A modular kitchen is designed to look clean and work smoothly. Cabinets are aligned, storage is planned, and every appliance has a fixed place. That structure is also what makes ventilation more important.
In a modular kitchen, oily vapour and smoke do not just make the air unpleasant. They settle on cabinet surfaces, hinges, and handle grooves. Over time, they can make a beautiful kitchen feel sticky and tired.
At Kaff, we build chimneys for Indian homes, and we see the same pattern again and again. People plan the cabinets first, then try to fit a chimney into whatever space is left. This guide explains how to choose a modular kitchen chimney in a way that protects the design and works in daily cooking.
1. Decide the Layout First, Not the Chimney Model
Before you shortlist a chimney, confirm the kitchen layout and practical constraints. Your answers decide which chimney types make sense.
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Is the hob against a wall, or on an island?
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Is there a direct path to vent outside?
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Are you adding a false ceiling or a duct cover?
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Where will the power point be placed?
Wall mounted chimneys
Most modular kitchens with a wall hob use a wall mounted chimney. This is the easiest layout to plan because ducting can usually be routed to an outer wall or through a false ceiling.
Island chimneys
If your hob is on an island, you will need an island chimney. Island installations are common in large, open kitchens. They can also be more demanding to plan because the duct route usually has to go up into the ceiling.
Kaff offers island chimneys, and even a ductless island option on select models. If you are considering ductless, confirm the exact model and how it handles filtration.
Built-in and concealed setups
Some modular kitchens use cabinetry to visually hide parts of the chimney setup. This can look very neat, but it requires careful planning for airflow and service access.
2. Size: The Make or Break Detail
A modular kitchen chimney should cover the cooktop properly. If the chimney is narrower than the hob, smoke from the outer burners can drift past the hood. A practical rule is simple.
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Choose a chimney that is at least as wide as your cooktop.
Kaff offers chimneys in multiple widths across models. Match the width to your hob and cabinet plan.
3. Airflow: How to Think About It Without Guesswork
Chimneys are usually rated by airflow or suction. Kaff lists airflow figures on many product pages. Use those figures as your comparison tool.
Do not shop by wattage alone. Watts tell you how much electricity a model uses, not how well it captures smoke. Use airflow figures to compare performance, then use the power figure to estimate running cost.
Do not choose airflow by kitchen size alone. Cooking style matters.
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Light cooking and boiling create less smoke.
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Frying, grilling, and frequent use of multiple burners create more smoke and oily vapour.
If your modular kitchen opens into the living area, you may also want faster capture so smells do not travel. A modular kitchen is often paired with open shelves, light coloured cabinets, and soft furnishings nearby. In open layouts, smoke and oily vapour can drift beyond the kitchen and settle on nearby surfaces.
That is why airflow and capture matter more in open kitchens. A chimney that clears smoke near the hob can reduce how much cleaning you end up doing across the living area. A good way to shop is to shortlist a few models and compare their airflow and noise figures, where listed.
4. Ducted vs Ductless: What It Changes in a Modular Kitchen
This choice shapes installation and daily comfort. It is easier to decide early than to fix later.
Ducted chimneys
A ducted chimney moves air out of the home through a duct. This is often the best choice when:
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You cook often
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You fry frequently
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You want smoke and smell removed from the home rather than recirculated
In modular kitchens, a ducted setup usually needs early planning so the duct can be concealed cleanly. It is easiest to do this while cabinets and ceilings are still being planned.
Ductless chimneys
A ductless chimney filters the air and returns it into the room. This approach is used when venting outside is difficult due to building constraints. Ductless models need filter maintenance. Before you buy one, confirm what filters it uses and use the product page for the exact model as your source of truth.
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Which filters it uses
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How often they are replaced
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What the replacement cost is
5. Duct Planning: The Hidden Part That Decides Performance
Most weak chimneys are not weak because the motor is bad. They feel weak because ducting makes the airflow struggle.
Keep the route practical
A shorter, more direct duct route usually performs better. It can also help keep noise down.
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Long routes reduce airflow.
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Extra bends reduce airflow.
