnected factors determine which size delivers optimal performance in your kitchen. 

Understanding these elements helps you make an informed decision that balances functionality, space, and budget.

• Cooktop dimensions: Your stove width is the primary sizing factor. The chimney should match or slightly exceed this measurement to ensure complete smoke coverage. A 60cm stove pairs with a 60cm chimney, while 75cm and 90cm stoves need corresponding widths for effective ventilation.
• Kitchen volume: Larger kitchens require higher suction capacity to handle the greater air volume. Calculate your kitchen's cubic footage (length × width × height) to determine minimum suction needs. Open-plan kitchens especially need powerful chimneys as smoke can spread across larger areas.
• Cooking style: Heavy Indian cooking with frequent frying, grilling, or strong spices demands both adequate chimney size and high suction power. Light cooking can work with smaller sizes and lower suction, while regular home cooking needs mid-range specifications. Your daily cooking patterns should guide both size and power selection.
• Wall space: Available wall space may limit your chimney size options, particularly in compact kitchens. Measure the clear wall width before purchasing to ensure proper installation clearance. Consider cabinet placement on both sides and verify you have 5-10cm extra space beyond the chimney width.
• Budget: Larger chimneys with advanced features cost more upfront, but proper sizing prevents costly future replacements. Undersizing to save money leads to poor performance and potential re-purchase. Invest in the correct size now rather than upgrading later when smoke issues become unbearable.

Measuring Your Cooktop: The Starting Point

Before selecting a chimney, accurately measure your cooktop width, as this is the foundation of proper sizing. Your stove dimensions directly determine which chimney size will provide complete smoke coverage and optimal ventilation performance.

• 2-burner stoves: These compact cooktops are suitable for small families or kitchens with limited counter space. A 60cm chimney provides adequate coverage for cooking simple meals using one or two burners at a time, making it ideal for couples or small households cooking basic daily meals.
• 3-burner stoves: The most common choice for average Indian families, these medium-sized cooktops handle everyday cooking needs efficiently. A 75cm chimney perfectly covers the cooking surface when preparing 2-3 meals daily with moderate use of multiple burners, ensuring smoke from all active burners gets captured effectively.
• 4-burner stoves: These larger cooktops are designed for families that cook elaborate meals or use multiple burners simultaneously. A 90cm chimney ensures complete coverage even when all four burners are in use, preventing smoke from escaping around the edges during heavy cooking sessions with multiple pots and pans.
• 5-burner built-in hobs: Premium built-in hobs with five burners are designed for serious home cooks who need maximum cooking flexibility. A 90cm chimney is essential to cover the entire cooking surface, especially when using the central high-heat burner along with multiple side burners for complex meal preparation requiring several dishes at once.

Glen offers chimneys in all three sizes (60cm, 75cm, and 90cm) to match your cooktop perfectly. Always match the chimney width to your stove width or go slightly larger (5-10cm wider) for enhanced smoke capture and better ventilation performance.

Choosing the Right Size: 60cm, 75cm, or 90cm?

60cm chimneys for:

• 2-burner stoves

• Kitchens under 100 sq ft

• Small families (2-3 people)

• Limited budget

75cm chimneys for:

• 3-burner stoves

• Kitchens 100-150 sq ft

• Medium families (4-5 people)

• Regular multi-burner cooking

90cm chimneys for:

• 4+ burner stoves

• Kitchens over 150 sq ft

• Large families or frequent gatherings

• Open kitchen layouts

Important: Chimney size depends on your cooktop, not kitchen size. Even small kitchens with 4-burner stoves need 90cm chimneys. Read our 60cm vs 90cm chimneys comparison for detailed guidance.

Matching Suction Power to Your Chimney Size

Suction capacity (m³/h) determines smoke removal speed and works together with chimney size for optimal performance. Larger chimneys typically pair with higher suction as they cover more burners used simultaneously.

Requirements by cooking intensity and size:

• 1000 m³/h: Light cooking (boiling, steaming) - works well with 60cm chimneys for 2-burner stoves
  
• 1200 m³/h: Regular Indian cooking (moderate frying, daily tadkas) - ideal for 60cm, 75cm, or 90cm chimneys based on burner count
  
• 1400-1600 m³/h: Heavy cooking (frequent deep frying, grilling) - recommended for 75cm and 90cm chimneys with multiple burners

Kitchen volume formula: Length × width × height (in feet) ÷ 10 = minimum m³/h needed.

Example: 10ft × 10ft × 10ft kitchen = 1000 m³/h minimum.

Matching size with suction: A 60cm chimney with 1200 m³/h handles 2 burners well, while a 90cm chimney needs 1400-1600 m³/h to effectively clear smoke from 4-5 burners. Add 200 m³/h for strong spices, high heat, or frequent frying. 

Learn more about chimney suction power requirements.

Matching Size to Your Cooking Style

• Light cooking: Boiling, chapatis, occasional frying. 60cm with 1000 m³/h works well. Glen's straight-line chimneys handle this comfortably.
  
• Regular Indian cooking: Daily tadkas, weekly fish/chicken frying, frequent spices. Need 1200 m³/h minimum. Glen's curved glass chimneys come in 60cm, 75cm, and 90cm.
  
• Heavy cooking: Regular pakoras, samosas, grilling for large families. Opt for 1400-1600 m³/h.  Auto-clean chimneys with BLDC motors available in all sizes deliver powerful, quiet operation.

Essential Features Beyond Size

• Auto-clean technology: Automatically removes oil deposits, maintaining optimal suction. Glen's auto-clean chimneys melt grease into detachable collectors.
  
• Filterless design: No filter cleaning needed, consistent airflow perfect for busy kitchens.
  
• BLDC motors: Energy-efficient, quieter operation. Glen's BLDC chimneys with 1600 m³/h suction are ideal for open homes.
  
• Motion sensors: Wave control for hands-free operation during cooking.

Understanding optimal chimney placement ensures maximum efficiency regardless of size.

Making Your Final Decision

Step 1: Measure cooktop width 60cm stove = 60cm chimney, 75cm stove = 75cm chimney, 90cm stove = 90cm chimney.

Step 2: Calculate suction. Use the kitchen volume formula, adjust for cooking intensity.

Step 3: Verify space. Ensure wall clearance and cabinet compatibility.

Step 4: Consider features, such as Auto-clean and filterless technology reduce maintenance.

Step 5: Check budget. Glen offers chimneys from ₹5,9950 to ₹1,01,496.

Features by size:

• 60cm: Auto-clean, filterless, 1200 m³/h, motion sensor

• 75cm: Auto-clean, 1200-1400 m³/h, touch controls

• 90cm: BLDC motor, 1400-1600 m³/h, inverter technology

Finding Your Perfect Chimney Size

Match your chimney width to your cooktop (60cm for 2-burner, 75cm for 3-burner, 90cm for 4-burner), calculate suction based on kitchen volume (1200 m³/h minimum for regular cooking), and ensure proper installation height. 

For comprehensive guidance on choosing the right kitchen chimney, explore Glen's range, considering features like auto-clean and motor efficiency. Browse the complete collection to find your perfect size.

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