When you plan a kitchen, it is easy to buy appliances one by one. You choose a gas hob because you like the burners. You choose a chimney because you like the look.
In real use, the hob and the chimney are a pair. The hob creates heat, steam, smoke, and oily vapour. The chimney has to capture and remove it.
If the hob is powerful and the chimney is too small, smoke escapes. If the chimney is strong and installation is poor, you still end up with lingering smells and greasy surfaces.
At Kaff, we see this combination problem often. People invest heavily in a kitchen and then lose the comfort because the ventilation was treated as an afterthought. This guide explains, in plain language, how to match a gas stove and kitchen chimney so the system works as it should.
1. Start With How You Cook
Before you look at models, be honest about how your kitchen is used. It is the quickest way to avoid paying for the wrong kind of chimney.
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Do you cook every day or only occasionally?
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Do you do a lot of frying?
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Do you use multiple burners at the same time?
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Is the kitchen closed, or does it open into the living area?
These answers decide how much airflow you need and how often you will need higher suction. They also shape what you should prioritise, such as lower noise in an open kitchen or a simpler cleaning routine in a busy home.
2. The Gas Stove: The Details That Affect Smoke and Heat
A gas hob is not only about number of burners. Burner type, spacing, and safety features change how cooking feels.
Burner material
Many Kaff built in hobs list full brass burners. Brass is widely used in gas hobs because it is durable and handles high heat well.
If you cook often, look for a hob that feels solid and is designed for long use. Confirm burner details on the product page for the exact model.
Burner configuration
Some hobs include a high power burner designed for large vessels. Kaff product pages often describe burner types such as triple ring burners and dual ring burners on select models.
This matters because burner choice affects both how heat spreads and how much smoke you create during frying. A kitchen that feels calm on low heat can still get smoky fast when you turn a large burner up.
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A larger burner can heat a wide pot more evenly.
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A higher heat burner can create more smoke when you fry.
If your hob includes a large burner and you use it often, plan your chimney choice around that reality. It is better to have a chimney that feels comfortable at everyday settings than one that only copes when it is running flat out.
Safety: flame failure device
Some Kaff hob models list a flame failure device. In simple terms, this feature is designed to shut off the gas if the flame goes out. It is worth considering, especially in homes where boiling over is common and the kitchen is busy.
Do not assume every model includes it. Check the product page for the exact hob.
3. The Kitchen Chimney: The Choices That Decide Capture
A chimney does not clean the whole kitchen. It works best when it captures smoke close to the source. That is why size, airflow, and installation matter more than a dramatic design.
Width: cover the cooktop
A common mistake is choosing a chimney that is narrower than the hob. As smoke rises, it spreads. If the hood does not cover the cooktop well, smoke from the outer burners can drift into the room. A practical rule is simple.
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Choose a chimney that is at least as wide as your cooktop.
Kaff offers multiple chimney widths across models. Match the width to your hob size and your cabinet layout.
Airflow: do not buy blind
Chimney performance is usually described with airflow or suction figures. Kaff publishes these figures on many product pages.
If you cook lightly, you may be fine with a moderate airflow model. If you fry often or use multiple burners daily, choose a model built for heavier use. The key is to buy with the specification open, not by guesswork.
One common confusion is between airflow and watts. Airflow tells you how much air the chimney can move. Watts tell you how much electricity it uses. Use airflow to compare capture, then use the power figure for a running cost estimate.
Noise: think about your layout
In real homes, noise is part of comfort. If your kitchen opens into the living area, a loud chimney can become tiring during long cooking sessions.
Many Kaff models list a noise rating on the product page. Use it to compare models where it is available. Also remember that a long duct route with many bends can make a chimney feel louder because the airflow is fighting resistance.
Filters, filterless designs, and auto clean
Different chimney designs handle grease in different ways. Kaff’s chimney range includes models described as filterless, and models with auto clean features such as dry heat auto clean or smart auto clean. This is not only about convenience.
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A design that suits your routine is more likely to be cleaned on time.
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A chimney that is cleaned on time keeps airflow stable.
Confirm the cleaning system on the exact model page. Small differences here can change how much effort maintenance takes over the year.
Controls: choose what you will actually use
Controls affect daily behaviour. If controls are awkward, people leave the chimney at one setting or forget to switch it off. Kaff offers different control types across models, including touch panels, gesture control on select models, and push button controls on select models.
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If you often cook with messy hands, gesture control can make it easier to adjust speed without touching the panel.
