With modern lifestyle gadgets flooding the market, of late, kitchen chimneys have made an entry into the middle class homes more as a necessity.
Either by way of a modular k i t c h e n (that provides a c h imn e y along with other equipment) or as an effect of growing awareness among the majority to keep away from dirt and grime, most people are opting for electrical chimneys to keep the kitchen odourless and smokeless.
‘‘The trend of open kitchens has increased over the years and a kitchen chimney has become mandatory to keep away all that oil and stain off from your clothes and face. The favoured brands today are Inalsa, Faber, Glen, Kaff, S u n flame and Kutchina a n d the price of these chimneys varies as per the specifications”, said Deepak Panda, an architect.
Electrolux and Whirlpool have also launched their products in the markets though Faber had introduced the concept of chimneys in India.
Indian cooking system is elaborate and exudes a lot of smoke and flavours. So once installed, the chimneys gather all the oil and smoke from the food and get clogged.
So cleaning the e q u i p - ment from time to time is also important.
“Most people do not really feel the need of regular maintenance of the chimney but it is necessary to ensure that it func t ions effectively. We give a good sale and service facility to our customers and also have an annual maintenance facility for the customers to regularly maintain the chimney,’’ said Ashok Patra, proprietor Ashok Exclusive which deals with electrical equipment.
The price of a branded chimney ranges from Rs 5000 to Rs 25000 depending on the additional features attached to it. Faber has about 42 models ranging from approximately Rs 2990 to Rs 9000, Various offers and deals are introduced from time to time and during festivals.
Hindware chimneys range from Rs 5000 to Rs 25000.
Narendra Kumar Sethi who sells Elica and Kaff brands feels the demand for kitchen chimneys have increased over the years.
‘’The concept of apartments have resulted in bulk sales.’’ C o r - roborating the fact, G. Vijayalaxmi, a homemaker says, “We live in an apartment and have small kitchens which fill up with smoke and odour that spread within the house.
But installation of a chimney has helped us deal with the problem for all times to come.’’