Baffle filter vs filterless chimneys - which is best?

Baffle vs mesh vs filterless chimneys

Typically - kitchen chimneys are meant to remove heat, smoke, smells from the air and filters in the kitchen chimneys are used to remove oil and grease from the air.

WATCH INSTEAD OF READ?

Baffle filters are a next step to the aluminium mesh filters that used to be available in previous generation kitchen chimney. The previous mesh filters used to collect grease in the mesh - which blocked the airflow. As opposed to that, the structure of the Baffle filters ensure that the grease or oil does not block the filters of the chimney but rather is collected in a container which can then be cleaned on a regular basis. In some older models, this used to be made in plastic but now it is made with rust free stainless steel which can be cleaned easily. In addition, the baffle filters itself are easier to clean than the mesh counterparts - they can also be washed in a dishwasher.

One of the main reasons to move from mesh type to baffle filters was to reduce the risk of fire. If not maintained properly, the oil particles can catch fire from the flames in the kitchen. This risk is significantly minimized but still exists in baffle filters as well.

WHY FILTERLESS IS GOOD?

The MAIN reason to move towards filterless auto clean technology was:

1. Less maintenance - baffle filters and mesh filters required regular maintenance to remove the grease from the filters - which would otherwise block the air flow

2. Reduce risk of fire - oil collected in the filters have a risk of fire - but this is mostly in commercial kitchens rather than household.

HOW DOES FILTERLESS CHIMNEY WORK?

So how does a filterless chimney work then? The main reason to have a filter - either baffle or mesh - was to trap the grease so that the air flow movement is efficient and also so that the grease does not affect the motor inside the chimney. In filterless chimneys, the structural position of the motor has been changed so that it provides easy movement of air and has minimal chances of blockages due to grease. In addition, the motor is sealed so that even grease that passes through cannot harm the motor. The auto clean technology helps with clearing out the grease in and around the interiors of the chimney and the grease is collected in an oil collector which can be easily cleaned.

SO BAFFLE OR FILTERLESS FOR HOME USE?

So do we need a kitchen chimney with baffle filter for home use? In my opinion - it is not required. For commercial kitchens that still do not have filterless technology - maybe yes as otherwise the motor and the blower can get affected and just a mesh filter may not be enough. But for home use, even with heavy oil usage, if you want to reduce your cleaning time and effort, you can go for a filterless chimney.