What is the first image that comes to our mind when you hear the word “chimney”? Chances are you thinking of a red-clad Santa Claus sliding down a chimney to deliver gifts to little children on Christmas. Or you could be picturing a scene in the Tom & Jerry cartoon where Jerry is being chased by Tom back and forth along the length of the chimney. Now both of these scenarios are quite unlikely to happen but it definitely has shaped our childhood in some form. Yes?

Back to the real world – Chimneys are essentially outlets through which smoke and fumes are let out while you are cooking. In the earlier day, chimneys were merely an outlet made of bricks and mortars. With the passage of time and advancement in technology, chimneys have evolved into electronic devices which are used to suck the fume, smoke, and oily particles while you are cooking. In the current scheme of things, no modern kitchen is complete without a chimney.

Chimneys are no more a style statement or a mere fancy attachment, it is an absolute must in any kitchen. In this article, we will touch upon the general workings of this appliance and familiarise you with its features and other aspects of the appliance.

What Is A Filterless Chimney And How Does It Work?

As the name indicates, filterless chimneys come with no filters. To elaborate further, it is a type of chimney that comes with auto-clean technology which also happens to be its USP.

This variant of chimneys uses centrifugal force to separate oily particles from the smoke and fumes. While cooking, the fume and smoke pass through the chimney and escape outside. The oil particles move towards the blower wall due to the force created by the turbine motor. This, in turn, gets collected in an oil collector once you switch on the auto-cleaning options.

Higher the suction power the more efficient the process. The fundamental idea here is to let the smoke and fume pass while the oily particles are collected in a different section. Once you switch on the auto-clean option, the chimney gets heated up which melts the grease and oil and gets collected in an oil collector. Now all you have to do is dispose of the waste collected and wash the container. Of course, a little wiping of the surface every once in a while doesn’t hurt.

Related reading: Ductless Chimney vs Duct Chimney

Pros And Cons or Filterless Chimney

Filterless chimneys are definitely helpful and can make your life a lot easier when it comes to cooking food that generates a lot of fume or smoke and keeps the surface of the wall free from grime and dirt. However, it is always a good practice to consider its pros and cons to ensure if it’s suitable for you or not.

Pros

Minimal cleaning: Since this appliance is auto-cleaning, we don’t need to put a lot of effort into cleaning its interiors. Once a week, just wipe its surface and the interiors within reach and we are good to go.

Durable: The chimney is made of high-grade metal and its moving parts are made with the latest technology. As a result, the product will last many years as long as we use it judiciously.

More efficient suction system: In addition to the fact that the suction system is top-notch and made with the latest available technology, the absence of a filter makes the process even more effective.

Perfect for Indian Cooking: Indian cooking involves oil and spices a lot. This naturally creates a lot of greasy and oily particles. Filterless chimneys can separate the oily particles from the fumes with their high-powered suction system.

Best suited for a small-to-medium family: Perfect for a small to medium family since its usage is mostly scattered throughout the day and not as intense as a commercial kitchen.

Cons

Costlier: Since this variant is relatively new, it naturally commands a higher cost than the older variant of chimneys. The technology used in it is newly developed and still needs work. It is yet to be standardised. Hence, the costlier price tag.

It can’t be used in commercial establishments: Filterless chimneys are not meant for heavy-duty work of a commercial kitchen. Its function is limited to homes currently.

Filterless Chimneys Vs Baffle Chimneys

A baffle chimney is considered to be the most advanced filter chimney in the market today. It is essentially an upgrade of the older mesh filter system. It is made of high-grade curved aluminum or stainless steel plates. The curved design enables it to control airflow and all the oil and other particles get stuck to the filter while the smoke is disposed of through the exhaust pipe. Here’s a quick comparison chart of the filterless and baffle chimneys.

Baffle Filter Chimney	Filterless Chimney
Oily particles stick to the baffle filter	Most of the grimy particles exit with the smoke.
The baffle filter needs manual cleaning once in a quarter. If it comes with auto-cleaning, twice a year.	Comes with an auto-cleaning option. Only the oil collector needs to be cleaned once its contents are emptied.
Suitable for commercial kitchens as it captures more oil.	Best for homes.
Costlier to maintain since it has more parts	Less part less cost
Durable and long-lasting	It will last for a reasonable period
Standard cost upfront	High upfront cost but economical in the long run

So what exactly makes a baffle filter chimney a major advancement compared to its older filter chimney counterparts? Here’s why – It employs the cut and splash mechanism to separate oil and other heavier particles from smoke and dispose of them effectively. The filter for the new variant doesn’t clog as easily because of its curved shape. This means more efficiency and less cleaning of the filters. Moreover, it collects more oil residues compared to filterless chimneys. So, you needn’t clean it as often as filterless chimneys.

Related reading: How To Clean Kitchen Chimney

Should You Buy A Chimney?

There is no doubt that a good electric chimney is definitely a must in the modern kitchen if hygiene and health is a priority for you. However, not everyone needs it. Here are a few points for our readers to consider before they decide to purchase a chimney.

If you don’t cook as often or eat food that is mostly just boiled, you can skip the chimney.
If you have a kitchen that is airy and spacious, you can probably skip the chimney.
If you are a family of 5 or more, buy it even if you have a big, spacious kitchen.
If the electricity bill is a concern, skip it.
If anyone in the family is sensitive to oily particles, fume or smoke, go for it.
If you cook often, especially spice-loaded Indian food, go for it.

We hope this article has helped our readers to understand the nitty-gritty of the commonly available chimneys in the market. So, the next time you go to a store to get a chimney, you know where to begin and where to end.