If you are still at the design stage, place the hob and chimney on a wall that makes the duct exit easier. It is one of the simplest ways to protect performance.
Match the outlet size
Do not reduce duct size to fit an existing hole. Match the duct size to the outlet size listed for the model. If the outlet is reduced, noise can increase and performance can drop.
Choose duct materials wisely
In many installations, a smooth rigid duct supports airflow better than a long corrugated flexible duct. Flexible ducting can also sag, which can make grease build up harder to deal with. Your installer should select a duct approach that suits your ceiling, cabinet plan, and access.
6. Cleaning and Upkeep: Design Matters
Modular kitchens look best when surfaces stay clean. A chimney that is easy to clean is more likely to be cleaned on time.
Kaff’s chimney range includes different grease handling approaches across models. These options are model-dependent, so confirm what the exact model includes:
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Filterless technology on select models
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Auto clean features on select models, described by Kaff as dry heat auto clean or smart auto clean
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Oil collectors on select models
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Baffle filters on select models
The right choice depends on your routine. Choose a design you will clean on time.
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If you cook daily, choose a design that makes cleaning feel manageable.
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If you fry often, plan for regular grease handling.
Kaff also publishes maintenance guidance as part of its warranty information, including suggested cleaning intervals. Use it as a baseline and adjust based on how often you cook.
7. Controls and the Reality of Modular Kitchens
Modular kitchens are designed to feel tidy. Controls can affect that. If a chimney panel traps grease and fingerprints easily, it can spoil the clean look. Kaff offers different control types across models.
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Touch controls on select models
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Gesture control on select models
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Push button controls on select models
If you cook often with messy hands, gesture control can be convenient. If you want the simplest interface, push buttons can feel direct. As always, confirm the control type for the model on kaff.in.
8. How to Integrate a Chimney Into Modular Cabinets
This is where modular kitchens need planning. A neat install is easier when the chimney is chosen before cabinets are finalised.
Hiding the duct
Many modular kitchens hide the duct using one of the approaches below. The right one depends on your cabinet plan and ceiling space:
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A duct cover
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A false ceiling
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A run through upper cabinets
If you run the duct through cabinets, carpenters usually cut a path through side panels. This can reduce usable space in those cabinets.
Make sure you still have enough space for the basics below. If access is too tight, cleaning gets delayed and performance can drop over time:
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Airflow
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Maintenance access
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Removing and cleaning parts like an oil collector
Power point and service access
Do not hide the power point in a way that makes it unreachable. Appliances need servicing. A modular kitchen should make service access possible without dismantling half the cabinets.
9. A Practical Shortlist Checklist
Use this checklist to shortlist a modular kitchen chimney. It keeps the decision practical.
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Correct width for the cooktop
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Airflow rating suitable for your cooking
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Noise rating, where listed
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Duct route that can be direct
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Duct size that matches the outlet size
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Cleaning design you can maintain
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Control type that suits your home
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Warranty terms and maintenance guidance for the exact model
Conclusion
A modular kitchen is a long term investment. The chimney protects that investment. To choose well, focus on what decides daily performance.
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Size coverage
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Airflow rating and noise, where listed
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A duct route that does not fight the chimney
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A cleaning design you will keep up with
If you plan these early, the chimney becomes part of the kitchen, not a compromise added at the end. It also helps you avoid ducting compromises later.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I hide the chimney duct inside modular cabinets?
Yes, it is common. The key is to plan the route so it stays direct and still allows maintenance access.
2. Is a ducted chimney better than ductless for modular kitchens?
If you can vent outside, ducted setups often remove smoke and smell more completely. Ductless setups are used when venting outside is difficult and require filter maintenance.
3. How do I pick the right airflow rating?
Use the airflow figures listed for the models you are comparing and match them to how you cook. If you fry often or cook with multiple burners, choose a model designed for heavier use.
4. Will a chimney help protect modular cabinets?
Yes. By capturing smoke and oily vapour closer to the hob, it reduces grease settling on cabinet surfaces.
5. Is filterless better for modular kitchens?
Filterless designs can be convenient for many households. The best choice depends on the exact model and your cleaning routine. Confirm the design and maintenance guidance for the model you choose.
