One of our readers recently used the Contact page to ask us a question. We thought that we should put up this email exchange as a post, as it would serve to be a learning for other readers.
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We will try to answer your queries. So please have them sent across.
Note : We sought the permission of the person concerned here to write about this query and the answers.
 Aavaas User
” I am buying an apartment which is under construction. The location of the hob is under the window. I would like to know if it is advisable. How to install the chimney when there is a window . will the hob function to its capacity and what other alternatives are available. “
Response
“We would like to understand your question more accurately. What do you mean by “hob” ? “
Aavaas User
” Thanks for responding to my query. Hob is the cooking range top.  The kitchen  window is on the eastern side and placement of the hob there is preferred. But i have read from posts on the internet that it is not safe to have it near the window since breeze can blow out the flame. “
Response
“You are right. Flame can be blown out by wind if you keep the window opened during cooking. unless your Hob is having some mechanism to cut out the gas supply on no flame condition, we would recommend you to keep the Hob away from the kitchen window.
We guess your preference to east side location is based on Vaastu or a similar belief. Since you have no control over the location of the window,we recommend to choose safety over theories.
Hope this feedback helps. Do you plan to use an electric chimney too?”
Aavaas User
“Thanks for your prompt reply.  Yes, we are thinking of installing an electric chimney. This apartment is in Chennai and I was wondering if
chimney will be required when window is there for ventilation. I don’t know the technicalities of chimney vs exhaust fans. Which one is better suited. It is not only a question of flame going out but also the installation of chimney near the window and its effective functioning.
I came across your site on the internet while looking for such things i can get done in my apartment. I really appreciate your article on modular kitchens among other things. It is really helpful and looking forward to such useful information. “
Response
“Â Our suggestion would be to go for the electric chimney if the provision and budget are in place. Normally, you would not always keep the window open while cooking (for reasons which we discussed already - assuming you still are placing your hob in the east side)Exhaust fans do not do a great job in removing the smoke and soot which results from cooking in Indian homes.
The chimney is placed directly above the hob and removes the smoke more effectively without it ruining your walls and wooden material.
Normally you need a vent for electric chimney’s exhaust. Talk to your kitchen designer and he can give you better ideas. You may have to create a small modification in your wall. If we can have a look at the picture it would be great. ”
 Aavaas User
“We are planning to go for an electric chimney. The reason why we wanted the hob in the east side is because it is easy to place a vent near the outer wall. This apartment is under construction and i can only send the floor plan of the kitchen yet. There is still a year for it to be completed. But what ever changes we need, we are discussing in the initial stage. Luckily this is a corner flat and there is lot of open space near the kitchen window. So i don’t want to loose the window.   Even though we can close the window while cooking it would be difficult to install the chimney in the middle of the window.  It will spoil the look. So we are working out the other options.
I have one more query. whether to cut out the necessary size from the granite table top and install the hob or to go for our traditional type gas stove. In-case there is a problem in the hob later on,, we have to find a similar size or break the granite to fix another one. All our friends use the traditional gas stove with two burners. But we wanted a four or burner stove. i have seen ads for some sleek one in four burner but the size is small and all the four cannot be used effectively at the same time. ideally the size should be around 90 cm to use all the four without the vessels hitting each other. is there any thing available in Chennai ? “
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authors
Sunflame (available at Viveks, Rathna Stores) is a good buy for someone seeking a SS 4-burner gas stove, that is placed on a granite table-top. If you are looking for 4-burner hob, which is to be integrated as a part of the cooking range, my advise is go for Faber.
Coming back to your query on Eastern side window. As per Manai/Vasthu Shastras, SE corner is Agni moolai, and normally EB connection, Kitchens are located here. Some are so inclined to this that even the gas-stove is placed at the SE corner. It is a bad location for a full-sized window because,
a. If you keep it open, wind/rain will come-in.
b. If you close it, and if your kitchen is Indian (with oil fumes, and mustards bursting over oil), its difficult to avoid or clean the windows/window-grills of grime.
The best course of action is to close the lower windows permanently and tile that region of the kitchen. The upper windows can be opened-up for ventilation, with exhaust fan or electric chimney fitted here or above the windows.
Once again as per Manai/Vaasthu Shastras there should not be any overhead cabinets above the cooking platform on the Eastern side. But this was because, in former times, people were using firewood/coal in the kitchen and the loft/overhead cabinets can get charred/heated. Since we have good electric chimneys now, this aspect of Manai/Vaasthu Shastra should not matter. Faber, Gilma sell combos and have a variety of models/features depending on your budget.
BTW, we did not cut the kitchen platform in our new home, and we continue to use our Sunflame 4-burner SS stove for 4 years now (there are plenty of brands including Butterfly, Inalsa, Pigeon etc). The Hob type or integrated oven/burners are not suited well for Indian kitchen, as it is very difficult to maintain them, and they are 2x expensive. If you need help, I would be pleased to visit your home under construction or would be pleased invite you to our new home.
Assuming the lower windows are closed and chimney placed above the window, will the chimney function effectively. Is there any article on the technical working of a chimney. Will it work if near open spaces.
@ Anonymous
We will try and get some article on the technical working of electric chimney.
I use an exhaust fan in my kitchen at nearly 9 feet height above the Gas-stove (Almonard medium-duty). It works well for now.
Anyway you can think about Faber electric chimney that comes with washable oil-trays.
Electric chmineys are of two types, one that has air outlet, minus oil vapours, at 2 feet above the cooking range, and another type, that can pump the air through a duct. The latter is very convenient that you can place the cooking platform anywhere in the kitchen, and all you need to do is place this electric chimney over it and use the exhaust duct to connect it outside.
[…] 8, 2007 Posted by Vivek in Appliances, Electric Chimney, Kitchen. trackback People asked us here  and here about electrical chimneys. We mentioned briefly in our article Hob placement in kitchen […]
@ all
the post mentioned above and the one to follow will hopefully demystify the electric chimney topic
[…] Modular, User Queries. trackback We continue from our previous article posted on 5th October , Hob placement in kitchen - User Query […]
Any comments on fabre’s offer of Chimney with a free hob and free microwave? - this offer has come some two months back too
Also, hob it seems comes with two burners and can be placed on the granite platform (without opting for sub-merging the same).
Can anyone detail on the same as for my new flat under construction i hv opted out of hob considering the cutting of granite platform and 4 burners which may not be much convenient or optimal for my kitchen
Dear Vinoth
May I request you to raise these questions in the forum.
Please visit : http://aavaas.com/forums/
Hi
This is Anil Kumar. I have a kithcen of size 14 x 8. I would like to know the preferred kithcen design. I was thinking of having an L-shaped design.
I would like to have the details of the dimensions of the worktop from the floor and the height on the wall to fit the cabinets from the worktop….
Thanks.
Dear Anil
May I request you to raise these questions in the forum.
Please visit : http://aavaas.com/forums/
I was eading thru aahwaas’s query abt the four burner stove. I have a five burner gas stove from Glen company which is very convenient to use. All five burners can be used at the same time and it fits into the normal 22in platform which is there in most houses.
hello lata
thank you for your comment. According to Glen’s website, there are two models with 5 burners. They are shown below:
GL 1070MXT
GL 1075TR GLASS
Which model do you have? Is it the
a) GL 1070MXT or
b) GL 1075TR GLASS
can you please provide me details of show rooms or shops were I can get kitchen hobs.
Thanks & Regards
Sheena
looking for kitchen hobs, please tell if there are any showrooms or shops in chennai which sell them.
Hi Sheena
Where are you from? I mean where in Chennai are you from?