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If you prefer the simplest interface, push buttons can feel more familiar.
The key point is not the control style. It is whether your household will use the chimney properly from the moment cooking starts.
Ducted vs ductless: what changes
Some kitchens can vent outside easily. Some cannot. This is why you will see two broad setups.
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A ducted chimney moves air out of the home through a duct. If you cook often, this is usually the most direct way to get smoke and smell out of the kitchen.
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A ductless chimney filters the air and returns it to the room. This is used when venting outside is difficult due to building constraints.
If you choose ductless, pay attention to maintenance. Ductless designs depend on filter care, and some setups use charcoal filters that need replacement. Check the product page for the exact model so you know what it uses and what upkeep it needs.
4. Installation: Where Most Kitchens Lose Performance
A good chimney can feel weak if installation fights it. Many complaints about “low suction” come back to ducting, placement, or a mismatched outlet.
Duct route
The duct route should be as direct as your kitchen allows. Treat the duct route as part of the chimney, not as an afterthought.
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Long routes reduce airflow.
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Extra bends reduce airflow.
If you are renovating, plan the chimney position early so the duct can exit with fewer turns. If you have a choice, a smoother, rigid duct is often easier for airflow than a long, corrugated flexible duct. Flexible ducting can also sag over time, which can make cleaning harder. Your installer should choose a duct setup that suits your wall, ceiling, and access, and keeps the route practical.
Duct size
Do not reduce duct size to fit an existing hole. Match the duct size to the outlet size listed for the model. A reduced outlet can make the chimney louder and less effective.
Height and placement
Chimneys have recommended installation guidelines for safe and effective capture. Instead of following a generic number from the internet, follow the guidance for your model and your kitchen. An experienced installer can help position it so it captures smoke without getting in the way of tall vessels.
5. Matching the Look Without Making Bad Trade-offs
A chimney and hob take up a lot of visual space. It is fine to match finishes, as long as the basics are right first.
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If you choose a glass hob, a glass finish chimney can look cohesive.
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If you prefer stainless finishes, a chimney with a clean steel look can suit the kitchen.
Do not choose a design that forces the wrong size or a poor duct route. You will pay for it later in noise, weaker capture, and more cleaning.
6. Maintenance: Keep the System Working
A hob and a chimney both need basic maintenance. The routine is simple, but skipping it makes performance fade faster.
Keep burners clean
Spills and food residue can block burner ports over time. If the flame looks uneven, clean the burner parts carefully and follow the hob’s cleaning guidance.
Keep the chimney clean
Grease build up reduces airflow. When airflow drops, people run the chimney at higher speeds. That increases noise and power use.
Kaff publishes maintenance guidance on its product warranty page. It includes suggested cleaning intervals for parts such as metal filters and oil collectors. If your chimney has an auto clean function, use it as recommended for that model.
7. The Real Benefit: Comfort While Cooking
A well matched system changes daily life in simple ways. You notice it most on smoky steps, when the kitchen would otherwise feel heavy and sticky.
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Less smoke lingering in the room
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Less grease settling on cabinets and surfaces
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A kitchen that feels more comfortable during heavy cooking
That is the point of pairing a gas stove and kitchen chimney properly. It is not about chasing the biggest numbers, but about making cooking more comfortable and cleanup less relentless.
Conclusion
Do not buy the hob and chimney separately in your head. Buy them as a system.
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Match chimney width to hob width.
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Choose airflow based on how you cook.
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Plan a direct duct route.
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Follow regular cleaning so performance does not fade.
If you get these right, your kitchen stays cleaner and feels easier to cook in. It also reduces the need to scrub oily film off surfaces so often.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I use a small chimney with a large hob?
It is not ideal. If the chimney is narrower than the cooktop, smoke from the outer burners can escape into the room. Choose a chimney that covers the cooktop well.
2. What matters most for chimney performance, the motor or the installation?
Both matter, yet installation is often the deciding factor. A strong model with a poor duct route can underperform.
3. Do all Kaff hobs have a flame failure device?
No. Some models list a flame failure device and some list it as not available. Check the product page for the exact model.
4. Do I need a higher suction chimney for Indian cooking?
If you fry often, use multiple burners, or cook with a lot of oil, you will usually benefit from a higher airflow model. Use the airflow figures on the product pages to compare models.
5. How often should I clean the chimney?
It depends on how much you cook. The practical rule is to clean often enough that grease does not build up and restrict airflow. Kaff also publishes suggested maintenance intervals on its product warranty page.
